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. Barnett will return for his 35th season providing opinion and insights, but his medium will change. [14] He returned for the NCAA tournament until KU's loss to eventual champion Villanova in the Final Four. Azubuike will receive a deal for the rest of this season and a team option for next season, sources said. [33], At the conclusion of the regular season, Azubuike was named the Big 12 Player of the Year[34] and NABC Defensive Player of the Year. You dont have to put on makeup.. Azubuike also works as an analyst for the NBA on ESPN Radio. Whatever we lose from not having someone explain a shot did or didnt go in will be more than made up for. Hes too noble for this kind of skullduggery. 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. [2] Playing for Victory Christian High School, Azubuike led his team to the state title as a sophomore. He excelled in his first season in the D-League, collecting All D-League honours while leading his team to the championship, which they lost to the Albuquerque Thunderbirds. I think its fantastic that I can continue working for the Warriors, Barnett said Friday. B. Diddy in the bay once again. [5] Born in London to Nigerian parents, Azubuike moved to the United States as a child. Strange references. [4] As a junior, Azubuike was named to the All-SEC Second Team by the Associated Press and the league's coaches after leading the team and ranking tenth in the SEC in points per game, averaging 14.7 overall. Current Projects. While his NBA career was cut short . 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. Klay Thompson scores 27 as Warriors keep rolling in 108-99 win over Pelicans. As I mentioned, Azubuike was a solid in-studio analyst. Kelenna Azubuike is a professional basketball player currently working at NBC Sports Bay Area as the Golden State Warriors television analyst. Dr. A's weekly risers and fallers: Jeremy Sochan, Christian Wood make the list, NBA Power Rankings: Kevin Durant's return could rock the West. [20] Since then, he has been assigned to announce 11 of the 19 NBA D-League games produced by NBA TV in 2016. The Eastern champions have won 38 championships while the Western champions have won 32 championships. 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. Azubuike will miss a fourth consecutive game due to a right ankle sprain. Tuning into a Warriors game means subjecting yourself to two hype-men inelegantly bumbling into one another for 2.5 hours. Something went wrong. On March 25, 2022, Azubuike underwent right foot surgery and was ruled out for the rest of the 202122 season.[40]. And he threw down a lot of spectacular dunks. Not exactly my problem. Its altogether too simple to decry him as a homer. Ridiculous stuff. Im excited to bring my personality to it and talk to fans about why things are happening. 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. His then assistant coach Harry Coxsome and his wife Donna took care of him and soon became his legal guardians. A broadcaster obviously shouldnt have noticeable loathing for the team whose games they call. 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. [32] On February 22, 2020, Azubuike scored 23 points and had a career-high 19 rebounds in a 6461 win over top-ranked Baylor. After that, Fitzgerald and Azubuike laughed while they mocked the accent of the Argentinian Campazzo. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/WireImage) / WireImage. Kelenna and Rona exchanged their vows in a traditional Christian wedding ceremony. He got a big contract extension when, oh wait, his dad was the coach, said Fitzgerald. Golden State Warriors television broadcast announcers Bob Fitzgerald and Jim Barnett at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, March 31, 2019. 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. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. If chaos is in the cards, trade up for the fun kind. Fitz and Buike will merely be repurposed to roles that better suit them. 22years (September 17, 1999)Udoka Azubuike / Age. [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. It seemed like he was going to progress into a solid player, and then poof a knee injury seems to end his career? He instigated it. Kelenna completely tore is patellar tendon. Approx. The most notable thing Azubuike did as a Knick was sell his No. For sure unprofessional., The Golden State Warriors broadcasters need to honestly be stopped. Some FAQs Why did Kelenna Azubuike retire? The good news is its not as though Barnett has renounced calling Warriors games and embraced the life of a curmudgeonly hermit. [2], He was rated by Rivals.com as a five-star recruit and was ranked as the 27th best overall player[8] while ESPN ranked him 22nd overall in the Class of 2016. Barnett spent 11 seasons as a guard in the NBA, including three with the Warriors, when he averaged 11.9 points per game. 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. Davis, despite his relatively short stint in the Bay Area, is very much beloved. Barnett will transition to radio, the team said as part of Fridays announcement. Both Azubuike and Barnett will travel with the team for road games. Had too much integrity. 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. [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. And the fan base adored him, so much so that the outpouring of support (and the inability to secure Brent Barrys services) when his forced retirement was announced even delayed his exile for a few years. High School Potters House Christian Academy [Fla.]. Lets bring Azubuikes fellow We Believe luminary to the booth, too. [8] He was also eligible to play for the Nigeria national team. Some cookies are placed by third party services that appear on our pages. I dont know. 