Justin Minaya Bio
Justin Minaya is a Dominican-American professional basketball player who most recently suited up for the Osceola Magic of the NBA G League. Standing 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) and listed at 205 lb (93 kg), he plays the small forward and power forward positions with the versatility that has defined his career arc. Born on March 26, 1999, in Harrington Park, New Jersey, Minaya has built his professional resume across multiple franchises, including stints with the Mexico City Capitanes and the Portland Trail Blazers organization, and he is also recognized as the son of longtime Major League Baseball executive Omar Minaya.
Early Life and Background
Justin Minaya was born and raised in Harrington Park, New Jersey, a small community in the northern part of the state. He is the son of Omar Minaya, a respected Major League Baseball executive whose own career in professional sports helped shape Justin’s understanding of what it takes to compete at the highest levels. Growing up in a household familiar with the demands of professional athletics, Minaya developed an early appreciation for discipline, preparation, and the day-to-day work that underpins a long sports career.
Minaya attended Northern Valley Regional High School in Old Tappan, New Jersey, where he emerged as a college prospect. Although he was not a heavily ranked national recruit coming out of high school, his size, mobility, and feel for the game drew attention from several college programs. He received scholarship offers from South Carolina, UNC Wilmington, Boston University, Illinois, Iona, and UMass, and after taking official visits to South Carolina and UNC Wilmington, he signed his national letter of intent with South Carolina on May 15, 2017.
Path to Basketball
Minaya’s path to professional basketball began in earnest at South Carolina, where he played four seasons for the Gamecocks from 2017 to 2021 under head coach Frank Martin. His development was interrupted by a severe knee injury that limited him to just five games during the 2018–19 season, and he later had surgery on his thumb in 2020. Despite those setbacks, Minaya stuck with the program, gained valuable experience in the Southeastern Conference, and built the foundation that would later support his transition to the next level.
After completing his undergraduate years, Minaya transferred to Providence for his graduate season, joining the Friars for the 2021–22 campaign. He averaged 6.5 points per game and started in 25 of the 32 contests he played. Providence captured the Big East regular-season championship that year and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament, eliminating South Dakota State and Richmond before falling to Kansas. Following that strong run, Minaya declared for the 2022 NBA draft and went undrafted, setting the stage for his professional career.
Justin Minaya Career
Early Career (2022–2023)
After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft, Minaya joined the Charlotte Hornets for the 2022 NBA Summer League, getting his first taste of NBA-level competition. He was then named to the Mexico City Capitanes’ roster to open the 2022–23 NBA G League season, giving him a consistent professional platform to refine his game. The Capitanes stint allowed him to adjust to the pace, physicality, and structure of professional basketball while showcasing the perimeter skills and rebounding instincts that had marked his college tape.
Portland Trail Blazers Breakthrough (2023–2025)
On April 4, 2023, Minaya signed a 10-day contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, and he made his NBA debut the same night against the Memphis Grizzlies. In a 119–109 loss, he scored 8 points, delivering a composed first appearance that earned him a longer look from the organization. He joined the Trail Blazers for the 2023 NBA Summer League in June 2023, and on October 2, 2023, he re-signed with Portland.
Less than three weeks later, on October 21, 2023, his deal was converted to a two-way contract with the Rip City Remix, Portland’s NBA G League affiliate, formally tying him into the franchise’s player development pipeline. On July 1, 2024, Minaya signed a second two-way contract with Portland, signaling the organization’s continued confidence in his progress. Across his time with the Trail Blazers and Rip City Remix, he served as a reliable depth piece capable of guarding multiple positions and spacing the floor from the wing.
Osceola Magic Era (2025–Present)
Following his run in Portland, Minaya joined the Osceola Magic for the 2025 NBA G League season, taking on a fresh opportunity within the Orlando Magic’s developmental system. The move positioned him to take on an expanded role, build on the experience he had gained in Portland, and continue chasing a sustained NBA opportunity. His combination of size, shooting touch, and positional flexibility made him a natural fit for a Magic organization that values two-way wing contributors.
Playing Style and Strengths
Minaya is best described as a versatile forward who can space the floor from beyond the arc while holding his own on the glass. He is comfortable sliding between the small forward and power forward spots, giving coaches lineup flexibility on both ends of the court. His time under Frank Martin at South Carolina, his one-year stint at Providence, and his development in the G League have all sharpened his off-ball movement, transition decision-making, and ability to defend bigger players in switches.
Notable Events and Milestones
Minaya’s most memorable professional moment came on April 4, 2023, when he made his NBA debut for the Portland Trail Blazers against the Memphis Grizzlies and scored 8 points in his first appearance. Reaching the NBA after going undrafted marked a major personal milestone, as did his conversion to a two-way contract later that October and his second two-way deal in July 2024. On the international stage, he represented the Dominican Republic at the 2015 Centrobasket U17 Championship and the 2016 FIBA Under-17 World Championship.
Justin Minaya Career Wins
Across his professional journey, Justin Minaya has collected a series of team and individual milestones rather than a long list of personal scoring titles. He was part of Providence’s Big East regular-season championship squad in 2021–22 and contributed to a Sweet 16 run in that same NCAA tournament. In the pros, his NBA debut and subsequent two-way contracts with the Portland Trail Blazers stand as the clearest markers of progress, complemented by his consistent role with the Osceola Magic.
NBA G League Highlights
Minaya spent the 2022–23 season with the Mexico City Capitanes, establishing himself as a dependable forward in the NBA G League, and later featured for the Rip City Remix as a two-way player alongside his NBA appearances with Portland. Those assignments gave him the runway to develop his three-point shot, refine his reads in pick-and-roll coverage, and adjust to the professional schedule.
Other Wins and Performances
At the youth international level, Minaya suited up for the Dominican Republic at both the 2015 Centrobasket U17 Championship and the 2016 FIBA Under-17 World Championship, gaining valuable experience against high-level competition before his college career began. His role on those rosters helped lay the groundwork for the offers that ultimately brought him into Division I basketball.
Justin Minaya Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Justin Minaya is the son of Omar Minaya, a long-serving Major League Baseball executive who has held senior front office roles with several clubs. That family connection to professional sports offered Justin an inside look at the business and daily rhythm of high-level competition, shaping his approach to the game and his understanding of what a sustainable career in athletics requires.
Personal Life
Born in Harrington Park, New Jersey, and educated in the northern New Jersey school system at Northern Valley Regional High School in Old Tappan, Minaya has kept much of his personal life out of the public eye. He is a dual American and Dominican national, reflecting his family heritage, and he continues to focus the public conversation on his work on the court.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 campaign represents a new chapter for Minaya, as he joined the Osceola Magic after spending the previous two seasons tied to the Portland Trail Blazers and Rip City Remix. Moving into the Orlando Magic’s developmental ecosystem, he steps into a featured role with an opportunity to log heavy minutes, expand his offensive repertoire, and showcase the defensive versatility that has long defined his game.
For the Osceola Magic, Minaya is expected to serve as a connective piece on both ends of the floor, leveraging his shooting touch to space the floor and his frame to defend multiple positions. His track record of bouncing back from injuries and adapting quickly to new systems, first at South Carolina, then at Providence, and later in the G League, suggests he can make a smooth transition into a larger role.
Looking ahead, the 2025 season gives Minaya a clear platform to push for another NBA opportunity while continuing to grow as a leader on a young Magic-affiliated roster. If he can sustain efficiency from the perimeter, stay healthy, and provide the kind of defensive switchability that coaches covet, he has a realistic path back to a standard NBA contract.