Ime Udoka

Ime Sunday Udoka (/ˈiːmeɪ uːˈdoʊkə/ 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
Position	Assistant coach
League	NBA
Personal information
Born	August 9, 1977 Portland, Oregon
Nationality	American / Nigerian
Listed height	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight	215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school	Jefferson (Portland, Oregon)
College	San Francisco (1997–1998) Portland State (1999–2000)
NBA draft	2000 / Undrafted
Playing career	2000–2012
Position	Small forward
Number	5, 8, 3
Coaching career	2012–present
Career history
As player:
2000–2001	Fargo-Moorhead Beez
2001	Independiente
2002–2003	North Charleston Lowgators
2003	Adirondack Wildcats
2003–2004	Charleston Lowgators
2004	Los Angeles Lakers
2004	Charleston Lowgators
2004	Gran Canaria
2005	JA Vichy
2005–2006	Fort Worth Flyers
2006	New York Knicks
2006–2007	Portland Trail Blazers
2007–2009	San Antonio Spurs
2009–2010	Sacramento Kings
2010–2011	San Antonio Spurs
2012	UCAM Murcia
As coach:
2012–2019	San Antonio Spurs (assistant)
2019–2020	Philadelphia 76ers (assistant)
2020–present	Brooklyn Nets (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
As player: Jason Collier Sportsmanship Award (2006) As assistant coach: NBA champion (2014)
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals Men's Basketball Representing  Nigeria African Championships 2005 Algeria Nigeria 2011 Madagascar Nigeria

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	4	0	7.0	.333	.000	.500	1.3	.5	.5	.2	2.0
2005–06	New York	8	0	14.3	.375	.333	.500	2.1	.8	.1	.0	2.8
2006–07	Portland	75	75	28.6	.461	.406	.742	3.7	1.5	.9	.2	8.4
2007–08	San Antonio	73	0	18.0	.424	.370	.759	3.1	.9	.8	.2	5.8
2008–09	San Antonio	67	3	15.4	.383	.328	.609	2.8	.8	.5	.2	4.3
2009–10	Sacramento	69	2	13.7	.378	.286	.737	2.8	.8	.5	.1	3.6
2010–11	San Antonio	20	0	6.5	.238	.000	.500	.9	.7	.4	.0	.7
Career		316	80	18.1	.417	.356	.705	2.9	1.0	.7	.2	5.2

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2008	San Antonio	16	0	14.8	.465	.400	.714	2.9	1.1	.7	.1	5.4
2009	San Antonio	5	0	20.8	.350	.125	.400	4.6	.8	.8	.2	3.4
Career		21	0	16.2	.440	.354	.583	3.3	1.0	.7	.1	5.0

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.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from NBA.com or Basketball-Reference.com