Alex Siquig (@ThomasAwful on Twitter) is a Bay Area expat based in Baltimore who still stays up way too late to watch Golden State play. Now, why would Baron ever, in a million Earth years, actually do this? On July 7, the Warriors re-signed him. The Dubs have won five straight and Stephs return is on the horizon! He excelled in his first season in the D-League, collecting All D-League honours while leading his team to the championship, which they lost to the Albuquerque Thunderbirds. Check out the article here via InvestmentNews [1] While attending the University of Kentucky, Azubuike majored in business marketing. Details on the contract were not disclosed. He had more dunks than any other college player going back to the 20092010 season. Kroichick writes features on the Warriors during the NBA season, and various other topics - ranging from the 49ers/NFL and major-league baseball to college football and basketball - the rest of the year. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Dr. A's weekly risers and fallers: Jeremy Sochan, Christian Wood make the list, NBA Power Rankings: Kevin Durant's return could rock the West. 1 option. During Mondays game against the Washington Wizards, Azubuike even went so far as to describe Steph Curry as a big-time player. I dont know, man. Former National Basketball Association players, "Blow for Britain as London-born Kelenna Azubuike is denied passport", http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/us_sport/article3111497.ece, http://www.insidehoops.com/azubuike-waived-102406.shtml, "Warriors Sign Kelenna Azubuike to Contract", http://www.nba.com/warriors/news/Kelenna_Azubuike_Signing_Release.html, Warriors Re-Sign Kelenna Azubuike To Contract, Sources: Clips, swingman Azubuike agree to multiyear offer sheet, Sources: Warriors keep Azubuike, match Clippers' offer. Odds & lines subject to change. "3 grand, that's it?" In Azubuikes defense, he is very eager to point out split-action or a nice hesitation (hesi) move and is always cognizant when someone achieves Beast Mode (and occasionally God Mode). He finished his high school career as the second all-time leading scorer in Oklahoma prep basketball history after amassing 3,530 career points. Lets not settle for just Barnett, though. Barnett will transition to. Of course, it must be said that Barnett would not approve of this column. Its more about what sort of homer you are. The Golden State Warriors signed him for four years worth $7 Million. The good news is its not as though Barnett has renounced calling Warriors games and embraced the life of a curmudgeonly hermit. While his NBA career was cut short by a devastating freak injury less than three . The Warriors named Kelenna Azubuike as their new television color analyst for NBC Sports Bay Area, replacing Jim Barnett, a longtime staple of the game broadcasts. [19], In the summer of 2015, Azubuike attended the Sportscaster U. program at Syracuse University sponsored by the NBPA, training for a career in broadcasting. Although Azubuike hasn't played since early in the 2009-10 season because of a knee injury, Mavericks officials are intrigued by the progress Azubuike has made in his rehabilitation efforts, sources said. Its always a minorly uplifting sight when the camera fleetingly catches him calling Warriors games. [1] Azubuike is a Christian. His presence will add a new dimension to our TV broadcasts, and we are thrilled with the addition.. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not announced. Utah JazzUdoka Azubuike / Current team (#20 / Center)The Utah Jazz are an American professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City. Go full super-team. The Warriors named Kelenna Azubuike as their new television color analyst for NBC Sports Bay Area, replacing Jim Barnett, a longtime staple of the game broadcasts. [1], In April 2005, Azubuike announced his plans to enter the draft after his junior year, signing with agent Joel Bell and ending his college eligibility. Golden State included him in the David Lee trade in 2010, but he didnt play a game for the New York Knicks. "He's an energetic, athletic guy that's a very good 3-point shooter. At the end of the second quarter, broadcasters Bob Fitzgerald and Kelenna Azubuike specifically poked fun at the Nuggets players and seemed to suggest Rivers was overpaid while being coached by his father with the Clippers from 2015-18. Values are based on current season type (i.e. Unclassified cookies are cookies that we are in the process of classifying, together with the providers of individual cookies. Azubuike lost his father to an undiagnosed disease at the age of 10. [13] Udoka started every game of the regular season but missed the Big 12 tournament after spraining his left MCL. As Barnett once said, the key to a successful career announcing games is talking about fundamentals and also being able to speak the Kings English. Sounds like hes very clearly