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[22], He joined NBC Sports Bay Area in 2015, covering Warriors games as a studio analyst for the pregame, halftime, and postgame shows. Both Azubuike and Barnett will travel with the team for road games. Endure it, and think what could have been, had the Warriors not put the universally beloved Jim Barnett out to pasture. Barnett, 75, has on numerous occasions worked with Roye on radio, usually in postseason games on national TV. Golden State Warriors broadcasters Bob Fitzgerald and Kelenna Azubuike have been criticized for making fun of Denver Nuggets guard Facundo Campazzo The pair were calling the game on NBC. 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. Its even the sort of splashy move that would appeal to Lacobs Light Years brain. Barnett will transition to. Azubuike relocated with his family to Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1989 when his father was offered a fellowship at Saint Francis Hospital; his family became American citizens. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/WireImage) / WireImage. Barnett was willing to criticize when the situation called for it, and Azubuike expects to do the same. Azubuike was the first call-up of the D-League season. Others are cautiously optimistic that by 2029 or so, Fitzgerald and Azubuike will really start to gel and find their rhythm. Rounding up all the Warriors and NBA news from around the web. Barnett will return for his 35th season providing opinion and insights, but his medium will change. ), there are zero hard feelings. Kelenna David Azubuike (born December 16, 1983) is an English/American former professional basketball player. When the Golden State Warriors are rolling, they're one of the leagues biggest draws. Warriors majority owner and trophy-cuddler Joe Lacob bet on the wrong horse, or rather, didnt want anything to do with the right horse. A lingering knee injury has forced former Cat Kelenna Azubuike into an early retirement from basketball. 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. 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. Can you integrate if function is not continuous? Lex 18 caught up with Kelenna this weekend to see how is handling life after . U. Azubuike Ankle: Game Time Decision Udoka Azubuike Ankle: Game Time Decision, B. Bogdanovic Jazzs Bojan Bogdanovic: Plays well but cant hit big shot Bojan Bogdanovic Jazzs Bojan Bogdanovic: Plays well but cant hit big shot. Rivers and the Nuggets (17-16) host the Warriors on Thursday. Im not trying to be Jim Barnett hes one of a kind, and nobody can do that. With Mickael Pietrus likely on the way out . Barnett will transition to radio, the team said as part of Fridays announcement. In the studio, we talk about what we think is going to happen (in Warriors Pregame), or our interpretation of what has happened (in Warriors Postgame). Images via Getty Images; Illustration by Charles Russo, Horoscope for Saturday, 3/04/23 by Christopher Renstrom, No seriously, dont drive up to Tahoe this weekend, Horoscope for Friday, 3/03/23 by Christopher Renstrom, Snowboarder dies at Tahoe ski resort following historic blizzard, Even Salesforces tower HQ isnt safe from office cuts, Wife of Jeffrey Vandergrift issues somber update, Mochi muffin bakery closes SF cafe after just 4 months, Oakland ransomware attackers leak 'confidential' data, The Warriors broke Russell Westbrook, just like old times, In search of vegan food, I found a world-class Mendocino inn, Escape to Long Beach, Washington before the summer crowds, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). Jan 22, 2021. Hed still be great, or at least pretty good in that role. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Barnett was too appreciated by the Warriors public to ever truly belong to Lacob. But because my last name, its an easy diss and cop out. or is he playing somewhere else? 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 . 62. Both also are scheduled to join Fitzgerald for the first telecast from Chase Center. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. 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. Its more about what sort of homer you are. [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. 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. This site uses different types of cookies. What ever happened to Kelenna Azubuike? 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. Barnett fully expected to move into an ambassadors role with the team at the time. [26] An MRI revealed he tore a ligament in his right hand. Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images. [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. He loves the game, he loves the players, and he very clearly loved his old job. Lets not settle for just Barnett, though. Im grateful that the Warriors are giving me a contract to do this. If not for him, who knows where Id be. Lets not forget how he got here in the first place! Or again, my preferred route, ignore this half-problem entirely. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. He looked like a soccer player there., Then, Azubuike mocked Campazzos accent and said, How can you call this? Hes too noble for this kind of skullduggery. Ive had a great run of 34 years on TV, Barnett said. Theres a way to salvage the broadcast team: Jim Barnett, whom Id wager most Golden State fans roughly my age consider something of a father figure, needs to return to the TV side of things. Trivia. But Kelena's an analyst for the Warriors local broadcast station now, offers some pretty good insight. 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. 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. The Warriors ought to be an electrifying affair for both casuals and die-hards. He was waived by the Knicks on 28 February 2011. and our I really couldn't find much and was wondering if I'm missing something? To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Azubuike attended Victory Christian School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he was recruited by then-University of Kentucky coach Tubby Smith. He was raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he became a standout player at Victory Christian High School, and was eventually recruited to play for the Wildcats of the University of Kentucky. "He's an energetic, athletic guy that's a very good 3-point shooter. 