Ekpe Udoh facts for kids
Udoh with the Bucks in 2012.
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| Atlanta Hawks | |
|---|---|
| Assistant coach | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | May 20, 1987 Edmond, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Nationality | Nigerian / American |
| High school | Edmond Santa Fe (Edmond, Oklahoma) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Listed weight | 245 lb (111 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
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| NBA Draft | 2010 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6th overall |
| Selected by the Golden State Warriors | |
| Pro career | 2010–2023 |
| Coaching career | 2023–present |
| League | NBA |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 2010–2012 | Golden State Warriors |
| 2011–2012 | Bnei Herzliya |
| 2012–2014 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2014–2015 | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 2015–2017 | Fenerbahçe |
| 2017–2019 | Utah Jazz |
| 2019–2020 | Beijing Ducks |
| 2020–2021 | Beijing Royal Fighters |
| 2021–2022 | Virtus Bologna |
| 2022–2023 | Shimane Susanoo Magic |
| 2023 | Kyoto Hannaryz |
| As coach: | |
| 2023–present | Atlanta Hawks (assistant) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 1,353 (3.5 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 1,100 (2.9 rpg) |
| Assists | 260 (0.7 apg) |
Ekpe Udoh is a Nigerian-American professional basketball coach and former player. He is currently an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Ekpe was born on May 20, 1987.
He played college basketball for the Michigan Wolverines and the Baylor Bears. In the 2010 NBA draft, the Golden State Warriors picked him as the sixth overall player. Ekpe was known for his amazing 7-foot-4.5-inch wingspan. This helped him become a top shot blocker.
He led the Big 12 Conference in blocked shots during the 2009–10 season. Before that, he led the Big Ten Conference in blocks in 2007–08. Ekpe also had a very successful career playing basketball in Europe. He helped Fenerbahçe win the EuroLeague championship in 2017. He was even named the EuroLeague Final Four MVP that year.
Ekpe also played for the senior Nigerian national team. He represented his country in the 2019 FIBA World Cup and the 2020 Olympic Games.
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College Basketball Journey
Ekpe Udoh played college basketball for three seasons. He spent two years at Michigan and one year at Baylor. During his college career, he averaged 8.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 2.8 blocks per game. He played a total of 103 games.
In the 2009–10 season, Ekpe received several honors. He was named an honorable mention All-American by the Associated Press. He also made the All-Big 12 second team and the Big 12 All-Defensive team. He was recognized as the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and was part of the Big 12 All-Rookie team.
On April 13, 2010, Ekpe decided to enter the NBA draft. This meant he gave up his final year of college eligibility to pursue his dream of playing professionally.
Professional Playing Career
Golden State Warriors (2010–2012)
The Golden State Warriors chose Ekpe Udoh as the sixth overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft. He had a wrist injury, so he couldn't play right away. Ekpe finally made his NBA debut on December 11, 2010. He scored two points in the last three minutes of a game against the Miami Heat.
Playing in Israel (2011)
During the 2011 NBA lockout, Ekpe Udoh signed with Bnei Herzliya in Israel. He played only one game for them. In that game, he had an impressive performance with 22 points, 16 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 blocks. In December 2011, the NBA lockout ended, and he returned to the Warriors.
Milwaukee Bucks (2012–2014)
On March 13, 2012, Ekpe Udoh was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. He moved to Milwaukee along with Monta Ellis and Kwame Brown. In return, the Warriors received Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson.
Los Angeles Clippers (2014–2015)
Ekpe Udoh signed with the Los Angeles Clippers on September 3, 2014. He played in 33 games for the Clippers during that season. However, he did not get a lot of playing time or a big role on the team.
Fenerbahçe in Turkey (2015–2017)
On July 28, 2015, Ekpe Udoh signed a one-year contract with Fenerbahçe, a basketball club in Turkey. He quickly became a key player and a leader for the team. Fenerbahçe won the Turkish Cup that season. They beat Darüşşafaka 67–65 in the final.
Fenerbahçe also made it to the final game of the 2016 EuroLeague Final Four. They lost a close game in overtime to CSKA Moscow. Ekpe averaged 12.6 points and 5.1 rebounds in 27 EuroLeague games. At the end of the season, Fenerbahçe also won the Turkish League championship.
On July 11, 2016, Ekpe signed another contract with Fenerbahçe. In the 2016–17 season, he helped Fenerbahçe win the EuroLeague championship. He was named the EuroLeague Final Four MVP for his outstanding performance. On July 14, 2017, he left Fenerbahçe to return to the NBA.
Utah Jazz (2017–2019)
On July 21, 2017, Ekpe Udoh signed a two-year deal with the Utah Jazz. The contract was worth $6.5 million.
Playing in China (2019–2021)
On July 7, 2019, Ekpe Udoh signed a one-year contract with the Beijing Ducks in China. After that, on March 4, 2021, he signed with another Chinese team, the Beijing Royal Fighters.
Virtus Bologna in Italy (2021–2022)
On July 18, 2021, Ekpe Udoh signed a two-year deal with Virtus Bologna in Italy. This team also plays in the EuroCup. On September 18, 2021, he suffered a serious injury to his patellar tendon during a game.
Despite his injury, his team won the Italian Supercup on September 21. They defeated Olimpia Milano 90–84. In May 2022, Virtus Bologna won their first EuroCup title. This win meant they qualified for the EuroLeague after 14 years. However, Virtus Bologna lost in the national finals to Olimpia Milan.
Playing in Japan (2022–2023)
On December 24, 2022, Ekpe Udoh signed with the Shimane Susanoo Magic in Japan. He later signed with the Kyoto Hannaryz on February 28, 2023.
National Team Experience
Ekpe Udoh was a member of the senior men's Nigerian national team. He proudly represented Nigeria in two major international tournaments. He played in the 2019 FIBA World Cup. He also competed in the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Coaching Career Begins
Atlanta Hawks (2023–Present)
After a long and successful playing career, Ekpe Udoh transitioned into coaching. On June 14, 2023, it was announced that he would join the NBA's Atlanta Hawks. He became an assistant coach under head coach Quin Snyder.
Personal Life and Hobbies
Ekpe Udoh is the son of Alice and Sam Udoh, who are from Nigeria. He has an older brother named Eddie and two younger sisters, Esther and Sefon.
Outside of basketball, Ekpe enjoys reading. He even runs a public book club, mostly online. He once said, "If I can play in the NBA and still find time to read — so can you!" This shows his passion for books and learning.
See also
In Spanish: Ekpe Udoh para niños
