| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Nationality | Palestinian / American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 175 lb (79 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Taft (Chicago, Illinois) |
| College |
|
| NBA draft | 2010:undrafted |
| Position | Guard |
| Coaching career | 2011–present |
| Career history | |
| As a coach: | |
| 2011–2013 | Perspectives Charter Schools (assistant) |
| 2013–2017 | St. Cloud (assistant) |
| 2018–2019 | Rio Grande Valley Vipers (assistant) |
| 2019–2022 | Rio Grande Valley Vipers |
| 2022–2023 | Houston Rockets (assistant) |
| 2023–2024 | Sydney Kings |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| As head coach: As assistant coach:
| |
Mahmoud Abdelfattah is a Palestinian-American professionalbasketball coach who most recently served as the head coach for theSydney Kings of the AustralianNational Basketball League (NBL). He became the first ever Palestinian or Muslim head coach of aNational Basketball Association (NBA) orNBA G League franchise when he served as head coach of theRio Grande Valley Vipers from 2019 to 2022.[1][2]
Abdelfattah was born and raised inChicago, Illinois, to parents who had immigrated fromPalestine as part of the1967 Palestinian exodus.[3] He identifies as Palestinian and visited the territory as a child.[3] Abdelfattah attended a private Muslim school until the eighth grade and then moved to the public system.[3]
Abdelfattah played basketball atWilbur Wright College and was recruited to play atSt. Cloud State University.[3] He found his desire for coaching while at St. Cloud State when he realised that he would not be able to play in theNational Basketball Association (NBA).[3] He served as a student-assistant on the basketball team at the age of 21 and had his student debt covered by the school.[3]
Abdelfattah began his coaching stint withPerspectives Charter Schools in 2011, serving as the assistant head coach for the team.[4]
In 2019, after spending his first season as assistant coach for theRio Grande Valley Vipers and winning his first championship with the franchise, Abdelfattah was promoted to be the head coach of the team.[5]
Abdelfattah was named theNBA G League Coach of the Year for the2021–22 season after leading the Vipers to a 24–10 record.[6] The Vipers eventually would win another title.
On July 3, 2022, theHouston Rockets hired Abdelfattah as an assistant coach.[7]
On June 21, 2023, Abdelfattah was hired as head coach of theSydney Kings of the AustralianNational Basketball League (NBL) for the2023–24 season.[8][9] After winning seven of his first 10 games in charge, the Kings lost 13 of their remaining 19 matches, including the play-in qualifier defeat to theNew Zealand Breakers, thus winning 10 of 29 games. The Kings subsequently parted ways with Abdelfattah on March 1, 2024.[10]
As of April 19, 2022
| Team | Year | G | W | L | W–L% | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Grande Valley Vipers | 2019–20 | 42 | 15 | 27 | .357 | Season canceled |
| Rio Grande Valley Vipers | 2020–21 | 15 | 9 | 6 | .600 | Lost in Quarterfinals |
| Rio Grande Valley Vipers | 2021–22 | 35 | 25 | 10 | .714 | Champions |
| Career | 92 | 49 | 43 | .533 | ||
Abdelfattah isMuslim.[3] He was only lightly religious during his early years but adjusted his attitude after the death of his mother from a heart attack when he was aged 19.[3] Abdelfattah completedHajj in 2019.[3]