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. [16] On 20 April 2012, Azubuike played in his first NBA game since 14 November 2009, against the Golden State Warriors. He obviously brings some history with the Warriors and their rise to prominence; Azubuike was Stephen Currys teammate on the 2009-10 team. And now Im going to work radio. As shambolic as the broadcasts have been these Barnett-less years, were now used to a somewhat unorthodox approach. [13] Udoka started every game of the regular season but missed the Big 12 tournament after spraining his left MCL. Azubuike attended Victory Christian School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he was recruited . A possible solution to the pure play-by-play quandary is to bring a third person to the already star-studded booth. Fitz and Buike will merely be repurposed to roles that better suit them. [2], Azubuike attended Potter's House Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Florida. No NBA player has made a full recovery from this injury, it is much closer to an Achilles tear vs an ACL tear in severity. Carol FitzgeraldBob Fitzgerald / Spouse (m. 19902016). Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Azubuike was the youngest of 3, with two older brothers and two older sisters. 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. During Mondays game against the Washington Wizards, Azubuike even went so far as to describe Steph Curry as a big-time player. I dont know, man. He shot nearly 50% from three-point range, something that Don Nelson really liked. Were excited he will continue to be a member of our family and broadcast team on the radio side, where he will provide his valuable insight and perspective., Ron Kroichick is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. 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. Weight 270 lbs. [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. Kelenna Azubuike was born on December 16, 1983 in England (39 years old). He was too tall (this is very threatening to the extremely wealthy). Later, when Azubuike moved into broadcasting, one of his first calls was to Barnett. Marketing cookies are used to track visitors across websites. Im not really concerned about the difficulty of following Jim. 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". Assessing every Golden State players performance from the teams 108-99 win over New Orleans. 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. Azubuike lost his father to an undiagnosed disease at the age of 10. No, that would be wrong. I hoped I might work in radio after leaving TV. His father, Fabian, was a police officer, and his mother, Florence, was a middle school teacher. Azubuike will receive a deal for the rest of this season and a team option for next season, sources said. "[31], Azubuike scored a career-high 29 points in a 9084 overtime win over Dayton on November 27, 2019. Its also something that one doesnt really have to make the case for. Azubuike spent five years in the NBA (averaging 14.4 pts a game in 2008-2009) before he had to hang up his sneakers. A lingering knee injury has forced former Cat Kelenna Azubuike into an early retirement from basketball. [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. Azubuike covered Warrior's games after he joined NBC Sports Bay Area in 2015. Kelenna tells the story of Melo buying his jersey off him on the Knicks pic.twitter.com/mVUEl6LATm. Its Baron Davis. The Dubs have won five straight and Stephs return is on the horizon! Late in the second quarter, while Rivers was at the free throw line, Fitzgerald and Azubuike began discussing the 29-year-old guard and his familial ties within the league. With a year of NBA experience under his belt, Azubuike has quickly developed into a legitimate NBA shooting guard, displaying a much more well rounded skill set than he did earlier in his career. Its fun.. Details on the contract were not disclosed. Just to be clear, were not trying to get anyone actually fired here, even in this hypothetical dream scenario. 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. After the Warriors matched a multi-year contract offer from the Clippers in the summer of 2008 - perhaps out of anger about the Baron Davis signing - Azubuike started nearly the entire 2008-9 season, averaging 14.4 points per game and making 44.8% of his three-pointers. [1] Azubuike was named to the 2005 SEC All-Tournament Team after averaging 18.0 points in three contests. Its always a minorly uplifting sight when the camera fleetingly catches him calling Warriors games. Privacy Policy. The season cant get here soon enough.. "The hope is that he can possibly help us this year. Regular Season, Playoffs, All-Star) [14], On 23 March 2012, Azubuike was signed by the Dallas Mavericks. Please enter a valid email and try again. 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. [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. [5] Born in London to Nigerian parents, Azubuike moved to the United States as a child. Rivers was at the free-throw line when Fitzgerald and Azubuike, who played five seasons in the NBA with the Warriors and Mavericks, struck up the conversation about his time in LA under his father, who is now head coach of the Sixers. 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. We think Kelenna is one of the bright, young stars in the broadcasting business, Warriors President Rick Welts said in a statement. I remember him being traded to NY from GS and am pretty sure he was dealing with injuries..was he forced to retire? Two adults who talk on television for a living should know better than to mock the accent of a player from a different country, as. But its been the great honor of my life to plot this coup on his behalf. Well, that varies from player to player, and Kelenna Azubuike, former New York Knick, realized this the hard way when Carmelo Anthony joined his then team and wanted to take the No. [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. A few (masochists) tolerate the pair, because yes, it does take a certain amount of toil for some people to get worked up about an NBA teams local broadcasting duo. He retired after playing the 2011-12. Jim has been a fixture on our broadcast team for over three decades and has served as a comforting and trusted voice for our fans during several different eras of Warriors basketball, Welts said in the statement. Barnett was too humble. This is cause for celebration. Check out the article here via InvestmentNews Kelenna David Azubuike (born December 16, 1983) is an English/American former professional basketball player. Azubuike spent five years in the NBA (averaging 14.4 pts a game in 2008-2009) before he had to hang up his sneakers. 