describing Baron Davis. Im not trying to be Jim Barnett hes one of a kind, and nobody can do that. The season cant come fast enough., Where Livingston wants to end career after Warriors release. The season cant get here soon enough.. Sign up for the Im ecstatic. Barnett was willing to criticize when the situation called for it, and Azubuike expects to do the same. The Jazz compete in the National Basketball Association as a member of the leagues Western Conference, Northwest Division. Azubuike relocated with his family to Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1989 when his father was offered a fellowship at Saint Francis Hospital; his family became American citizens. Had too much integrity. [9] On 17 July 2008, Azubuike signed an offer sheet with the Los Angeles Clippers for a three-year deal worth $9 million, with Golden State having seven days to match the offer. Golden State, fresh off five consecutive NBA Finals appearances and three championships, will move across the bay next season to the new Chase Center in San Francisco. I consent to the use of following cookies: Necessary cookies help make a website usable by enabling basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website. Theres no one more deserving.. In Azubuike's defense, he is very eager to point out split-action or a nice hesitation (hesi) move and is always cognizant when someone achieves Beast Mode (and occasionally God Mode). The Warriors also will unveil a reshaped team, given the departures of Kevin Durant and Andre Iguodala and Klay Thompsons torn ACL. Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images. [17] On 28 June 2012, during the 2012 NBA Draft, Azubuike was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. This is cause for celebration. For all other types of cookies we need your permission. Azubuike takes the job at a fascinating point in Warriors history. I hope I can do this for many years to come.. It is kind of whole new thing when compared with the studio. It resurrects a deep and abiding connection that was severed too early, too abruptly. "The hope is that he can possibly help us this year. Kelenna and Rona exchanged their vows in a traditional Christian wedding ceremony. Barnett will transition to radio, the team said as part of Fridays announcement. With Mickael Pietrus likely on the way out . In 2012, he caught the attention of recruiters with Basketball Without Borders and was offered a scholarship to . He holds both Nigerian and US citizenship; his application for British citizenship was turned down in December 2007 due to problems with the immigration status of his parents at the time of his birth. While his NBA career was cut short by a devastating freak injury less than three years later, a broadcasting career was born that night. It ended badly, A $200M bike bridge tantalized this Bay Area city. Robert Fitzgerald (March 14, 1923 July 23, 1983) was an American professional basketball player. Azubuike spent five years in the NBA (averaging 14.4 pts a game in 2008-2009) before he had to hang up his sneakers. Assessing every Golden State players performance from the teams 108-99 win over New Orleans. Azubuike (ankle) has been ruled out for Fridays game against the Clippers, Eric Walden of The Salt Lake Tribune reports. [2], Azubuike attended Potter's House Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Florida. [1] Azubuike averaged 10.0 points and 3.7 rebounds in 97 career games at the University of Kentucky, shooting a 48.5% field goal average for his college career. Unfortunately for him, injury is the reason as he still cannot participate (at) what would be the NBA combine or workouts for the NBA teams. Unlike past years, Lucia did not include any analysis and/or fan commentary with the rankings, so we don't know exactly what kind of gripes fans had against the work of Fitzgerald and Azubuike. Why did Kelenna Azubuike retire? Appreciating Klay Thompson filling in the superstar shoes. Barnett will return for his 35th season providing opinion and insights, but his medium will change. [1] He was the top scorer in the state of Oklahoma during his last three seasons of high school, averaging 28.5 points as a sophomore and 38.7 points as a junior. He bridges eras and generations with absolute clarity. This pairing does create one potential problem, though hardly an insurmountable one: instead of two hype-men, we may now be subject to a sensory overload of excellent anecdotes and play deconstructions, but no one to describe the action (which again, we can see with our eyes). He got a big contract extension when, oh wait, his dad was the coach, said Fitzgerald. Sports enterprise reporter Ron Kroichick has worked at The San Francisco Chronicle since 1995, when he came from The Sacramento Bee. Once they do that, then anything can happen.. [20] Since then, he has been assigned to announce 11 of the 19 NBA D-League games produced by NBA TV in 2016. [7] He