Alaa Abdelnaby (Arabic: علاء عبد النبي), (born June 24, 1968) is an Egyptian-American former professionalbasketball player. He played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils followed by a five-year National Basketball Association (NBA) career, and then stints in various other leagues. Abdelnaby is one of two Egyptian-born players in the history of the NBA, along with Abdel Nader.
Abdelnaby was born in Alexandria, Egypt, and moved to the United States with his family in 1971 at the age of two.[1] His father was an engineer and his mother was a computer analyst who had moved to find better jobs.[2] His family became American citizens.[2]
Abdelnaby played at Duke University from 1986 to 1990. He had a breakout year as a senior when he averaged 14.9 points and 6.7 rebounds during the regular season.[2] Abdelnaby was a third-team all-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) selection as a senior. He had a series of widely publicized off-court problems during his early seasons, including an accident where he drove his car into a tree on campus.[2]
Abdelnaby commented on Duke University's academic requirements: "The only way I can make five A's is when I sign my name."[3]
Abdelnaby was approached by the NBA to broadcast the 1995 NBA All-Star Game for an Arabic-language television network as he was the only Arabic speaker in the league.[5] He began broadcasting with Orbit Satellite Television and later worked for other Arabic channels.