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. 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. As I mentioned, Azubuike was a solid in-studio analyst. The website cannot function properly without these cookies. Some FAQs Why did Kelenna Azubuike retire? He did not initially hire an agent, which would allow him to return before the combine. A lingering knee injury has forced former Cat Kelenna Azubuike into an early retirement from basketball. 22 years (September 17, 1999)Udoka Azubuike / Age. And though Mr. Boom Dizzle opted out in 2008 and tried to start a super-team with Elton Brand in Los Angeles (weird sentence! Go full super-team. Azubuike has also worked as an analyst for the NBA on ESPN Radio since 2022. 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. 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. The Eastern champions have won 38 championships while the Western champions have won 32 championships. Theres a better way to live. Net Worth: Undisclosed. But when youre doing color commentary, youre reacting on the spot. On May 17, he measured out to be a near 7' tall center (with shoes on) weighing in at 274 pounds and holding the second-longest wingspan at 7'7", behind only Mohamed Bamba. While his NBA career was cut short by a devastating freak injury less than three years later, a broadcasting career was born that night. Jim sat in this seat for a long time, he said. Its really an honor, and Im super humbled the Warriors believe in me, Azubuike said in a phone interview. 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. N.Y Knicks player Kelenna Azubuike attends the launch of the new Trident Vitality gum at the Gansevoort Park Avenue on December 8, 2010 in New York City. I remember him being a stud, especially in 2K. [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. Yes, that's a toucan flying around Walnut Creek, Map shows which parts of California exceeded entire years worth of rain, Hit bean company Rancho Gordo embroiled in discrimination lawsuit, San Francisco citizens once traveled by gondola. 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. 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. [1] His father, Fabian, was a police officer, and his mother, Florence, was a middle school teacher. All I know how to do is be myself.. Preference cookies enable a website to remember information that changes the way the website behaves or looks, like your preferred language or the region that you are in. He got up under Andre [Iguodala]., Fitzgerald asked, Well, whats the main sport in Argentina?, Azubuike answered, Soccer, thats what I was thinking. 1 option. Green was signed out of free agency to a multi-year contract. Yet a specter haunts Chase Center (and other assorted arenas) on the sidelines: Festooned to the team like an albatross is the bewildering broadcasting tandem of Bob Fitzgerald and Kelenna Azubuike. In the 200506 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. 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. 3 William Street Tranmere SA 5073; 45 Gray Street Tranmere SA 5073; 36 Hectorville Road, Hectorville, SA 5073; 1 & 2/3 RODNEY AVENUE, TRANMERE A 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) center/forward from Seton Hall University, Fitzgerald played two seasons in the Basketball Association of America as a member of the Toronto Huskies, New York Knicks, and Rochester Royals. [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. The Golden State Warriors signed him for four years worth $7 Million. How old is Udoka? [21] Azubuike was one of a record-high 69 prospects invited to the NBA Draft Combine that year. Why did Kelenna Azubuike retire? [3] On January 28, 2016, he announced his choice to play college basketball at the University of Kansas.[11]. [15] He averaged 13.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, and led the nation with a 77% field goal percentage for the season. Nellie loved Azubuikes shooting and athleticism, but mostly he hated Mike Dunleavy Jr. Williams played in only eight games with the Mavericks after leaving his team in Israel to sign with his hometown team on Dec. 21, averaging 3.6 points and 1.6 rebounds in 8.1 minutes. [35] Azubuike averaged 13.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game as a senior. The same will apply to their telecasts and radio broadcasts. [1] He is a Christian music fan and enjoys creating his own music. Once they do that, then anything can happen.. Simply put, hes a strange man. 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. The shimmering Bay Lights turn off Sunday night as the effort to raise $11 million to fund a bigger, better version is only partway there. I was wronged!, The incident came just a week after Rivers had a pair of fans removed from aNuggets-Thunder game in Oklahoma City,after he said they were talking about [his] family the whole night.. | 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. I dream light years. For sure unprofessional., The Golden State Warriors broadcasters need to honestly be stopped. 8 small forward and the No. He looked to be a very promising young player. Nuggets guard Austin Rivers isnt happy with a pair of Warriors TV announcers for voicing copout and disrespectful comments about him and his teammate, Facundo Campazzo, during Denvers 89-86 win at Golden State on Tuesday. Dok All-Time NCAA Leader in Field-Goal Percentage; KU Athletics; 3 February 2020. Klay Thompson scores 27 as Warriors keep rolling in 108-99 win over Pelicans. Azubuike was born in London, England, to Nigerian parents Kenneth and Chi Azubuike. [15] [18] He was awarded All-Big 12 third team by the conference's coaches[19] and second team by the AP. Kroichick writes features on the Warriors during the NBA season, and various other topics - ranging from the 49ers/NFL and major-league baseball to college football and basketball - the rest of the year. 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? blancs50 4 yr. ago. [24] On December 4, 2018, he severely sprained his right ankle against Wofford and missed the following four games.