Fardaws Aimaq is at all times constructive, even in a difficult season

NOTHING ABOUT THIS season has been straightforward for Fardaws “Daws” Aimaq.

The chief of a California Golden Bears crew that’s rebuilding beneath first-year coach Mark Madsen has endured adversity on the court docket in a troublesome season.

For one, he is taking part in for a crew that has reached the NCAA match simply as soon as (2016) previously 11 years. The Bears entered the week with a 8-12 file. They started the season dropping 10 of their first 14 video games, with half of these losses that includes opponents with sub-100 rankings on KenPom, together with Pacific (345th). Regardless of this, the crew continues to concentrate on the silver lining: Six of these losses completed with margins of three factors or fewer, or led to time beyond regulation. At the moment, Cal, which is ranked second within the Pac-12 in turnover proportion, has received 4 of its previous six video games.

By the troublesome occasions, Aimaq and his teammates have remained optimistic, strengthened by the hurdles the yr has offered to this point.

“What we have been doing, it is going to work,” he advised ESPN concerning the Bears’ season. “There may be going to be a breakthrough. What we have been saying each single day is ‘alternative,’ and every sport is a brand new alternative.”

Whereas that is not straightforward for any participant to digest, the 6-foot-11 ahead — who’s at the moment sixth within the nation in rebounding (10.7 rebounds per sport) and third in double-doubles (12) — has additionally skilled one other problem, as a Muslim man and the son of an Afghan refugee. Aimaq, who was born in Vancouver, stated he typically receives reward from members of the Afghan and Muslim communities who assist him. He additionally revealed that at any time when he opens his messages on social media, he typically sees numerous hate, too. Generally, it is due to his efficiency on the court docket. Generally, it is a response from Texas Tech followers nonetheless angered by his determination to switch to Cal after final season. And generally, he stated, it is as a result of he is Muslim.

“It is a slippery slope,” he stated. “I do not actually undergo numerous my messages until it is a day once I’m bored and simply trying by stuff. You must attempt to do your half by staying targeted on no matter is in entrance of you, and that is simply taking part in basketball.”

However when a fan crosses a line, it is a problem for any athlete to disregard.

Throughout a November match in San Juan Capistrano, California, Aimaq stated a person known as him a “terrorist” a number of occasions as he walked towards his crew’s bus after speaking to members of the family within the stands following a 75-72 loss to UTEP. A viral, postgame video confirmed Aimaq within the stands as he confronted the particular person.

“You wish to discuss? You wish to discuss? I will slap the s— out you,” he stated.

“, the primary time I heard it, I simply saved strolling,” Aimaq stated. “We might simply misplaced, and there was numerous frustration. I used to be simply desirous about the sport, and I did not actually course of it till I heard it a pair extra occasions. It was a giant group and from there, it led to the incident that occurred with the video being taken of that complete confrontation. I do not bear in mind, phrase for phrase, what I stated. I simply bear in mind being annoyed.”

Madsen condemned the change and promised inner self-discipline for Aimaq. However he additionally advised Aimaq, “I am sorry you needed to expertise that.” His teammates consoled him, too.

“After I noticed [the video], he and I instantly spoke and he advised me straight away what had occurred,” Madsen stated. “Understanding the context, clearly, it helped me perceive the scenario higher.”

Madsen has identified Aimaq for years, starting when he recruited the ahead to play at Utah Valley after Aimaq’s single season at Mercer. He knew Aimaq as a sort younger man who performed with Madsen’s youngsters after video games. So seeing Aimaq’s demeanor on the video was an indication to the coach that one thing severe had occurred.

“My important and my first message was that feedback like that ought to by no means be made by a fan or anybody to a different human being ever,” Madsen advised ESPN. “However then as a coach, additionally simply coming from the NBA, I’ve seen gamers impacted in a really detrimental approach when issues spiral uncontrolled within the stands. In order that was my important message to [Aimaq]. ‘Hey, it doesn’t matter what occurs, let’s keep out of the stands.'”

Aimaq’s father, Faramaz, advised ESPN he was surprised when his son known as and advised him concerning the incident. Faramaz had fled Afghanistan as a youngster within the Nineteen Seventies after his father had died within the Afghan Civil Struggle.

“I misplaced my father, a number of household. I used to be 17, 18 years outdated,” he stated. “It was actually exhausting for me as a result of it is struggle. It was a bombing.”

He subsequently landed in Canada and constructed a brand new life for himself. He stated his son’s expertise damage him each as a result of he fought so exhausting for his household’s future but in addition as a result of Fardaws has at all times been a constructive and peaceable particular person.

“I advised him, ‘Simply ignore them,'” Faramaz advised ESPN. “‘You go play exhausting.’ I give him numerous credit score as a result of on a regular basis [last season at Texas Tech], they used actually unhealthy phrases about my son. This isn’t honest. [A fan called my son] a terrorist. I’ve to be sincere: On that day I used to be crying. It is exhausting generally, you understand?”

Fardaws trusted the self-discipline he has developed over time to navigate the scenario. He’s the primary participant on the court docket earlier than apply every day, and the final particular person to depart the ground. His childhood martial arts coaching taught him the worth of controlling his feelings, adhering to diligence and counting on persistence.

Whereas he had each proper to spend the remainder of the season angered by what occurred in November, he has chosen to maneuver ahead and never enable that second to outline his season.

“Clearly, I’ve forgiven the child,” Aimaq stated.

Rise to the event 🤜🤛#GoBears pic.twitter.com/EV6T5i2QTt

— Cal Basketball (@CalMBBall) January 28, 2024

Madsen, who spent 9 years within the NBA, together with being coached by Phil Jackson with the Los Angeles Lakers, stated Aimaq has grown as a pacesetter, and it is exhibiting outcomes. Cal’s current wins embody an 81-75 time beyond regulation win over Washington State wherein Aimaq completed with 18 factors, 14 rebounds and a couple of steals.

“One of many issues that makes him nice is his ardour for all times,” Madsen stated. “He is an awesome human being. He is a multiple-time crew captain. He has nice management, and he’s such a tough employee.”

Aimaq’s school basketball profession has been a journey. He’s taking part in for his fourth college. In any respect of his earlier stops, he transferred after his head coaches had both taken one other job (Madsen) or been fired (former Texas Tech coach Mark Adams, former Mercer coach Bob Hoffman). However now, he believes he can finish his collegiate profession on a excessive observe and pursue his goals of creating historical past as the primary participant of Afghan descent to play within the NBA. He isn’t at the moment listed on any respected NBA mock drafts, so his odds are slim. However he has by no means backed down from a problem.

On Friday, after the crew’s 73-71 win over Stanford, Madsen pointed to Aimaq (13 factors, 12 rebounds) within the locker room and praised him for his effort.

“Once we could not get a bucket, we went to you, huge fella, and also you produced each time,” Madsen stated.

Aimaq’s teammates all clapped and cheered.

“When it is all stated and performed, when you’ve got performed every thing attainable in your energy and it does not work out, then that is one factor,” Aimaq stated. “, for us, the explanation that we have been so constructive is that we see a breakthrough coming.”

From Vancouver, Canada, in the meantime, his father admires his son’s resilience as he endured the trials this season has offered and continues to thrive.

“I’m happy with him,” Faramaz stated. “He is my hero.”