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| team = [[Texas Legends]]
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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|12|16}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|12|16}}

Revision as of 19:47, 23 March 2012

Kelenna Azubuike
Azubuike with Golden State
Dallas Mavericks
PositionShooting guard / Small forward
Personal information
Born (1983-12-16) December 16, 1983 (age 40)
London, England
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High schoolVictory Christian
CollegeKentucky
NBA draft2005: undrafted
Playing career2005–present
Career history
2005–2007Fort Worth Flyers (D-League)
2007–2010Golden State Warriors
2012–presentDallas Mavericks
2012–present→Texas Legends (D-League)
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at NBA.com
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at Basketball-Reference.com

Kelenna David Azubuike (born December 16, 1983)[1] is a professional basketball player who plays for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born in London, England and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Azubuike became a standout player during his play at Victory Christian High School, and was eventually recruited to play for the Wildcats of the University of Kentucky. After finishing his junior season in college, Azubuike declared himself eligible for the 2005 NBA Draft, eventually going undrafted that year. Azubuike then played for the Fort Worth Flyers of the NBA Development League, leading the league in scoring during the 2006–07 season and eventually being called-up to play for the Golden State Warriors.

Early life and education

Azubuike was born in London, England to Kenneth and Chy Azubuike.[1] Azubuike was raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma.[1] Playing for Victory Christian High School, Azubuike led his team to the state title as a sophomore.[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.[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.[1] Azubuike finished his prep career with 3,530 points, 89 points short of the all-time state scoring mark.[1]

College

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.[2] 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.[1] Azubuike was named to the 2005 SEC All-Tournament Team after averaging 18.0 points in three contests.[1] During his time with the organization, Azubuike helped the Wildcats to earn two Southeastern Conference titles, two SEC Tournament titles, and two NCAA Elite Eight appearances.[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.[1] While attending the University of Kentucky, Azubuike majored in business marketing.[1]

Professional career

In April 2005, Azubuike announced his plans to enter the draft after his junior year, signing with agent Joel Bell and ending his college eligibility.[3] In the 2005-06 season, Azubuike averaged 12.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in forty-one games with the Fort Worth Flyers of the NBA's Developmental League.[4] 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.[4] In August 2006, Azubuike was signed by the Houston Rockets as a free agent, but eventually waived by October.[4] 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 playing for the Fort Worth Flyers of the NBA Development League, shooting 51.4% from the field and 48.5% from three-point range over twelve games.[2][5]

Impressed with his play, on January 2, 2007, the Golden State Warriors signed Azubuike.[2] Azubuike was the first Gatorade Call-Up of the 2006-07 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.[5] 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.[6] On July 17, 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.[7] In the final hour, Golden State matched the offer made by the Clippers on July 24, 2008, allowing Azubuike to remain a Warrior.[8]

On November 17, 2009, it was announced that Azubuike would miss the remainder of the 2009-10 season because of a torn patella tendon.[9]

On July 9, 2010, Azubuike was traded to the New York Knicks along with Anthony Randolph, Ronny Turiaf and a future second-round pick in a sign and trade deal for David Lee.[10] Azubuike was waived by the Knicks on February 28, 2011 after failing to suit up the entire season.[11]

On March 23, 2012, Azubuike was signed by the Dallas Mavericks. As part of his comeback, he will be assigned to the Mavericks' D-League affiliate, the Texas Legends.[12]

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
Statistics correct as of end of 2009-10 season[13]

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2006–07 Golden State 41 9 16.3 .445 .430 .782 2.3 .7 .5 .2 7.1
2007–08 Golden State 81 17 21.4 .445 .364 .717 4.0 .9 .6 .4 8.5
2008–09 Golden State 74 51 32.1 .464 .448 .808 5.0 1.6 .8 .7 14.4
2009–10 Golden State 9 7 25.7 .545 .370 .679 4.6 1.1 .6 1.0 13.9
Career 205 84 24.4 .459 .409 .770 4.0 1.1 .6 .5 10.6

Playoffs

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2006–07 Golden State 6 0 2.5 .333 .000 1.000 .7 .0 .2 .0 0.7
Career 6 0 2.5 .333 .000 1.000 .7 .0 .2 .0 0.7

Personal life

Azubuike has three siblings, Adaeze, Nesochi, and Nonzo.[1] He is a hip hop fan and enjoys creating his own music.[1] During the 2006-07 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.[1] Azubuike also likes to play pool in his spare time.[2] Azubuike shares homes in Denver, Colorado and the Bay Area with his brother Nonzo.[2] While playing at the University of Kentucky his father, Kenneth, was convicted of 41 counts of fraud, in Federal District Court. He was sentenced to 4 years in federal prison and ordered to pay $340,161 in restitution. This occurred shortly before Kelenna declared for the NBA Draft as an underclassman.[14]

Azubuike has been involved with many humanitarian causes during his time in the NBA. 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 June 2 to June 6, 2008 in Arusha, Tanzania. The convention brought together many of the world's political and business leaders to focus attention and resources on Africa's economic and social development.[15]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "NBA.com : Kelenna Azubuike Bio Page". NBA.com. Retrieved 2009-07-16. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ a b c d e Maloney, Mark. "Ex-Cat Azubuike earning respect of NBA peers : KentuckySports.com". KentuckySports.com. Retrieved 2009-07-19. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ "SI.com - NCAA Basketball - UK's Morris remains in draft as deadline passes - Tuesday June 21, 2005". Sports Illustrated. 2005-06-21. Retrieved 2009-07-16. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ a b c "InsideHoops.com - Kelenna Azubuike released by Houston Rockets". Inside Hoops. Retrieved 2007-01-02. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ a b "WARRIORS: Warriors Sign Kelenna Azubuike to Contract". NBA.com. Retrieved 2009-07-28. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ Whittell, Ian (2007-12-31). "Blow for Britain as London-born Kelenna Azubuike is denied passport - Times Online". The Times. Retrieved 2007-12-31. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ Stein, Marc (2008-07-18). "Sources: Clips sign swingman Azubuike to three-year offer sheet - NBA - ESPN". ESPN. Retrieved 2008-07-18. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ "Warriors keep Azubuike, match Clippers' offer - NBA - ESPN". ESPN. 2008-07-24. Retrieved 2008-07-24. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ Marcus Thompson II. "Warriors' Kelenna Azubuike out for the season, C.J. Watson has swine flu". San Jose Mercury News. November 17, 2009. Retrieved on November 17, 2009.
  10. ^ "Knicks Acquire Randolph, Azubuike & Turiaf". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. July 9, 2010. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  11. ^ NBA transactions
  12. ^ Kelenna Azubuike to Mavericks
  13. ^ "NBA.com : Kelenna Azubuike Career Stats Page". NBA.com. Retrieved 2008-07-01. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ Harper, David (2005-02-16). "Azubuike gets 4-year prison term". Tulsa World.
  15. ^ "WARRIORS: Kelenna Azubuike: On A Mission To Tanzania". NBA.com. Retrieved 2009-07-20. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
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