Azubuike has been involved with many humanitarian causes during his time in the NBA. Theres nothing inherently wrong with being a homer! But when youre doing color commentary, youre reacting on the spot. During his career as a professional Basketball player, He played for various teams including Texas Legends, Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, and Fort Worth Flyers. Azubuike spent five years in the NBA (averaging 14.4 pts a game in 2008-2009) before he had to hang up his sneakers. Something went wrong. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Azubuike was the youngest of 3, with two older brothers and two older sisters. Approx. [3] On January 28, 2016, he announced his choice to play college basketball at the University of Kansas.[11]. Were excited he will continue to be a member of our family and broadcast team on the radio side, where he will provide his valuable insight and perspective., Ron Kroichick is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. And though Mr. Boom Dizzle opted out in 2008 and tried to start a super-team with Elton Brand in Los Angeles (weird sentence! Oops. [22] On May 30, 2018, he announced his intent to withdraw from the draft and return to Kansas for his junior season. Kelenna Azubuike was born on December 16, 1983 in England (39 years old). 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. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). [21] Various of these games have been broadcast by ESPNU. [4][7], After going undrafted, Azubuike was signed by the Golden State Warriors on 2 January 2007. Azubuike lost his father to an undiagnosed disease at the age of 10. He was having a stellar offensive season in 2009-10 before he ruptured his patella tendon in a game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Azubuike played 81 games in 2007-8 for the Dubs, averaging 8.5 points. Lets move on with dignity. And still do now! This is cause for celebration. 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 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. On July 7, the Warriors re-signed him. [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. On March 25, 2022, Azubuike underwent right foot surgery and was ruled out for the rest of the 202122 season.[40]. Fridays news ended lingering uncertainty about Barnetts future with the Warriors. Lex 18 caught up with Kelenna this weekend to see how is handling life after . Barnetts replacement, Azubuike, is a likeable guy (and Ive always admired his biceps) and also a competent in-studio analyst, but the synergy isnt there. 1 college football recruit. In 2021, Kroichick earned an Associated Press Sports Editors Top 10 award for his feature on Stanford quarterback Tanner McKee conquering cancer. 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. Assessing every Golden State players performance from the teams 108-99 win over New Orleans. He finished his high school career as the second all-time leading scorer in Oklahoma prep basketball history after amassing 3,530 career points. So, Im eternally grateful., Said Barnett: Im glad I was able to help him get into this profession. He loves the game, he loves the players, and he very clearly loved his old job. The law states that we can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site. The defunct Central Division won one championship in 1950. Hes too noble for this kind of skullduggery. Fitzgeralds homerism isnt the genuine, charming if sort of silly homerism of a drunk but passionate fan. While his NBA career was cut short . In his last season, he played with Cleveland Cavaliers for $1 Million.. After retiring from Basketball, Azubuike started working with . 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. It may never get built, California snowpack hits highest level this century for March, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). He eagerly embraced the idea of working alongside play-by-play veteran Tim Roye on radio broadcasts. Azubuike spent five years in the NBA (averaging 14.4 pts a game in 2008-2009) before he had to hang up his sneakers. Azubuike (ankle) is out Friday against the Hornets. He went 4/4 from the field in that brief stint. He got up under Andre [Iguodala]., Fitzgerald asked, Well, whats the main sport in Argentina?, Azubuike answered, Soccer, thats what I was thinking. 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. Hes found a workaround from being phased out, still plies his wisdom and his trademark avuncular wit on the radio side of things. No, that would be wrong. That remains to be seen. A lingering knee injury has forced former Cat Kelenna Azubuike into an early retirement from basketball. 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. The website cannot function properly without these cookies. 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. [7] During his second season with Golden State, Azubuike expressed an interest in playing for the British team during the build-up to the 2012 London Olympic Games, but was denied British citizenship under the 1981 British Nationality Act. Im looking forward to it.. 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. 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. [1], Considered a four-star recruit by Scout.com, Azubuike was listed as the No. 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. Trivia. We think Kelenna is one of the bright, young stars in the broadcasting business, Warriors president/COO Rick Welts said in a statement issued by the team. Azubuike called himself a basketball junkie who loves talking about the game. 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. 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. Weird vibes. Details on the contract were not disclosed. The Dubs have won five straight and Stephs return is on the horizon! 7 off his back . The same will apply to their telecasts and radio broadcasts. Current Projects. Azubuike entered the 2005 NBA Draft after his junior year. Barnett elevates yapping about a basketball game into something dignified and illuminating, something affirming. And not to worry, Bob Fitzgerald wont be forcibly retired either. As shambolic as the broadcasts have been these Barnett-less years, were now used to a somewhat unorthodox approach. I remember him being a stud, especially in 2K. Since 2015, Kelenna has been a part of the station's sports team. Azubuike Emanuel Egwuekwe (born 16 July 1989) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays for Rivers United as a centre back. Wikipedia. Radio doesnt show age. "We like him as a player," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle told reporters in San Antonio on Friday morning following the team's shootaround. [27] He underwent season-ending surgery on January 9, 2019. 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. On 17 November 2009, it was announced that Azubuike would miss the rest of the 2009-10 season after tearing his right patellar tendon in a game at the Milwaukee Bucks. [1] He is a Christian music fan and enjoys creating his own music. He shot nearly 50% from three-point range, something that Don Nelson really liked. With Steph Curry out (but not for much longer), Klay Thompson has filled his shoes as the Dubs no. 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. A few (masochists) tolerate the pair, because yes, it does take a certain amount of toil for some people to get worked up about an NBA teams local broadcasting duo. [14] He returned for the NCAA tournament until KU's loss to eventual champion Villanova in the Final Four. The most notable thing Azubuike did as a Knick was sell his No. Values are based on current season type (i.e. 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.