Retired - Retired after 2019 season
- Birthdate: 02/10/1984
- Drafted (NBA): 42nd pick, 2003
- Pre-draft team: Fenerbahce (Turkey)
- Country: Georgia
- Hand: Right
- Agent: -
| Date | League | Transaction |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Turkey | Re-signed by Fenerbahce Ulker to a four year contract. |
| 2003 NBA Draft | NBA | Drafted 42nd overall by Orlando. |
| 25th July, 2003 | NBA | Signed a guaranteed two year minimum salary contract with Orlando. Included player option for 2004/05. |
| 20th June, 2004 | NBA | Exercised 2004/05 player option. |
| 22nd June, 2004 | NBA | Selected by Charlotte in the 2004 NBA Expansion Draft. |
| 23rd June, 2004 | NBA | Traded by Charlotte to Milwaukee in exchange for a 2004 second round pick (#45, Bernard Robinson). |
| 3rd August, 2005 | NBA | Signed a four year, $16 million offer sheet with Atlanta. |
| 8th August, 2005 | NBA | Milwaukee declined to match Atlanta's offer sheet. |
| 13th July, 2009 | NBA | Re-signed by Atlanta to a four year, $19 million contract. |
| 7th October, 2011 | Turkey | Signed for the duration of the NBA lockout with Galatasaray. |
| 2nd December, 2011 | Turkey | Opted out to return to the NBA. |
| 17th July, 2013 | NBA | Signed a three year, $15.6 million contract with Milwaukee. |
| 9th July, 2015 | NBA | Traded by Milwaukee to Dallas in exchange for a protected 2018 second round pick. |
| 16th July, 2016 | NBA | Signed a one year, $2,898,000 contract with Golden State. |
| 8th July, 2017 | NBA | Re-signed by Golden State to a one year, $3,477,600 contract. |
| 13th July, 2018 | NBA | Signed a guaranteed one year minimum salary contract with Detroit. |
| 1998 | Vita Tbilisi (Georgia) |
| 1999 - 2003 | Fenerbahce (Turkey) |
| June 2003 - June 2004 | Orlando Magic (NBA) |
| June 2004 | Charlotte Bobcats (NBA) |
| June 2004 - August 2005 | Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) |
| August 2005 - June 2013 | Atlanta Hawks (NBA) |
| October 2011 - December 2011 | Galatasaray (Turkey) |
| July 2013 - July 2015 | Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) |
| July 2015 - June 2016 | Dallas Mavericks (NBA) |
| July 2016 - June 2018 | Golden State Warriors (NBA) |
| July 2018 - present | Detroit Pistons (NBA) |
June 29, 2018
Zaza Pachulia
C - 6’11, 270lbs - 34 years old - 15 years of experience
Beginning this season in the same fifth starter role that had been so successful last season, Zaza Pachulia eventually saw his role dwindle away to the point where, in the playoffs, he barely appeared at all. The Warriors tried various different looks in the front court, and eventually decided that the athleticism and finishing of JaVale McGee, combined with the perimeter defence of Kevon Looney, plus whatever they could get from the athletic if slightly sporadic Jordan Bell and the infinite wisdom of David West, was better suited to their playoff matchups then Zaza was.
That is not to say that Pachulia was any less effective this year than in the past. Of course, he did not improve any; now at the age of 34, it seems unlikely he will ever become a three-point shooter off the dribble or a slam dunk champion. Nevertheless, in finishing well around the basket, in clearing the defensive glass at a decent rate, in passing out from the interior wherever possible, in using his hands defensively and even making the occasional foul-line jump shot, Pachulia is sticking to the same package of skills that got him to this point, the point where he is a role player worth having on a multi-time championship winning team.
With the Warriors having gone away from Zaza down the stretch of the season and with him again entering unrestricted free agency this summer, his two years with the team in this role may not extend beyond this season. Not unless he's prepared to take the minimum. And even then, it may be worth seeing what this thing can get from Damian Jones. Nevertheless, for two years now, Pachulia has done exactly what was asked of him, and he has done it well.
June 29, 2017
Zaza Pachulia
C, 6’11, 270lbs, 33 years old, 14 years of experience
Best true shooting percentage of his 14 year career at ,588%, alongside his third best assist percentage, second best block percentage, best defensive BPM and joint second best VORP. Turns out it helps to be surrounded by elite talents. Knew what he was doing on the Kawhi Leonard foul.
Player Plan: Expiring $2,898,000 salary. If he won’t re-sign for much the same or a small increase, then perhaps another ring-chasing big will instead. Nene, for example.
September 30, 2013
Zaza Pachulia, Carlos Delfino and Gary Neal – Milwaukee Bucks
This trio represents the most non-sensical summer of all. Milwaukee disbanded its previous fringe playoff team only to immediately invest $11.7 million guaranteed for each of the next two seasons in these three upside-less veteran backups. Whilst all three contracts could ideally be 25% smaller, no one is bad in a vacuum, but this is not the point. The point is that there is no point.
The Bucks spent $5.2 million on Pachulia this year to back up Larry Sanders. To put this into some context, the Philadelphia 76ers have spent $5,074,671 in salary cap space combined on acquiring all of Royce White, Tony Wroten, James Anderson, Tim Ohlbhrect, Rodney Williams and the rights to Furkan Aldemir, plus $1.7 million in cash.
There is a good chance that none of those six players ends up having a career equal to that of Pachulia, a quality backup for several years now. Aldemir probably has the best chance of it. However, we are talking merely about a backup calibre player on a lottery team. Why wouldn’t you give yourself six chances to find out?