Ime Udoka

Ime Sunday Udoka (/ˈm ˈdkə/ EE-may oo-DOH-kə; born August 9, 1977) is a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player and current assistant coach for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He represented the Nigeria national basketball team during his playing career.

Ime Udoka
Brooklyn Nets
PositionAssistant coach
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1977-08-09) August 9, 1977
Portland, Oregon
NationalityAmerican / Nigerian
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High schoolJefferson (Portland, Oregon)
College
NBA draft2000 / Undrafted
Playing career2000–2012
PositionSmall forward
Number5, 8, 3
Coaching career2012–present
Career history
As player:
2000–2001Fargo-Moorhead Beez
2001Independiente
2002–2003North Charleston Lowgators
2003Adirondack Wildcats
2003–2004Charleston Lowgators
2004Los Angeles Lakers
2004Charleston Lowgators
2004Gran Canaria
2005JA Vichy
2005–2006Fort Worth Flyers
2006New York Knicks
2006–2007Portland Trail Blazers
20072009San Antonio Spurs
2009–2010Sacramento Kings
2010–2011San Antonio Spurs
2012UCAM Murcia
As coach:
20122019San Antonio Spurs (assistant)
2019–2020Philadelphia 76ers (assistant)
2020–presentBrooklyn Nets (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
As player:

As assistant coach:

Stats  at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Career

Udoka, a small forward, attended Portland's Jefferson High School, and the University of San Francisco, before transferring to Portland State University where he starred for the Vikings. He started his professional basketball career by playing in the NBDL with the Charleston Lowgators who drafted him with 39th overall pick in 2002 NBDL Draft.[1] He was called up to play with the Los Angeles Lakers on January 14, 2004, but was later waived. After a stint in Europe, he returned to the states and once again drafted in NBDL. This time he was drafted 3rd overall by Fort Worth Flyers in 2005 NBDL Draft.[2] He averaged 17.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game with the Flyers.[3] On April 6, 2006, Udoka was signed by the New York Knicks. Udoka was waived by the Knicks on September 11, 2006.

Udoka was the last player invited to his hometown Portland Trail Blazers training camp before the 2006–07 season, getting the invitation only after Aaron Miles failed a physical. Despite the death of his father during the preseason,[4] Udoka impressed the coaching staff with his defensive skills and made the team. After having played in only 12 NBA games in his career, Udoka started in 75 games played in the 2006–07 season. He played 28.6 minutes per game while averaging 8.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 0.9 steals.

In 2007, Udoka signed a contract with the San Antonio Spurs.[3][5] He played in 73 games averaging 5.8 points and 3.1 rebounds in 18 minutes. On his second season with the Spurs, Udoka played in 67 games, and started in three. He averaged 4.3 points and 2.8 rebounds in 15.4 minutes.[6]

Following the 2009 season, Udoka became a free agent, eventually re-signing with the Trail Blazers.[7] He was waived by the Blazers on October 22, 2009,[8][9] but signed with the Sacramento Kings on November 4, 2009.[10] He played 69 games with the Kings, averaging 3.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in 13.7 minutes.

On November 24, 2010, Udoka rejoined the Spurs,[11] but he was waived on January 5, 2011 after playing only 20 games.[12]

On December 15, 2011, Udoka signed with the New Jersey Nets.[13] However, he was waived on December 23, 2011.[14]

In January 2012, he signed with UCAM Murcia of the Spanish Liga ACB.[15]

In August 2012, Udoka joined the San Antonio Spurs as an assistant coach. Udoka would win his first championship after the Spurs defeated the Miami Heat in the 2014 NBA Finals 4–1.[16]

Udoka was also the key for LaMarcus Aldridge's decision to join the Spurs in 2015. Both Udoka and Aldridge played together with the Trail Blazers during Aldridge's rookie season.[17]

In June 2019, Udoka was hired as an assistant coach of the Philadelphia 76ers.[18]

On October 30, 2020, the Brooklyn Nets hired Udoka as an assistant coach.[19]

