I think it will be a better season than a lot of people think, Azubuike said. Rivers was at the free-throw line when Fitzgerald and Azubuike, who played five seasons in the NBA with the Warriors and Mavericks, struck up the conversation about his time in LA under his father, who is now head coach of the Sixers. 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. N.Y Knicks player Kelenna Azubuike attends the launch of the new Trident Vitality gum at the Gansevoort Park Avenue on December 8, 2010 in New York City. But because my last name, its an easy diss and cop out. I was wronged!, The incident came just a week after Rivers had a pair of fans removed from aNuggets-Thunder game in Oklahoma City,after he said they were talking about [his] family the whole night.. But Kelena's an analyst for the Warriors local broadcast station now, offers some pretty good insight. Azubuike has also worked as an analyst for the NBA on ESPN Radio since 2022. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. List of European basketball players in the United States, "Azubuike destined for greatness All the hoopla not just hype - this kid can play", "Ex-Cat Azubuike earning respect of NBA peers: KentuckySports.com", "SI.com NCAA Basketball UK's Morris remains in draft as deadline passes Tuesday June 21, 2005", "InsideHoops.com Kelenna Azubuike released by Houston Rockets", "WARRIORS: Warriors Sign Kelenna Azubuike to Contract", "Blow for Britain as London-born Kelenna Azubuike is denied passport Times Online", "Sources: Clips sign swingman Azubuike to three-year offer sheet NBA ESPN", "Warriors keep Azubuike, match Clippers' offer NBA ESPN", Warriors' Kelenna Azubuike out for the season, C.J. The Cleveland Cavaliers are the only team to come back after being down 3-1 in the NBA Finals and win Game 7 (2016). Ive had a great run of 34 years on TV, Barnett said. He is moving to the radio booth to team up with longtime radio voice Tim Roye on 95.7 FM The Game. 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. [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. But when youre doing color commentary, youre reacting on the spot. 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. 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 . Williams played in only eight games with the Mavericks after leaving his team in Israel to sign with his hometown team on Dec. 21, averaging 3.6 points and 1.6 rebounds in 8.1 minutes. 22years (September 17, 1999)Udoka Azubuike / Age. [5] Its more about what sort of homer you are. As I mentioned, Azubuike was a solid in-studio analyst. Pilfer Mark Jones from the Kings. 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. Fifteen years ago today, Kelenna Azubuike made his Golden State Warriors debut in a win over the Charlotte Hornets. Heres who has offered big bucks so far. Barnett, 75, has on numerous occasions worked with Roye on radio, usually in postseason games on national TV. They all but outright. How old is Udoka? [4]Azubuike was selected to play in the 2016 McDonald's All-American Boys Game,[5] Jordan Brand Classic,[6] and Nike Hoop Summit. 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. Cookies are small text files that can be used by websites to make a user's experience more efficient. [1] Azubuike is a Christian. 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. Azubuike appeared to suffer a dislocated ankle in a G League contest on March 10, his third right ankle injury in the past 13 months. He was our smile because it happened franchise player. Appreciating Klay Thompson filling in the superstar shoes. I dont know. Fridays news ended lingering uncertainty about Barnetts future with the Warriors. 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. [30] According to KU coach Bill Self, Were all very excited about Udoka making the decision not to enter the [NBA] draft. Sign up for the He did not initially hire an agent, which would allow him to return before the combine. Its more akin to Lacob-ism, and before that, Cohan-ism. 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. Azubuikes yes-man persona is a jarring shift from the presence of Barnett, who did yeomans work smoothing down Fitzgeralds cloying edges. We think Kelenna is one of the bright, young stars in the broadcasting business, Warriors President Rick Welts said in a statement. Barnett fully expected to move into an ambassadors role with the team at the time. Azubuike called himself a basketball junkie who loves talking about the game. 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.The convention brought together many of the world's political and business leaders to focus attention and . It ended badly, A $200M bike bridge tantalized this Bay Area city. He played college basketball at the University of Kentucky from 2002 to 2005. . Lets not settle for just Barnett, though. A lingering knee injury has forced former Cat Kelenna Azubuike into an early retirement from basketball. 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. Why the Warriors should replace Bob Fitzgerald and Kelenna Azubuike with Jim Barnett and Baron Davis. 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. The second-year center suffered a right ankle sprain earlier this month while on assignment with the G League affiliate Salt Lake City Stars. By Steve Berman. [3] On January 28, 2016, he announced his choice to play college basketball at the University of Kansas.