was also a member of the National Honor Society. Net Worth: Undisclosed. Azubuike played 81 games in 2007-8 for the Dubs, averaging 8.5 points. src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=674090812743125&ev=PageView&noscript=1"/>. He did not initially hire an agent, which would allow him to return before the combine. Kelenna completely tore is patellar tendon. , Its always a tough thing, when someone has been doing such a great job for so long and then change happens. "Utah Jazz take Kansas center Udoka Azubuike at No. Heres where California reservoir levels stand after this weeks rains. Dok All-Time NCAA Leader in Field-Goal Percentage; KU Athletics; 3 February 2020. Both also are scheduled to join Fitzgerald for the first telecast from Chase Center. B. Diddy in the bay once again. In the 200506 season, Azubuike averaged 12.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in forty-one games with the Fort Worth Flyers of the NBA's Developmental League. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. Later, when Azubuike moved into broadcasting, one of his first calls was to Barnett. [3], He played Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball for the Georgia Stars in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL). Analytics cookies help website owners to understand how visitors interact with websites by collecting and reporting information anonymously. Barnett, 75, has on numerous occasions worked with Roye on radio, usually in postseason games on national TV. The Bulls and the Warriors are the only teams to win at least 70 games in a single season. [1] Azubuike was named to the 2005 SEC All-Tournament Team after averaging 18.0 points in three contests. He instigated it. Azubuike answered, "Soccer, that's what I was thinking. It gets Jessica Alba back in the building. After playing on the Golden State squad that upset Dallas in the first round of the 2007 playoffs, Azubuike averaged 13.9 points through the first nine games of the 2009-10 season under then . Beginning in 2019, he became the television analyst alongside Bob Fitzgerald, replacing Jim Barnett, who had been the color analyst for the last 34 seasons and is now the color analyst on KGMZ-FM's 95.7 The Game. When the Golden State Warriors are rolling, they're one of the leagues biggest draws. I enjoy breaking down what I see and just reacting on the spot, he said. Azubuike accepted a personal invitation from Jakaya Kikwete, the President of Tanzania, to take part in Leon H. Sullivan Summit VIII, a five-day convention held from 2 to 6 June 2008 in Arusha, Tanzania. He played college basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks. The Warriors' broadcast team of Bob Fitzgerald and Kelenna Azubuike have drawn ire from off-hand remarks during Tuesday night's Golden State-Denver broadcast. The law states that we can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site. Golden State Warriors broadcasters Bob Fitzgerald and Kelenna Azubuike have been criticized for making fun of Denver Nuggets guard Facundo Campazzo The pair were calling the game on NBC. Simply put, hes a strange man. He was too tall (this is very threatening to the extremely wealthy). Kelenna Azubuike was born on December 16, 1983 in England (39 years old). After that, Fitzgerald and Azubuike laughed while they mocked the accent of the Argentinian Campazzo. The former Mansfield (Texas) High School standout played in 24 games on multiple assignments to the Mavericks' D-League affiliate in Frisco, averaging 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks for the Del Harris-coached Texas Legends. Azubuike (ankle) is out Friday against the Hornets. [2] Azubuike was a four-year starter averaging 16.9 points and 9.7 rebounds per game his senior year. Select a random fan. Barnett will return for his 35th season providing opinion and insights, but his medium will change. 22years (September 17, 1999)Udoka Azubuike / Age. Jim has been a fixture on our broadcast team for over three decades and has served as a comforting and trusted voice for our fans during several different eras of Warriors basketball, Welts said in the statement. Green was signed out of free agency to a multi-year contract. Draymond Green (left) is introduced by Warriors analyst Jim Barnett at a press conference held to announce the re-signing of Green at the Warriors team practice facility in Oakland, California, on Thursday, July 9, 2015. [39] Azubuike was assigned to the Jazz's NBA G League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars, for the start of the 2021 G League season, making his G League debut on February 10, 2021. Carol FitzgeraldBob Fitzgerald / Spouse (m. 19902016). [29], On April 22, 2019, Azubuike announced he would return to Kansas for his senior season. The couple recently made headlines after getting married earlier in October 2022. Weird vibes. He is moving to the radio booth to team up with longtime radio voice Tim Roye on 95.7 FM The Game. You know, he might just be the perfect guy to take on the team ambassador role, whatever that means. He got up under Andre [Iguodala]., Fitzgerald asked, Well, whats the main sport in Argentina?, Azubuike answered, Soccer, thats what I was thinking. Barnett spent 11 seasons as a guard in the NBA, including three with the Warriors, when he averaged 11.9 points per game. newsletter, future vice president of basketball operations. blancs50 4 yr. ago. He holds both Nigerian and US citizenship; his application for British citizenship was turned down in December 2007 due to problems with the immigration status of his parents at the time of his birth.