Personal life

Udoka's father, who is of Akwa Ibom descent, was born in Nigeria,[4] which qualified him for Nigerian citizenship. He was a member of the Nigerian national team, for whom he played at the 2006 FIBA World Championships. His older sister Mfon used to play in the WNBA. His mother, who died in late 2011, was an American from Illinois.[20]

In November 2011, Udoka's then-girlfriend, Nia Long gave birth to their first child, Kez Sunday Udoka.[21] The couple became engaged in May 2015.[22]

NBA career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2003–04 L.A. Lakers 407.0.333.000.5001.3.5.5.22.0
2005–06 New York 8014.3.375.333.5002.1.8.1.02.8
2006–07 Portland 757528.6.461.406.7423.71.5.9.28.4
2007–08 San Antonio 73018.0.424.370.7593.1.9.8.25.8
2008–09 San Antonio 67315.4.383.328.6092.8.8.5.24.3
2009–10 Sacramento 69213.7.378.286.7372.8.8.5.13.6
2010–11 San Antonio 2006.5.238.000.500.9.7.4.0.7
Career 3168018.1.417.356.7052.91.0.7.25.2

Playoffs

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2008 San Antonio 16014.8.465.400.7142.91.1.7.15.4
2009 San Antonio 5020.8.350.125.4004.6.8.8.23.4
Career 21016.2.440.354.5833.31.0.7.15.0

References

  1. "2002-03 NBDL Draft Board". NBA.com. October 31, 2002. Archived from the original on August 15, 2007. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  2. "2005 NBA D-League Draft Board". NBA.com. November 3, 2005. Archived from the original on December 2, 2010. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  3. Monroe, Mike (August 13, 2007). "Spurs: Udoka agrees to contract". mysanantonio.com. Archived from the original on August 25, 2007. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  4. "Nigeria - Former Viking Ime Udoka makes his way". FIBA.basketball. February 16, 2007. Archived from the original on March 27, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  5. "Spurs add Blazers' sniper Udoka". ESPN.com. August 16, 2007. Archived from the original on March 27, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  6. "Ime Udoka Career Stats Page". NBA.com. Archived from the original on August 31, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  7. "Trail Blazers Sign Ime Udoka". NBA.com. September 25, 2009. Archived from the original on September 28, 2009. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  8. "Udoka, Collins waived by Blazers". ESPN.com. October 22, 2009. Archived from the original on March 27, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  9. Quick, Jason (October 22, 2009). "Ime Udoka: 'I thought these times were behind me ...'". oregonlive.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  10. "Kings sign Ime Udoka". FOX Sports. November 4, 2009. Archived from the original on March 27, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  11. "Spurs Sign Ime Udoka". NBA.com. November 24, 2010. Archived from the original on November 27, 2010. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  12. "Spurs Waive Ime Udoka". NBA.com. January 5, 2011. Archived from the original on January 8, 2011. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  13. "NETS Sign Ime Udoka". NBA.com. December 15, 2011. Archived from the original on January 23, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  14. Castillo, Jorge (December 24, 2011). "Nets finalize roster by waiving Ime Udoka, keeping Linwood native Dennis Horner". NJ.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  15. "Udoka firma por el UCAM Murcia". ucamdeportes.com. January 5, 2012. Archived from the original on March 27, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  16. "Ime Udoka Joins Spurs Coaching Staff". NBA.com. August 28, 2012. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  17. "LaMarcus Aldridge: Ime Udoka got the Spurs deal done". Sports Illustrated. August 24, 2015. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  18. Pompey, Keith (June 7, 2019). "Sixers hiring Ime Udoka to become lead assistant coach". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on June 7, 2019. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  19. "Brooklyn Nets Announce Coaching Staff". NBA.com. October 30, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  20. Mazzeo, Mike (December 15, 2011). "Udoka dealing with tragedy". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  21. Finn, Natalie (November 10, 2011). "Nia Long gives birth to her second son". today.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  22. Mackie, Drew (May 26, 2015). "Nia Long Is Engaged to Ime Udoka". people.com. Archived from the original on March 8, 2017. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
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