[11]. All I know how to do is be myself.. His presence will add a new dimension to our TV broadcasts, and we are thrilled with the addition.. Azubuike said Barnett helped connect him to NBC Sports Bay Area and played a huge role in launching Azubuikes second career. [4] Azubuike was the first Gatorade Call-Up of the 200607 NBA Development League season, and the 49th player overall to be called up to the NBA since the D-League began play in November 2001. The couple recently made headlines after getting married earlier in October 2022. When the Warriors make their regular-season debut at Chase Center in October, there will be plenty of new faces, beginning with the teams roster. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Unclassified cookies are cookies that we are in the process of classifying, together with the providers of individual cookies. And still do now! And he threw down a lot of spectacular dunks. That remains to be seen. 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-Warriors coach Don Nelson when he suffered a season-ending knee injury. 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. A huge thank you to the NBC Sports Bay Area for preparing me for this, said Azubuike, who has done color commentary for multiple media outlets. Warriors vs. Pelicans injury report: So many absences for both teams. Wikipedia. 34 player in the nation in 2002. While his NBA career was cut short by a devastating freak injury less than three . The same will apply to their telecasts and radio broadcasts. Clumsy jokes. Fifteen years ago today, Kelenna Azubuike made his Golden State Warriors debut in a win over the Charlotte Hornets. Nuggets guard Austin Rivers isnt happy with a pair of Warriors TV announcers for voicing copout and disrespectful comments about him and his teammate, Facundo Campazzo, during Denvers 89-86 win at Golden State on Tuesday. Barnett truly was (is) the best sort of broadcaster: a font of knowledge with a requisite respect for the past who, at the same time, is excited for both the here and now and the future. [2] His parents were doctors and had moved to London for work. Not exactly my problem. Rivers, the son of veteran coach Doc Rivers . After the Warriors matched a multi-year contract offer from the Clippers in the summer of 2008 - perhaps out of anger about the Baron Davis signing - Azubuike started nearly the entire 2008-9 season, averaging 14.4 points per game and making 44.8% of his three-pointers. Carol FitzgeraldBob Fitzgerald / Spouse (m. 19902016). He finished his high school career as the second all-time leading scorer in Oklahoma prep basketball history after amassing 3,530 career points. Had too much integrity. His comments on myself and Facu were beyond disrespectful. Azubuike (ankle) is out Friday against the Hornets. The Eastern champions have won 38 championships while the Western champions have won 32 championships. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. In short, nobody loves this relatively new-ish duo. Utah JazzUdoka Azubuike / Current team (#20 / Center)The Utah Jazz are an American professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City. Lets move on with dignity. He will start his comeback with the Frisco-based Texas Legends, Dallas' D-League affiliate. Fitzgeralds homerism isnt the genuine, charming if sort of silly homerism of a drunk but passionate fan. Hes handsome, educated and has a gift for words.. The Clippers' offer was matched by the Warriors on July 24, 2008, allowing Azubuike to remain a Warrior.[6]. I remember him being a stud, especially in 2K. [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. [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. [20] Since then, he has been assigned to announce 11 of the 19 NBA D-League games produced by NBA TV in 2016. Nationality: England. After the blockbuster trade that sent Dunleavy and Troy Murphy to Indiana, Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington soaked up many of Azubuikes minutes, and he played sparingly in the teams playoff run. Born in London to Nigerian parents, Azubuike moved to the United States as a child. Its fun.. Odds & lines subject to change. [18] He was waived by the Cavaliers on 14 October 2012. Get the latest news, stats, videos, highlights and more about small forward Kelenna Azubuike on ESPN. [9][10] Azubuike received offers from many universities including Duke, Texas, Kentucky, and shortened his final list of colleges to Florida State, Kansas, and North Carolina. As part of his comeback, he was assigned to the Mavericks' D-League affiliate, the Texas Legends. You dont have to put on makeup.. 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. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Azubuikes effectiveness as a pick-and-roll finisher may be as strong as any other Jazzmans. With Mickael Pietrus likely on the way out . He's also The Chronicle's golf columnist, covering the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and all major championships in Northern California. 