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) |
Ekpedeme Friday "Ekpe" Udoh (born May 20, 1987) 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). Before becoming a coach, Ekpe was a talented player known for his strong defense.
Ekpe Udoh played college basketball for the Michigan Wolverines and the Baylor Bears. He was picked by the Golden State Warriors as the sixth overall player in the 2010 NBA draft. With his impressive 7-foot-4 ½ inch wingspan, he was a top shot blocker. He led the Big 12 Conference in blocks during his time at Baylor. Later in his career, he became a two-time All-EuroLeague Team player. He helped his team, Fenerbahçe, win the EuroLeague championship in 2017. He was even named the EuroLeague Final Four MVP for his amazing performance.
Udoh also played for the senior Nigerian national team. He represented his country in big events like the 2019 FIBA World Cup and the 2020 Olympic Games.
Contents
- Ekpe Udoh's College Basketball Journey
- Ekpe Udoh's Professional Basketball Career
- Starting in the NBA: Golden State Warriors (2010–2012)
- Playing Overseas: Bnei Herzliya (2011)
- Milwaukee Bucks (2012–2014)
- Los Angeles Clippers (2014–2015)
- Success in Turkey: Fenerbahçe (2015–2017)
- Back to the NBA: Utah Jazz (2017–2019)
- Playing in Asia: Beijing Ducks and Royal Fighters (2019–2021)
- Playing in Europe: Virtus Bologna (2021–2022)
- Playing in Japan: Shimane Susanoo Magic and Kyoto Hannaryz (2022–2023)
- Ekpe Udoh's National Team Career
- Ekpe Udoh's Coaching Career
- Ekpe Udoh's Personal Life
Ekpe Udoh's 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, and 2.8 blocks per game.
In his final college season (2009–10) at Baylor, he received many awards. He was named to the All-Big 12 second team and the Big 12 All-Defensive team. He was also recognized as the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. On April 13, 2010, Ekpe decided to enter the NBA draft, ending his college career early.
Ekpe Udoh's Professional Basketball Career
Ekpe Udoh played for many teams around the world during his professional career. He started in the NBA and later played in Israel, Turkey, China, Italy, and Japan.
Starting in the NBA: Golden State Warriors (2010–2012)
The Golden State Warriors chose Ekpe Udoh as the sixth pick in the 2010 NBA draft. He made his NBA debut on December 11, 2010. This was a bit later than expected because he had a wrist injury.
Playing Overseas: Bnei Herzliya (2011)
During an NBA lockout in 2011, Ekpe Udoh played briefly for Bnei Herzliya in Israel. He played only one game there before returning to the Warriors. In that game, he scored 22 points and grabbed 16 rebounds.
Milwaukee Bucks (2012–2014)
In March 2012, Ekpe Udoh was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. He played for the Bucks for two seasons.
Los Angeles Clippers (2014–2015)
After his time with the Bucks, Udoh signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in September 2014. He played in 33 games for the team.
Success in Turkey: Fenerbahçe (2015–2017)
Ekpe Udoh joined the Turkish club Fenerbahçe in July 2015. This was a very successful period for him.
- First Season (2015–16): Udoh quickly became a key player for Fenerbahçe. The team won the Turkish Cup. They also reached the final game of the 2016 EuroLeague Final Four, but lost in overtime. Fenerbahçe also won the Turkish League championship that season.
- Second Season (2016–17): In his second season, Ekpe Udoh helped Fenerbahçe win the EuroLeague championship! This was a huge achievement. He was named the EuroLeague Final Four MVP for his outstanding play in the final tournament. After this successful season, he left Fenerbahçe to return to the NBA.
Back to the NBA: Utah Jazz (2017–2019)
In July 2017, Udoh signed a two-year deal with the Utah Jazz. He played for the Jazz for two seasons.
Playing in Asia: Beijing Ducks and Royal Fighters (2019–2021)
After his time with the Jazz, Ekpe Udoh moved to China. He signed with the Beijing Ducks in July 2019. Later, in March 2021, he joined the Beijing Royal Fighters.
Playing in Europe: Virtus Bologna (2021–2022)
In July 2021, Udoh signed a two-year contract with Virtus Bologna in Italy. He suffered a serious knee injury in September 2021. However, his team still won the Italian Supercup. In May 2022, Virtus Bologna won the EuroCup, which meant they qualified for the EuroLeague again after many years.
Playing in Japan: Shimane Susanoo Magic and Kyoto Hannaryz (2022–2023)
Ekpe Udoh later moved to Japan. He signed with the Shimane Susanoo Magic in December 2022. In February 2023, he joined the Kyoto Hannaryz.
Ekpe Udoh's National Team Career
Ekpe Udoh was an important member of the Nigerian national team. He played for Nigeria in the 2019 FIBA World Cup. He also represented his country at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Ekpe Udoh's Coaching Career
Atlanta Hawks (2023–Present)
On June 14, 2023, Ekpe Udoh began a new chapter in his basketball career. He was announced as an assistant coach for the NBA's Atlanta Hawks. He now works under head coach Quin Snyder.
Ekpe Udoh's Personal Life
Ekpe Udoh's parents, Alice and Sam Udoh, 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 encourages others to read by saying, "If I can play in the NBA and still find time to read — so can you!"