[1]. Azubuike is also the co-founder of The Athletes' Corner, which is a nonprofit organization working with professional athletes to create faith-based and family-focused media content. In his first year, Kelenna took home $251,000.Then in the following years, he earned $2.9 Million and $3.3 Million.In the 2010/11 season, Kelenna signed with New York Knicks for $3.3 Million. Kelenna David Azubuike (born 16 December 1983)[1] is a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player and currently the Golden State Warriors television analyst on NBC Sports Bay Area. Azubuike was the first Gatorade Call-Up of the 2006-7 NBA season, after leading the NBA Developmental League (later the G League) in scoring for the Fort Worth Flyers. His presence will add a new dimension to our TV broadcasts and we are thrilled with the addition., Barnett said of Azubuike, I really mean this: Im so happy its Kelenna and not someone else. Two adults who talk on television for a living should know better than to mock the accent of a player from a different country, as. Im looking forward to it. Cookies are small text files that can be used by websites to make a user's experience more efficient. Approx. Its time to pay the broadcasting luxury tax and pair Barnett, irreplaceable living legend, with Baron Davis, the bearded dynamo who taught long-suffering Warriors fans to respect themselves once again, or perhaps, for the first time. As part of his comeback, he was assigned to the Mavericks' D-League affiliate, the Texas Legends. [18] He was awarded All-Big 12 third team by the conference's coaches[19] and second team by the AP. Just to be clear, were not trying to get anyone actually fired here, even in this hypothetical dream scenario. We have been suffering in silence, but discussing John Mayers underrated guitar chops at the close of the Warriors-Wizards game is the straw that broke the camels brain. [13] Azubuike never played in a game for the Knicks. With Steph Curry out (but not for much longer), Klay Thompson has filled his shoes as the Dubs no. [11], On 17 November 2009, it was announced that Azubuike would miss the rest of the 200910 season after tearing his right patellar tendon in a game at the Milwaukee Bucks. Azubuike will receive a deal for the rest of this season and a team option for next season, sources said. A daily roundup of Golden State Warriors news from Golden State of Mind, By submitting your email, you agree to our, This date in Warriors history: Kelenna Azubuike debuts. But most of us endure it. How old is Udoka? His then assistant coach Harry Coxsome and his wife Donna took care of him and soon became his legal guardians. On August 4, 2006, the Houston Rockets signed Azubuike to their training camp roster, but waived him on October 24 after only two preseason games. Hes done an outstanding job the last few seasons as a member of our pre, halftime and post-game shows, and his familiarity with our team, our players and our fans dating back to the We Believe days will serve him well in this new role. 62. Rivers, a former Knick, fired back in an Instagram comment after the game. His comments on myself and Facu were beyond disrespectful. Preference cookies enable a website to remember information that changes the way the website behaves or looks, like your preferred language or the region that you are in. But Kelena's an analyst for the Warriors local broadcast station now, offers some pretty good insight. Its also something that one doesnt really have to make the case for. Read More, In case of sale of your personal information, you may opt out by using the link Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Oops. He loves the game, he loves the players, and he very clearly loved his old job. For more information, please see our [20], On April 20, 2018, Azubuike announced his intention to enter the 2018 NBA draft. Hes done an outstanding job the last few seasons as a member of our pre, halftime and post-game shows on NBC Sports Bay Area, and his familiarity with our team, our players and our fans dating back to the We Believe days will serve him well in this new role. Fitz and Buike will merely be repurposed to roles that better suit them. I really couldn't find much and was wondering