27, trade center Tony Bradley and 38th pick to Pistons", 2020 NCAA Men's Basketball Consensus All-Americans, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Udoka_Azubuike&oldid=1122683863, All-American college men's basketball players, Basketball players from Jacksonville, Florida, Amateur Athletic Union men's basketball players, Nigerian expatriate basketball people in the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 19 November 2022, at 00:36. As shambolic as the broadcasts have been these Barnett-less years, were now used to a somewhat unorthodox approach. Some FAQs Why did Kelenna Azubuike retire? Fitz and Buike will merely be repurposed to roles that better suit them. It seemed like he was going to progress into a solid player, and then poof a knee injury seems to end his career? Whenever one hears about ESPN dropping a new "30 for 30" documentary . , Its always a tough thing, when someone has been doing such a great job for so long and then change happens. 7 jersey to Carmelo Anthony. Davis, despite his relatively short stint in the Bay Area, is very much beloved. And though Mr. Boom Dizzle opted out in 2008 and tried to start a super-team with Elton Brand in Los Angeles (weird sentence! A lingering knee injury has forced former Cat Kelenna Azubuike into an early retirement from basketball. [16] His field goal percentage broke the single-season record for Kansas and the Big 12 Conference. Analytics cookies help website owners to understand how visitors interact with websites by collecting and reporting information anonymously. [3], He played Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball for the Georgia Stars in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL). 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. It may never get built, California snowpack hits highest level this century for March, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). With Steph Curry out (but not for much longer), Klay Thompson has filled his shoes as the Dubs no. I averaged 11 ppg, 12 ppg, and 16 ppg of the bench for a loaded Clippers team. But one can easily imagine why Barnett may have intimidated or otherwise irritated Lacob, a new, hands-on owner looking to replace the cogs and pinions of a former era with his own commissars. [15] He averaged 13.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, and led the nation with a 77% field goal percentage for the season. [1] While attending the University of Kentucky, Azubuike majored in business marketing. The good news is its not as though Barnett has renounced calling Warriors games and embraced the life of a curmudgeonly hermit. Trivia. [1] He eventually became an All-State selection, averaging 39.1 points and 13.3 rebounds and leading his team to the Class 4A State Championship Game as a senior. [32] On February 22, 2020, Azubuike scored 23 points and had a career-high 19 rebounds in a 6461 win over top-ranked Baylor. 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. [17] On 28 June 2012, during the 2012 NBA Draft, Azubuike was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Its really an honor, and Im super humbled the Warriors believe in me, Azubuike said in a phone interview. Pairing Barnett and Davis would automatically catapult the Warriors broadcasting team to must-listen TV, leapfrogging mere respectability on their journey back from the dregs. Im so pumped. [21] Azubuike was one of a record-high 69 prospects invited to the NBA Draft Combine that year. "Utah Jazz take Kansas center Udoka Azubuike at No. Regular Season, Playoffs, All-Star) Exclusive: Stunning photos show Yosemite National Park under 15 feet of Warriors treating Andrew Wiggins with understandable patience, but his James Wiseman, leadership genius? Watson has swine flu, "Knicks Acquire Randolph, Azubuike & Turiaf", "Kelenna Azubuike gets call to replace Lamar Odom", "Azubike plays in first NBA game in three seasons", "UK basketball notebook: Ex-Cats Azubuike, Mohammed take crash course in broadcasting", "NBA D-League Alum Kelenna Azubuike Heading To Broadcast Booth For D-League Showcase", "ESPNU to Televise 11 Regular-Season NBA D-League Games Starting in January", "Kelenna Azubuike to be Warriors TV game analyst; Jim Barnett to radio", "Former NBA Star Kelenna Azubuike Shares Details on New Faith Based Film 'Midrange' and Being a Christian Among Pro-Athletes (VIDEO INTERVIEW)", "WARRIORS: Kelenna Azubuike: On A Mission To Tanzania", Career Statistics at Basketball-Reference.com, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kelenna_Azubuike&oldid=1135532503, This page was last edited on 25 January 2023, at 06:49. @ plays for the team . [14] He returned for the NCAA tournament until KU's loss to eventual champion Villanova in the Final Four. In 2016, Kroichick and photographer Michael Macor earned "Best Sports Feature" from the California Newspaper Publishers Association, for their series on Antioch High running back Najee Harris, the nation's No. [13] Azubuike never played in a game for the Knicks. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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. 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. 