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]. Its always a minorly uplifting sight when the camera fleetingly catches him calling Warriors games. [3], Playing under coach Tubby Smith, Azubuike said that the biggest improvement to his game at Kentucky was the ability to create offense through intense defense. Fifteen years ago today, Kelenna Azubuike made his Golden State Warriors debut in a win over the Charlotte Hornets. 4 Kansas beats Dayton 90-84 in overtime for Maui title", "Kansas snaps Baylor's Big 12-record win streak", "Men's Basketball All-Big 12 Awards Announced", "Udoka Azubuike named defensive player of the year by NABC", "NBC Sports College Basketball All-American Teams". Big 12 Men's Basketball Player of the Year winners, "Kansas star will get amazing Final Four moment: Seeing Mom", "Think Reaching the Final 4 Is Tough? Carol FitzgeraldBob Fitzgerald / Spouse (m. 19902016). [17] On 28 June 2012, during the 2012 NBA Draft, Azubuike was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Hell miss the rest of the 2021/22 season. 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. Baron Davis joining Barnett as his commiserating-mate is an obvious choice on multiple levels. He's previously contributed to The New Yorker, Vice, GQ and more. [1] He is a Christian music fan and enjoys creating his own music. [6] Playing for Fort Worth of the Development League again, Azubuike averaged 5.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.17 steals, and a league-best 26.0 points in 37.7 minutes per contest, shooting 51.4% from the field and 48.5% from three-point range over twelve games. Unfortunately for him, injury is the reason as he still cannot participate (at) what would be the NBA combine or workouts for the NBA teams. 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. The couple recently made headlines after getting married earlier in October 2022. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. It gets Jessica Alba back in the building. [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. That remains to be seen. Then You Haven't Met Kansas' Udoka Azubuike", Potters House hoops star Udoka Azubuike commits to Kansas, "Five-star UK target Azubuike a menace to rims", Josh Jackson and Udoka Azubuike impress at McDonald's All-American Game, Udoka Azubuike honored at first stop of the Jordan Brand Classic Senior Night Tour, Kansas commit Udoka Azubuike added to World Select Team at Nike Hoop Summit, Five-star basketball recruit Udoka Azubuike picks Kansas, Four-star center Udoka Azubuike commits to Kansas, KU freshman Udoka Azubuike out for the season with wrist injury, "Udoka Azubuike out for Big 12 Tournament, KU hopeful he can return for NCAAs", "Nigeria approves Udoka Azubuike's mother's visa to travel to USA", "A former KU center analyzes the game of Jayhawks big man Udoka Azubuike", "This decade, no player has done what KU's Udoka Azubuike just did", "Devont Graham, Bill Self take home coaches' All-Big 12 basketball awards", "Devont Graham, Bill Self win AP All-Big 12 awards", "Kansas' Udoka Azubuike entering draft without agent", "Udoka Azubuike withdraws from NBA Draft. 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. Basketball Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. When the Golden State Warriors are rolling, they're one of the leagues biggest draws. What can the Knicks do for an encore after the thrilling h MLB's rule changes will only bring needless new degree of confusion, Yankees may get solution to to glut of infielders after NL teams' misfortune, The Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast, The Show with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman, Amazin' But True: A NY Mets Baseball Podcast, Gangs All Here: A NY Jets Football Podcast, Kellyanne Conway and George Conway to divorce, Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave. Theres a better way to live. Dub Hub:Bob Myers gives an update on Andrew Wiggins absence. 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. Privacy Policy. Im very happy and grateful to still be employed, Barnett told The Chronicle. We think Kelenna is one of the bright, young stars in the broadcasting business, Warriors President Rick Welts said in a statement. The website cannot function properly without these cookies. You know, he might just be the perfect guy to take on the team ambassador role, whatever that means. Dok All-Time NCAA Leader in Field-Goal Percentage; KU Athletics; 3 February 2020. Kelenna tells the story of Melo buying his jersey off him on the Knicks pic.twitter.com/mVUEl6LATm. Azubuike takes the job at a fascinating point in Warriors history. [6] In August 2006, Azubuike was signed by the Houston Rockets as a free agent, but eventually waived by October. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. The Warriors' broadcast team of Bob Fitzgerald and Kelenna Azubuike have drawn ire from off-hand remarks during Tuesday night's Golden State-Denver broadcast. Born in London to Nigerian parents, Azubuike moved to the United States as a child. Trivia. And now Im going to work radio. Warriors majority owner and trophy-cuddler Joe Lacob bet on the wrong horse, or rather, didnt want anything to do with the right horse. [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. [2] His parents were doctors and had moved to London for work. [11], On 17 November 2009, it was announced that Azubuike would miss the rest of the 200910 season after tearing his right patellar tendon in a game at the Milwaukee Bucks. Azubuike played three years for the Kentucky Wildcats, averaging 15 points per game in his junior season. It may never get built, California snowpack hits highest level this century for March, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). I hoped I might work in radio after leaving TV. 