Loren Woods


Loren Woods is an American / Lebanese professional basketball player Al Hala. He also played five seasons in the National Basketball Association.

High school and college career

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Woods attended high school at Cardinal Ritter College Prep, where he teamed with ex-NBA player Jahidi White and Duke University standout Chris Carrawell. He started his college career at Wake Forest University, where he was supposed to take over the center position once Tim Duncan left. However, he transferred to the University of Arizona.

Professional career

Woods was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the 2001 NBA Draft. After leaving the Timberwolves, Woods played for the Miami Heat and the Toronto Raptors, where he appeared in 45 games during the 2004–05 season and posted a career best 3.9 points per game. On 15 August 2006, he signed with the Sacramento Kings as a backup center, but he was waived before the season began.
Woods joined the Lithuanian giants Žalgiris Kaunas in 2007. In June 2007, he joined the Turkish side Efes Pilsen. He signed two 10-day contracts with the Houston Rockets on 21 March and 1 April 2008. After being waived by the Rockets on 14 July 2008, he signed again with Žalgiris Kaunas on 16 July. He joined CAI Zaragoza in 2009.
In October 2010 he signed with Al Riyadi Beirut in Lebanon, where he averaged 14.3 points and 14.3 rebounds. In 2012, he signed with Al Riyadi Beirut again. On 20 December 2014 he was released by Al Riyadi Beirut.

NBA career statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Euroleague

National team career

In July 2013, Woods became a naturalized Lebanese citizen, and a member of their national basketball team. After the 2013 suspension in which Lebanon were unable to compete FIBA competitions, he was once again called by 2015 head coach Veselin Matić as a solution to the 5 position for the coming 2015 FIBA Asia Championship in September.