After four years in the NBA, Udoka Azubuike is heading overseas. Buducnost VOLI of Montenegro has announced the signing of Azubuike in a press statement. It will be the 24-year-old’s first time playing outside of the United States professionally. He was born in Nigeria but moved to the United States prior to high school where he played for Potter’s House Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Florida.
2020 NBA First Round Draft Pick Joins Team In Montenegro
Adubuike Has Played The Last Four Seasons In The NBA
In the 2020 NBA Draft, Azubuike was selected in the first round (27th overall) by the Utah Jazz. The center spent three seasons with Utah before joining the Phoenix Suns last season on a two-way deal.
Standing six-foot-10, Azubuike had previous ankle and foot ailments that kept him out of action in the NBA. In his four NBA seasons, he has only played a total of 84 games. Last season with Phoenix, he saw action in 17 games. Playing 7.1 minutes per game, he averaged 2.2 points and 2.0 rebounds. A lot of his damage in 2023-24 came in a game against the Sacramento Kings when he recorded his second career double-double on December 22, 2023 (11 points and 11 rebounds).
After playing sparingly as a rookie (15 games averaging 3.8 minutes), Azubuike saw more time on the floor in his second and third seasons with Utah. In 53 games over those two seasons, Azubuike averaged 10.5 minutes of action. While most of his shot attempts were up close, he still shot an impressive 79.3% from the field combined in 2020-21 and 2021-22. On March 20, 2023, Azubuike scored a career-high of 13 points.
In his 84 NBA regular season games (10 starts), Azubuike has averages of 3.0 points and 2.8 rebounds. He has shot 74.8% from the field but just 44.4% (24-54) from the foul line. Azubuike has played one playoff game in his career. It came in 2021 against the Los Angeles Clippers when he grabbed one rebound in one minute.
Standout Senior Season At Kansas
Prior to his NBA career, Azubuike spent four seasons playing collegiately for the Kansas Jayhawks. Both his freshman and junior seasons with Kansas ended prematurely. As a freshman, he tore a ligament in his hand. In his junior year, he tore ligaments in his other hand. Both injuries required season-ending surgery.
In his sophomore year of 2017-18, Azubuike was named to the All-Big 12 Third Team (averaged 13.0 points and 7,0 rebounds). His senior year of 2019-20, he averaged a double-double of 13.7 points and 10.5 rebounds (also 2.6 blocks). That earned him Big 12 Player of the Year. Azuibuike’s career field goal shooting of 74.6% is the highest in men’s college basketball since 1992-93.
Azubuike Is Joining Budecnost VOLI In Montenegro For 2024-25 Season
Azubuike will be playing the 2024-25 season for Budecnost VOLI based in Podgorica, Montenegro. After winning 10 straight Montenegrin Cups, Budecnost VOLI finished second last season. They also feature former NBA players Juwan Morgan, Yogi Ferrell, and McKinley Wright IV. Two-time NBA All-Star Nikola Vucevic also played a year for Budecnost VOLI before entering the 2011 NBA Draft.
Azubuike turns 25 years old on September 17. That gives him ample time to rebuild his value overseas and put himself back on NBA radars if that is his ultimate goal.
