Quick Facts
Biography
Mahmoud Abdelfattah is a Palestinian-American professional basketball coach who is the head coach for the Sydney Kings of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). He became the first ever Palestinian or Muslim head coach of a National Basketball Association (NBA) or NBA G League franchise when he served as head coach of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers from 2019 to 2022.
Early life
Abdelfattah was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, to parents who had immigrated from Palestine as part of the 1967 Palestinian exodus. He identifies as Palestinian and visited the territory as a child. Abdelfattah attended a private Muslim school until the eighth grade and then moved to the public system.
Abdelfattah played basketball at Wilbur Wright College and was recruited to play at St. Cloud State University. He found his desire for coaching while at St. Cloud State when he realised that he would not be able to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He served as a student-assistant on the basketball team at the age of 21 and had his student debt covered by the school.
Coaching career
Abdelfattah began his coaching stint with Perspectives Charter Schools in 2011, serving as the assistant head coach for the team.
In 2019, after spending his first season as assistant coach for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and winning his first championship with the franchise, Abdelfattah was duly promoted to be the head coach of the team.
Abdelfattah was named the NBA G League Coach of the Year for the 2021–22 season after leading the Vipers to a 24–10 record. The Vipers eventually would win another title.
On July 3, 2022, the Houston Rockets hired Abdelfattah as an assistant coach.
On June 21, 2023, Abdelfattah was hired as head coach of the Sydney Kings of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) for the 2023–24 season.
Head coaching record
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 | ||
Personal life
Abdelfattah is Muslim. 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. Abdelfattah completed Hajj in 2019.