if I'm missing something? Whatever we lose from not having someone explain a shot did or didnt go in will be more than made up for. He had his own perspective, his own point of view, his own firsthand wisdom from his playing days that he was able to distill brilliantly to the average viewer for the length of any random broadcast. Can you integrate if function is not continuous? What can the Knicks do for an encore after the thrilling h MLB's rule changes will only bring needless new degree of confusion, Yankees may get solution to to glut of infielders after NL teams' misfortune, The Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast, The Show with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman, Amazin' But True: A NY Mets Baseball Podcast, Gangs All Here: A NY Jets Football Podcast, Kellyanne Conway and George Conway to divorce, Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave. Get the latest news, stats, videos, highlights and more about small forward Kelenna Azubuike on ESPN. Undrafted out of Kentucky, Azubuike began his pro career with the Fort Worth Flyers in the D-League and was regarded as a quality defender and 3-point shooter before his knee troubles (the Fort Worth franchise has since relocated to Reno, Nev.). and our I averaged 11 ppg, 12 ppg, and 16 ppg of the bench for a loaded Clippers team. The Fitz bingo card is the worlds most sadly reliable bingo card, and were subject to it every game, whether it be the fetishization of four-year college players, insisting the first home game after a road trip is still a road game, describing shots from a few feet beyond the arc as being heaved from Millbrae or Hayward or Redwood City, or mentioning to a queasy extent the beautiful smile of Andrew Wiggins. In his freshman season he started in six of the 11 games he played in before tearing ligaments in his left wrist, which ended his season. The surgery was performed in Indianapolis by foot and ankle specialist Dr. David Porter in consultation with Jazz team physician Dr. Travis Maak. Azubuike then played for the Fort Worth Flyers of the NBA Development League, leading the league in scoring during the 200607 season and eventually being called up to play for the Golden State Warriors. Austin Rivers is not happy with comments that the Golden State Warriors' broadcasting team made on Tuesday night. Azubuike attended Victory Christian School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he was recruited by then-University of Kentucky coach Tubby Smith. Ridiculous stuff. [4]In 2007-08, he averaged 8 points and 4 rebounds in 21 minutes of action. He looked like a soccer player there., Then, Azubuike mocked Campazzos accent and said, How can you call this? Im very grateful for everything Ive had over the years. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Hes fairly knowledgeable about the game, reasonably prepared, generally knows how to pronounce last names and always seems to remember if someone is from one of the Congos. As basically everyone who has ever been irritated with Fitzgerald on a nightly basis for years and years will grudgingly admit, hes a competent, even pretty good play-by-play guy. Late in the second quarter, while Rivers was at the free throw line, Fitzgerald and Azubuike began discussing the 29-year-old guard and his familial ties within the league. Many of us still feel a certain rawness about the semi-mysterious ouster of Barnett, a certain sadness that Davis left us for the Los Angeles Clippers after a 48-win season that was begging to be avenged. He currently handles San Francisco 49ers preseason broadcasts and served as the play-by-play voice for the Arena Football Leagues San Jose SaberCats, an organization which is now defunct. The Clippers' offer was matched by the Warriors on July 24, 2008, allowing Azubuike to remain a Warrior.[6]. Azubuike covered Warrior's games after he joined NBC Sports Bay Area in 2015. Azubuike said in a fake accent, as he and his partner chuckled. His father, Fabian, was a police officer, and his mother, Florence, was a middle school teacher. How close we are to bringing lights back. Some FAQs Why did Kelenna Azubuike retire? Hes still very much a presence, involved in the team and the community. Dub Hub:Bob Myers gives an update on Andrew Wiggins absence. On January 17, while the Warriors' roster was depleted by an eight-player trade in progress, Azubuike played 48 minutes versus the Los Angeles Clippers, scoring 28 points and collecting 7 rebounds. [6] Azubuike played with the Denver Nuggets in the 2006 Toshiba Vegas Summer League, where he averaged 16.4 points and finished tied at tenth in the league in scoring. Kelenna Azubuike is a Basketball Player, zodiac sign: Sagittarius. [22] On May 30, 2018, he announced his intent to withdraw from the draft and return to Kansas for his junior season. Baron Davis joining Barnett as his commiserating-mate is an obvious choice on multiple levels. Before I extol the virtues of this particular pair, I must say a few (hundred) words about the play-by-play man I hope to exile. Let Barnett explain triple-threat positioning or what Bill Russells favorite sandwich was as Baron Davis waxes rhapsodical about Laura Dern or what it was like to shame the entire country of Russia when he posterized Andrei Kirilenko. