Its more about what sort of homer you are. [1] During the 200607 season, Azubuike made an appearance on Bay Area hip hop station KMEL and conducted an interview while the station played music which he personally produced. It seemed like he was going to progress into a solid player, and then poof a knee injury seems to end his career? [2] In his first high school game he was matched up against fellow future Kansas Jayhawk Joel Embiid. Azubuikes yes-man persona is a jarring shift from the presence of Barnett, who did yeomans work smoothing down Fitzgeralds cloying edges. For sure unprofessional., The Golden State Warriors broadcasters need to honestly be stopped. Kelenna completely tore is patellar tendon. After playing on the Golden State squad that upset Dallas in the first round of the 2007 playoffs, Azubuike averaged 13.9 points through the first nine games of the 2009-10 season under then . Kelenna Azubuike | Golden State Warriors | NBA.com Barnett, 75, has on numerous occasions worked with Roye on radio, usually in postseason games on national TV. [21] Various of these games have been broadcast by ESPNU. Azubuike called himself a basketball junkie who loves talking about the game. The law states that we can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site. 8 small forward and the No. 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). [2] Azubuike lost his father to an undiagnosed disease at the age of 10. While Kelenna scored just four points in his debut, he was in the starting lineup the next night. Pairing Barnett and Davis would automatically catapult the Warriors broadcasting team to must-listen TV, leapfrogging mere respectability on their journey back from the dregs. 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 . He will start his comeback with the Frisco-based Texas Legends, Dallas' D-League affiliate. Azubuike was the first call-up of the D-League season. Both Azubuike and Barnett will travel with the team for road games. 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. [4][7], After going undrafted, Azubuike was signed by the Golden State Warriors on 2 January 2007. Kelenna Azubuike says Carmelo Anthony paid him $3,000 to take his No. 7 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. Kelenna Azubuike was born on December 16, 1983 in England (39 years old). 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. Al Davis '30 for 30' review; Kelenna Azubuike settles in Its really an honor, and Im super humbled the Warriors believe in me, Azubuike said in a phone interview. 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]. [16] His field goal percentage broke the single-season record for Kansas and the Big 12 Conference. So lets reunite these disparate loose ends immediately and put a resounding end to the League Pass nightmare that is the Golden State Warriors broadcast stream. Sports enterprise reporter Ron Kroichick has worked at The San Francisco Chronicle since 1995, when he came from The Sacramento Bee. Current Projects. I really couldn't find much and was wondering if I'm missing something? Azubuike will receive a deal for the rest of this season and a team option for next season, sources said. Kelenna David Azubuike (born December 16, 1983) is an English/American former professional basketball player. Hes very capable and hes a class guy. One game later, he was a starter. Appreciating Klay Thompson filling in the superstar shoes. Green was signed out of free agency to a multi-year contract. Azubuike, 35, has spent the last four seasons mostly as a studio analyst at NBC Sports Bay Area while also occasionally providing analysis on radio alongside Roye. He got a big contract extension when, oh wait, his dad was the coach, said Fitzgerald. [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. Azubuike averaged 10.5 points during his career. Lets move on with dignity. A lingering knee injury has forced former Cat Kelenna Azubuike into an early retirement from basketball. [3], He played Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball for the Georgia Stars in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL). Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Azubuike was the youngest of 3, with two older brothers and two older sisters. Kelenna Azubuike signs with Dallas Mavericks - ESPN Jim sat in this seat for a long time, he said. We've received your submission. Draymond Green (left) is introduced by Warriors analyst Jim Barnett at a press conference held to announce the re-signing of Green at the Warriors team practice facility in Oakland, California, on Thursday, July 9, 2015. Why the Warriors should replace Bob Fitzgerald and Kelenna Azubuike with Jim Barnett and Baron Davis. 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. He looked like a soccer player there., Then, Azubuike mocked Campazzos accent and said, How can you call this? Azubuike (ankle) has been ruled out for Fridays game against the Clippers, Eric Walden of The Salt Lake Tribune reports. Remove the outlier, and he averaged 9.6 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 22.8 minutes per game in the previous 5 contests. The recently passed SECURE 2.0 Act is giving college savers more time to learn the benefits of compound interest. This site uses different types of cookies. Azubuike played three years for the Kentucky Wildcats, averaging 15 points per game in his junior season. He got up under Andre [Iguodala]., Fitzgerald asked, Well, whats the main sport in Argentina?, Azubuike answered, Soccer, thats what I was thinking. The Warriors ought to be an electrifying affair for both casuals and die-hards. "He's an energetic, athletic guy that's a very good 3-point shooter. Aug 05, 2007, 03:48 pm. 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. Kelenna Azubuike Bio, Age, Height, Wife, Salary, Net worth, NBC Sports (Photo by Gary Gershoff/WireImage) / WireImage. Hes done an outstanding job the last few seasons as a member of our pre, halftime and post-game shows, 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. Check out the article here via InvestmentNews Ive had a great run of 34 years on TV, Barnett said. [2] His parents were doctors and had moved to London for work. He shot nearly 50% from three-point range, something that Don Nelson really liked. He instigated it. 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. Warriors replace Jim Barnett with Kelenna Azubuike as TV color analyst Im not a bean counter, Im a dreamer. It's easy to forget that he's only 35, as his career was cut short by a brutal knee injury suffered playing for the Warriors early in the 2009-10 season. I think its fantastic that I can continue working for the Warriors, Barnett said Friday. 