NEW YORK, April 2, 2009 – The San Antonio Spurs today assigned second-year center Ian Mahinmi to the team’s NBA Development League affiliate Austin Toros. Mahinmi, who is recovering from ankle surgery performed on 1/31, joins fellow Spurs assignee Malik Hairston and Toros for the second time this season, having previously been assigned between Nov. 14 and Dec. 2, 2008. The re-assignment is the 42nd of the 2008-09 NBA D-League season.

During his first assignment this season, Mahinmi appeared in one regular-season game and scored four points in a 93-91 loss to the Utah Flash.

Originally drafted in the first round (28th overall) of the 2005 NBA Draft, Mahinmi, a 6-11 center, is in his second season with the Spurs. During the 2007-08 season, Mahinmi appeared in six games for the Spurs, averaging 3.5 points in 3.8 minutes, and was twice assigned to the Toros.

Appearing in 46 games with the Toros last season, Mahinmi averaged 16.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 29.6 minutes, leading the Toros to the NBA D-League Finals. At season’s end, Mahinmi ranked 19th in scoring, second in field goal percentage, eighth in rebounds and ninth in blocks, while posting 16 double-doubles during the course of the season. For his efforts, Mahinmi earned All-NBA D-League First Team honors last year.

Mahinmi is expected to join the Toros in Austin today.