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. pic.twitter.com/17FXszxmEe, Just a few minutes later, Campazzo was arguing a foul call when Fitzgerald said on the broadcast, Campazzo likes to get scrappy and then look aggrieved all the time., Azubuike chimed in, adding, See, this is how you lose your credibility. Davis, despite his relatively short stint in the Bay Area, is very much beloved. [28], Kansas won all nine games Azubuike played including against top ten teams Tennessee and Michigan State. The teams future vice president of basketball operations was sent to the bench, while Nelson openly talked about how much happier he and Junior would be if he went and played for his dads Clippers. Pilfer Mark Jones from the Kings. I dont know. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. In 2021, Kroichick earned an Associated Press Sports Editors Top 10 award for his feature on Stanford quarterback Tanner McKee conquering cancer. Im very happy and grateful to still be employed, Barnett told The Chronicle. Azubuike said Barnett helped connect him to NBC Sports Bay Area and played a huge role in launching Azubuikes second career. Lets bring Azubuikes fellow We Believe luminary to the booth, too. He was having a stellar offensive season in 2009-10 before he ruptured his patella tendon in a game against the Milwaukee Bucks. After a stint at Syracuses Sportscaster U and a recommendation from Warriors broadcaster Jim Barnett, Azubuike became the color commentator we all know and love. Azubuike underwent successful surgery today to repair multiple ankle and foot ligaments in his right foot to stabilize the Subtalar joint. One game later, he was a starter. Azubuike entered the 2005 NBA Draft after his junior year. The defunct Central Division won one championship in 1950. He retired after playing the 2011-12. Warriors TV announcers Bob Fitzgerald and Kelenna Azubuike targeted the Denver . A lingering knee injury has forced former Cat Kelenna Azubuike into an early retirement from basketball. He was also the only player to ever earn Oklahomas Super 5 recognition three times, an honor bestowed upon the states top five players, regardless of classification. Will Bay Bridge go dark forever? Others are cautiously optimistic that by 2029 or so, Fitzgerald and Azubuike will really start to gel and find their rhythm. The website cannot function properly without these cookies. Remove the outlier, and he averaged 9.6 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 22.8 minutes per game in the previous 5 contests. Its more akin to Lacob-ism, and before that, Cohan-ism. If Barnett made the perpetually dungeon-bound Warriors bearable from the sidelines, it was Davis who restored pride to the franchise, gave them a jolt of renewed life when they needed it most, while briefly foreshadowing an era of dominance. Hes too noble for this kind of skullduggery. Nationality: England. By Steve Berman. Azubuikes yes-man persona is a jarring shift from the presence of Barnett, who did yeomans work smoothing down Fitzgeralds cloying edges. He ferociously toes the company line, to an off-putting extent. Azubuike also works as an analyst for the NBA on ESPN Radio. or is he playing somewhere else? Trivia. Kelenna tells the story of Melo buying his jersey off him on the Knicks pic.twitter.com/mVUEl6LATm. [36] Azubuike's career field goal percentage of 74.9% is an NCAA record.[37]. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). Im grateful that the Warriors are giving me a contract to do this. The intention is to display ads that are relevant and engaging for the individual user and thereby more valuable for publishers and third party advertisers. Hes too good to only be calling away games on the radio. Well, that varies from player to player, and Kelenna Azubuike, former New York Knick, realized this the hard way when Carmelo Anthony joined his then team and wanted to take the No. While he was somehow able to keep pace with the other guards, he knew it was time to retire if he wanted the retain the ability to walk in future years. [14], On 23 March 2012, Azubuike was signed by the Dallas Mavericks. Here's what his return means for KU", "K-State, KU well represented on All-Big team", "Jayhawks sit out Udoka Azubuike due to wrist injury", "Kansas' Udoka Azubuike to Undergo Season-Ending Surgery on Right Hand", "Self: Doc says Azubuike's surgery 'couldn't have gone any better', "KU Coach Bill Self Laments Loss of Azubuike", "Udoka Azubuike to return for senior season", 7-foot center Udoka Azubuike returning to KU for senior season, "No.