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. DraftExpress - Kelenna Azubuike DraftExpress Profile: Stats Many of us still feel a certain rawness about the semi-mysterious ouster of Barnett, a certain sadness that Davis left us for the Los Angeles Clippers after a 48-win season that was begging to be avenged. 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. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not announced. Why did Kelenna Azubuike retire? Rona Azubuike is the wife of former professional basketball player and sports analyst Kelenna Azubuike. [20], On April 20, 2018, Azubuike announced his intention to enter the 2018 NBA draft. Rounding up all the Warriors and NBA news from around the web. 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? He had more dunks than any other college player going back to the 20092010 season. [2] In 2012, he caught the attention of recruiters with Basketball Without Borders and was offered a scholarship to play basketball in the United States. The Jazz compete in the National Basketball Association as a member of the leagues Western Conference, Northwest Division. On 9 April 2012, he was recalled by the Mavericks. [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.. "The hope is that he can possibly help us this year. On July 17, 2008, Azubuike signed an offer sheet with the Clippers of a three-year, $9 million contract , with Golden State having seven days to match it. The season cant come fast enough., Where Livingston wants to end career after Warriors release. Kelenna Azubuike (Basketball Player) - Overview, Biography [1] Azubuike was named to the 2005 SEC All-Tournament Team after averaging 18.0 points in three contests. This is cause for celebration. 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. Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images. Radio doesnt show age. Will Bay Bridge go dark forever? newsletter, future vice president of basketball operations. Warriors vs. Pelicans injury report: So many absences for both teams. blancs50 4 yr. ago. 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. Kelenna Azubuike Stats, News, Bio | ESPN Basketball Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. [30] According to KU coach Bill Self, Were all very excited about Udoka making the decision not to enter the [NBA] draft. He finished the season averaging 13.4 points and 6.8 rebounds. Beginning in 2019, he became the television analyst alongside Bob Fitzgerald, replacing Jim Barnett, who had been the color analyst for the last 34 seasons and is now the color analyst on KGMZ-FM's 95.7 The Game. All I know how to do is be myself.. Approx. Odds & lines subject to change. [13] Azubuike never played in a game for the Knicks. 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. 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. Davis, despite his relatively short stint in the Bay Area, is very much beloved. Kelenna Azubuike to be Warriors TV game analyst; Jim Barnett to radio Kelenna Azubuike | Basketball Wiki | Fandom Gambling problem? The website cannot function properly without these cookies. The former Mansfield (Texas) High School standout played in 24 games on multiple assignments to the Mavericks' D-League affiliate in Frisco, averaging 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks for the Del Harris-coached Texas Legends. I enjoy breaking down what I see and just reacting on the spot, he said. Lets bring Azubuikes fellow We Believe luminary to the booth, too. He was too tall (this is very threatening to the extremely wealthy). [17] On 28 June 2012, during the 2012 NBA Draft, Azubuike was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cookies are small text files that can be used by websites to make a user's experience more efficient. Barnett was willing to criticize when the situation called for it, and Azubuike expects to do the same. Azubuike answered, "Soccer, that's what I was thinking. Jan 22, 2021. Fifteen years ago today, Kelenna Azubuike made his Golden State Warriors debut in a win over the Charlotte Hornets. [1] He was the top scorer in the state of Oklahoma during his last three seasons of high school, averaging 28.5 points as a sophomore and 38.7 points as a junior. [22] On May 30, 2018, he announced his intent to withdraw from the draft and return to Kansas for his junior season. 'Whatever seed we are, we're ready': Is there room for Cleveland among the East elite? He is moving to the radio booth to team up with longtime radio voice Tim Roye on 95.7 FM The Game. If Barnett made the perpetually dungeon-bound Warriors bearable from the sidelines, it was Davis who restored pride to the franchise, gave them a jolt of renewed life when they needed it most, while briefly foreshadowing an era of dominance. | March 25, 2022, 3:09 p.m. Udoka Azubuike underwent surgery on his injured right ankle and will miss the remainder of the regular season, the Utah Jazz announced Friday. Barnetts continued involvement is sure to be embraced by fans, who have grown accustomed to his knowledgeable point of view and ability to articulate the nuances within the game. Rivers, the son of veteran coach Doc Rivers . What can the Knicks do for an encore after the thrilling highs of 2021? The Dallas Mavericks signed swingman Kelenna Azubuike to fill the roster spot vacated by Thursday's release of Sean Williams. As shambolic as the broadcasts have been these Barnett-less years, were now used to a somewhat unorthodox approach. He cannot believe they called that on him. Go full super-team. Kelenna Azubuike, a member of the We Believe Warriors of 2006-07, is joining the squad as an analyst working alongside longtime NBC Sports Bay Area play-by-man voice Bob Fitzgerald. This is a carousel. The Cleveland Cavaliers are the only team to come back after being down 3-1 in the NBA Finals and win Game 7 (2016). [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. [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. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. [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. Hes handsome, educated and has a gift for words.. And still do now! The double hype-man/yes-man experiment has failed. The good news is its not as though Barnett has renounced calling Warriors games and embraced the life of a curmudgeonly hermit.