Sundiata Gaines

College career

As a freshman at Georgia, Gaines led the Bulldogs in minutes, assists, steals, free throw attempts and makes, and ranked second in rebounding, averaging 12.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.4 steals over 27 games. In his sophomore season, he ranked third among SEC players in steals at 2.0 per game and was named team MVP by the coaching staff. During his junior year, he led Georgia in minutes, starts, rebounds, assists and steals, earning a spot on the 2007 All-SEC second team. As a senior, he repeated as an All-SEC second-team selection and also made the All-Defensive team, averaging 14.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.8 steals in 34 games.

Professional career

After going undrafted in the 2008 NBA draft, Gaines signed with NGC Cantù of Italy for the 2008–09 season. He was selected 15th overall by the Idaho Stampede in the 2009 NBA D-League draft. In January 2010, he signed a 10-day contract with the Utah Jazz; in his fifth NBA game, he hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 97–96, his first NBA three. He signed a second 10-day deal and then a rest-of-season contract.

After being waived by the Jazz in October 2010, he signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves in November but was waived in January 2011. He then signed two 10-day contracts with the Toronto Raptors before being waived. Later that February, he signed two 10-day deals with the New Jersey Nets and then a multi-year contract, but a season-ending right hip injury ended his season in March. During the 2011 NBA lockout, he played for BC Armia of Georgia, then re-joined the Nets after the lockout.

In September 2012, he signed with the Indiana Pacers but was waived in October. He then played for Fujian Xunxing of the Chinese Basketball Association for the 2012–13 season. After joining the Washington Wizards for the 2013 NBA Summer League, he signed a two-month deal with Beşiktaş of Turkey in November 2013, playing his final game for them in January 2014. He was acquired by the Austin Toros in January 2014, then traded to the Springfield Armor and later to the Reno Bighorns.

In April 2014, he signed with Guaiqueríes de Margarita of Venezuela. He signed with Sidigas Avellino of Italy for the 2014–15 season, averaging 11.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.2 steals in 29 games.

Did You Know?

• Gaines was the number 3 scorer in Archbishop Molloy High School history, averaging 28.2 points per game as a senior.
• Gaines was named team MVP by Georgia's coaching staff after his sophomore season.