By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. He got a big contract extension when, oh wait, his dad was the coach, said Fitzgerald. Rivers, the son of veteran coach Doc Rivers . Azubuike attended Victory Christian School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he was recruited . [21] Various of these games have been broadcast by ESPNU. Marketing cookies are used to track visitors across websites. The Denver Nuggets are the only NBA team to come back from a 3-1 series deficit multiple times in the same year (2020). What ever happened to Kelenna Azubuike? 22years (September 17, 1999)Udoka Azubuike / Age. After that, Fitzgerald and Azubuike laughed while they mocked the accent of the Argentinian Campazzo. Im excited to bring my personality to it and talk to fans about why things are happening. Jan 22, 2021. 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. But most of us endure it. 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?! A possible solution to the pure play-by-play quandary is to bring a third person to the already star-studded booth. [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. Fifteen years ago today, Kelenna Azubuike made his Golden State Warriors debut in a win over the Charlotte Hornets. Hes handsome, educated and has a gift for words.. For more information, please see our [2]He returned to the Flyers, where he averaged 26 points and 5 rebounds, while leading the D-League in scoring and ranking third in three-point field goal percentage.[3]. [24] On December 4, 2018, he severely sprained his right ankle against Wofford and missed the following four games. Sign up for the And also, at least at one point, a dangerous one. Warriors TV announcers Bob Fitzgerald and Kelenna Azubuike targeted the Denver . [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. [23], Azubuike was selected as an honorable mention to the 20182019 All-Big 12 preseason team. Now that they appear to be emerging from their recent, unsettling slump, they should be a squad reliably worthy of a nightly League Pass Alert. 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. Yet a specter haunts Chase Center (and other assorted arenas) on the sidelines: Festooned to the team like an albatross is the bewildering broadcasting tandem of Bob Fitzgerald and Kelenna Azubuike. [20], On April 20, 2018, Azubuike announced his intention to enter the 2018 NBA draft. This counts as a high-profile promotion for Azubuike, who has served as an analyst on Warriors Pregame and Postgame Live the past four years. 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. The double hype-man/yes-man experiment has failed. The website cannot function properly without these cookies. As part of his comeback, he was assigned to the Mavericks' D-League affiliate, the Texas Legends. I averaged 11 ppg, 12 ppg, and 16 ppg of the bench for a loaded Clippers team. The best insights from the ultimate insiders, 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Magic, Timberwolves players exchange punches during wild brawl, Ex-Knick calls out Ben Simmons practice tale, NBA guard fumes over ejection for phantom elbow. Azubuike said Barnett helped connect him to NBC Sports Bay Area and played a huge role in launching Azubuikes second career. It ended badly, A $200M bike bridge tantalized this Bay Area city. Kelenna Azubuike (@KelennA7) . [1] Azubuike was named to the 2005 SEC All-Tournament Team after averaging 18.0 points in three contests. 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. This is cause for celebration. [1], Considered a four-star recruit by Scout.com, Azubuike was listed as the No. 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. 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. Or again, my preferred route, ignore this half-problem entirely. Theres a way to salvage the broadcast team: Jim Barnett, whom Id wager most Golden State fans roughly my age consider something of a father figure, needs to return to the TV side of things. Both also are scheduled to join Fitzgerald for the first telecast from Chase Center. Klay Thompson scores 27 as Warriors keep rolling in 108-99 win over Pelicans. 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. Now, why would Baron ever, in a million Earth years, actually do this? A lingering knee injury has forced former Cat Kelenna Azubuike into an early retirement from basketball. Azubuike Emanuel Egwuekwe (born 16 July 1989) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays for Rivers United as a centre back. Azubuike entered the 2005 NBA Draft after his junior year. [2] Playing for Victory Christian High School, Azubuike led his team to the state title as a sophomore. 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. "Utah Jazz take Kansas center Udoka Azubuike at No. He bridges eras and generations with absolute clarity. The Dallas Mavericks signed swingman Kelenna Azubuike to fill the roster spot vacated by Thursday's release of Sean Williams. He was later included in Golden State's sign-and-trade acquisition of David Lee from the New York Knicks in the summer of 2010, but Azubuike never played a game with the Knicks and was released Feb. 28, 2011. For sure unprofessional., The Golden State Warriors broadcasters need to honestly be stopped. Aug 05, 2007, 03:48 pm. With Mickael Pietrus likely on the way out . 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 . 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. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. 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. U. Azubuike Ankle: Game Time Decision Udoka Azubuike Ankle: Game Time Decision, B. Bogdanovic Jazzs Bojan Bogdanovic: Plays well but cant hit big shot Bojan Bogdanovic Jazzs Bojan Bogdanovic: Plays well but cant hit big shot. Early life. The Golden State Warriors signed him for four years worth $7 Million. 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. 270lbsUdoka Azubuike / Weight Azubuike spent five years in the NBA (averaging 14.4 pts a game in 2008-2009) before he had to hang up his sneakers. Its also something that one doesnt really have to make the case for. Its important to note that while Azubuike is moving into the seat Barnett occupied for 34 years, he owes a debt of gratitude to Barnett, who entered broadcasting nine years after his retirement in 1977. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Had too much integrity. Dub Hub:Bob Myers gives an update on Andrew Wiggins absence. [1] Azubuike is a Christian. Im looking forward to it.. Azubuike called himself a basketball junkie who loves talking about the game. [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. Born in London to Nigerian parents, Azubuike moved to the United States as a child. Of course, it must be said that Barnett would not approve of this column. His former partner, Fitzgerald, long a burr in the collective saddles of a vocal segment of Warriors fandom, is by contrast mostly a goofy propagandist. Golden State included him in the David Lee trade in 2010, but he didnt play a game for the New York Knicks. 7 off his back . Its a natural for me and its a nice transition. That whole dance was an awkward misfire on the part of the Light Years Brain Trust, and even a few years later, leaves a not entirely un-sour taste in Dub Nations collective mouth. 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. [38] On November 24, 2020, the Utah Jazz announced that they had signed Azubuike. [8] He was also eligible to play for the Nigeria national team. 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. 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. A 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) center/forward from Seton Hall University, Fitzgerald played two seasons in the Basketball Association of America as a member of the Toronto Huskies, New York Knicks, and Rochester Royals. On 9 April 2012, he was recalled by the Mavericks. He finished the season averaging 13.4 points and 6.8 rebounds. 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..