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. He was waived by the Knicks on 28 February 2011. Azubuike answered, "Soccer, that's what I was thinking. Im not a bean counter, Im a dreamer. Steph Curry and Zion Williamson highlight the list of players who arent available tonight. 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. [17] This high percentage was in part due to the majority of his field goals being slam dunks, which typically have a higher completion percentage than jump shots or layups. That was clearly a foul. (He's) the kind of athlete that we're trying to find for our team.". Hes too good to only be calling away games on the radio. Cookie Notice Barnett will transition to. Barnett, 75, has been with the Warriors since 1984. 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. 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). In 2012, he caught the attention of recruiters with Basketball Without Borders and was offered a scholarship to . 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. Its Baron Davis. [15] Stephen Curry has not only led a Warriors resurgence since entering the league, he has changed the game with his long-distance shooting. He always comes equipped with the latest talking points from on high. Azubuikes yes-man persona is a jarring shift from the presence of Barnett, who did yeomans work smoothing down Fitzgeralds cloying edges. 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. While his NBA career was cut short by a devastating freak injury less than three . [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. Hes still very much a presence, involved in the team and the community. [18] He was waived by the Cavaliers on 14 October 2012. Barnett elevates yapping about a basketball game into something dignified and illuminating, something affirming. Clumsy jokes. [38] On November 24, 2020, the Utah Jazz announced that they had signed Azubuike. 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. 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. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. From Sleepy Floyds incredible playoff performance in 1987 to our most recent stretch that has included three championships and five consecutive trips to the NBA Finals, his outstanding work has been an everyday staple on the airwaves., [RELATED: Where Livingston wants to end career after Warriors release]. Barnett was too appreciated by the Warriors public to ever truly belong to Lacob. The Warriors ought to be an electrifying affair for both casuals and die-hards. This is a carousel. 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. [24] On December 4, 2018, he severely sprained his right ankle against Wofford and missed the following four games. [18] He was awarded All-Big 12 third team by the conference's coaches[19] and second team by the AP. [7] He was also a member of the National Honor Society. Fridays news ended lingering uncertainty about Barnetts future with the Warriors. [22] On May 30, 2018, he announced his intent to withdraw from the draft and return to Kansas for his junior season. Theres no one more deserving.. I remember him being a stud, especially in 2K. He looked like a soccer player there." Warriors announcers Bob Fitzgerald (left) and Kelenna Azubuike Twitter The law states that we can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site. I think it will be a better season than a lot of people think, Azubuike said. 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. Since 2015, Kelenna has been a part of the station's sports team. 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. Udoka Timothy Azubuike (/judok zbuki/; born September 17, 1999) is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Or again, my preferred route, ignore this half-problem entirely. Hes fairly knowledgeable about the game, reasonably prepared, generally knows how to pronounce last names and always seems to remember if someone is from one of the Congos. The Denver Nuggets are the only NBA team to come back from a 3-1 series deficit multiple times in the same year (2020). [13] Udoka started every game of the regular season but missed the Big 12 tournament after spraining his left MCL. Kelenna David Azubuike (born December 16, 1983) is an English/American former professional basketball player. [13] Azubuike never played in a game for the Knicks. Hed still be great, or at least pretty good in that role. 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. Im so pumped. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Though, you can, much like the aggrieved party, forgive. Its really an honor, and Im super humbled the Warriors believe in me, Azubuike said in a phone interview. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. In Azubuike's defense, he is very eager to point out split-action or a nice hesitation (hesi) move and is always cognizant when someone achieves Beast Mode (and occasionally God Mode). One game later, he was a starter. Its also something that one doesnt really have to make the case for. While Kelenna scored just four points in his debut, he was in the starting lineup the next night. The teams future vice president of basketball operations was sent to the bench, while Nelson openly talked about how much happier he and Junior would be if he went and played for his dads Clippers. Radio doesnt show age. Hopefully roles where they can avoid unforced errors like impersonating Facundo Campazzos accent, but that remains to be seen. Early life. And though Mr. Boom Dizzle opted out in 2008 and tried to start a super-team with Elton Brand in Los Angeles (weird sentence! * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). I feel like if the Warriors can just stay above water while Klay is out hopefully, he gets back by the All-Star break they can get into the playoffs.