1 option. Hes too good to only be calling away games on the radio. He has worked with Roye on games for radio when they werent aired on TV. Details on the contract were not disclosed. Whatever we lose from not having someone explain a shot did or didnt go in will be more than made up for. He played four seasons with Golden State, starting with the 2006-07 We Believe team that beat top-seeded Dallas in the first round of the playoffs. The double hype-man/yes-man experiment has failed. So, Im eternally grateful., Said Barnett: Im glad I was able to help him get into this profession. On 9 April 2012, he was recalled by the Mavericks. Hes too noble for this kind of skullduggery. Jazz center Udoka Azubuike underwent successful surgery on Friday to repair multiple ligaments in his right ankle and foot, the team announced. Golden State Warriors television broadcast announcers Bob Fitzgerald and Jim Barnett at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, March 31, 2019. [26] An MRI revealed he tore a ligament in his right hand. [22], He joined NBC Sports Bay Area in 2015, covering Warriors games as a studio analyst for the pregame, halftime, and postgame shows. 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 . After finishing his junior season in college, Azubuike declared himself eligible for the 2005 NBA Draft, eventually going undrafted that year. Azubuike played 81 games in 2007-8 for the Dubs, averaging 8.5 points. Barnett will return for his 35th season providing opinion and insights, but his medium will change. 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By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Ridiculous stuff. The Bulls and the Warriors are the only teams to win at least 70 games in a single season. [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. I dream light years. Kelenna David Azubuike (born December 16, 1983) is an English/American former professional basketball player. The injury, plus a botched surgery that left his kneecap up against his quadriceps, ultimately ended his NBA career. [12] Before the injury, he averaged 5.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, and 62.9% field goal percentage. While his NBA career was cut short . | March 25, 2022, 3:09 p.m. Udoka Azubuike underwent surgery on his injured right ankle and will miss the remainder of the regular season, the Utah Jazz announced Friday. Azubuike spent five years in the NBA (averaging 14.4 pts a game in 2008-2009) before he had to hang up his sneakers. [36] Azubuike's career field goal percentage of 74.9% is an NCAA record.[37]. Fifteen years ago today, Kelenna Azubuike made his Golden State Warriors debut in a win over the Charlotte Hornets. His then assistant coach Harry Coxsome and his wife Donna took care of him and soon became his legal guardians. 270lbsUdoka Azubuike / Weight 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. Its also something that one doesnt really have to make the case for. But when youve fought your way into the league as an undrafted D-Leaguer and rehabilitated a bad knee for years, dealing with Bob Fitzgerald on a nightly basis is no big deal. The shimmering Bay Lights turn off Sunday night as the effort to raise $11 million to fund a bigger, better version is only partway there. or is he playing somewhere else? The Golden State Warriors signed him for four years worth $7 Million. He went 4/4 from the field in that brief stint. Im not really concerned about the difficulty of following Jim. He was not drafted, but played some preseason games for the Cleveland Cavaliers; he was waived at the end of the preseason and acquired by the Fort Worth Flyers. Theres a better way to live. 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. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. Since the 199192 season, the team has played its home games at Vivint Arena. [1] During the 200607 season, Azubuike made an appearance on Bay Area hip hop station KMEL and conducted an interview while the station played music which he personally produced. Why did Kelenna Azubuike retire? Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. The website cannot function properly without these cookies. Seemed to work out alright., Azubuike asked, Are you saying there was some nepotism there? to which Fitzgerald said, Im just saying, if youre gonna give the money, might as well give it to your kid., Rivers continued to defend himself in his comment, writing, Do u know how many guys in league made more than me while not doing half as much?! Born in London to Nigerian parents, Azubuike moved to the United States as a child. Radio doesnt show age. How close we are to bringing lights back. 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. Rona Azubuike is the wife of former professional basketball player and sports analyst Kelenna Azubuike. Azubuike attended Victory Christian School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he was recruited . Its Baron Davis. 'Whatever seed we are, we're ready': Is there room for Cleveland among the East elite? Hes still very much a presence, involved in the team and the community. 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. 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). Though Azubuikes style will differ a bit from that of Barnett a natural, given the generational gap one thing that wont change is honesty and objectivity. He was waived by the Knicks on 28 February 2011. [10] In the final hour, Golden State matched the offer made by the Clippers on 24 July 2008, allowing Azubuike to remain a Warrior. 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.
