Baron Davis joining Barnett as his commiserating-mate is an obvious choice on multiple levels. 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. The fit is wrong. , Its always a tough thing, when someone has been doing such a great job for so long and then change happens. Or again, my preferred route, ignore this half-problem entirely. 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 9 April 2012, he was recalled by the Mavericks. 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. With Mickael Pietrus likely on the way out . Fifteen years ago. Unclassified cookies are cookies that we are in the process of classifying, together with the providers of individual cookies. 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. Stephen Curry has not only led a Warriors resurgence since entering the league, he has changed the game with his long-distance shooting. [23], Azubuike has three siblings: Nonzo, Nesochi and Adaeze. Azubuike has also worked as an analyst for the NBA on ESPN Radio since 2022. But when youve fought your way into the league as an undrafted D-Leaguer and rehabilitated a bad knee for years, dealing with Bob Fitzgerald on a nightly basis is no big deal. 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 ferociously toes the company line, to an off-putting extent. He will start his comeback with the Frisco-based Texas Legends, Dallas' D-League affiliate. As basically everyone who has ever been irritated with Fitzgerald on a nightly basis for years and years will grudgingly admit, hes a competent, even pretty good play-by-play guy. Azubuike played 81 games in 2007-8 for the Dubs, averaging 8.5 points. Lets bring Azubuikes fellow We Believe luminary to the booth, too. On 17 November 2009, it was announced that Azubuike would miss the rest of the 2009-10 season after tearing his right patellar tendon in a game at the Milwaukee Bucks. Azubuike was born in London, England, to Nigerian parents Kenneth and Chi Azubuike. 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. Kelenna Azubuike was born on December 16, 1983 in England (39 years old). 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. [35] Azubuike averaged 13.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game as a senior. Sorry fans of FDRs fireside chats, he just is. He currently handles San Francisco 49ers preseason broadcasts and served as the play-by-play voice for the Arena Football Leagues San Jose SaberCats, an organization which is now defunct. Azubuike has been involved with many humanitarian causes during his time in the NBA. 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. The intention is to display ads that are relevant and engaging for the individual user and thereby more valuable for publishers and third party advertisers. [6] In August 2006, Azubuike was signed by the Houston Rockets as a free agent, but eventually waived by October. Azubuike called himself a basketball junkie who loves talking about the game. Steph Curry and Zion Williamson highlight the list of players who arent available tonight. Radio doesnt show age. By Steve Berman. They all but outright. [28], Kansas won all nine games Azubuike played including against top ten teams Tennessee and Michigan State. Azubuikes effectiveness as a pick-and-roll finisher may be as strong as any other Jazzmans. Lets not settle for just Barnett, though. [26] An MRI revealed he tore a ligament in his right hand. 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 2 to 6 June 2008 in Arusha, Tanzania.The convention brought together many of the world's political and business leaders to focus attention and . Im so pumped. [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. Green was signed out of free agency to a multi-year contract. He bridges eras and generations with absolute clarity. He actually connected me with NBC Sports Bay Area. "The hope is that he can possibly help us this year. 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. 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. Its really an honor, and Im super humbled the Warriors believe in me, Azubuike said in a phone interview. I hope I can do this for many years to come.. Weight 270 lbs. Aug 05, 2007, 03:48 pm. It seemed like he was going to progress into a solid player, and then poof a knee injury seems to end his career? His comments on myself and Facu were beyond disrespectful. 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. Clumsy jokes. 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. [22], He joined NBC Sports Bay Area in 2015, covering Warriors games as a studio analyst for the pregame, halftime, and postgame shows. 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-Warriors coach Don Nelson when he suffered a season-ending knee injury. Golden State Warriors television broadcast announcers Bob Fitzgerald and Jim Barnett at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, March 31, 2019. 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. Trivia. He played college basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks. [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. He played college basketball at the University of Kentucky from 2002 to 2005. . Dok All-Time NCAA Leader in Field-Goal Percentage; KU Athletics; 3 February 2020. And now Im going to work radio. Azubuike (ankle) is out Friday against the Hornets. B. Diddy in the bay once again. @ plays for the team . [2], Azubuike attended Potter's House Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Florida. 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. He was having a stellar offensive season in 2009-10 before he ruptured his patella tendon in a game against the Milwaukee Bucks. After a stint at Syracuses Sportscaster U and a recommendation from Warriors broadcaster Jim Barnett, Azubuike became the color commentator we all know and love. Its even the sort of splashy move that would appeal to Lacobs Light Years brain. You know one of nicest things about working radio? Wikipedia. He finished his high school career as the second all-time leading scorer in Oklahoma prep basketball history after amassing 3,530 career points. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [29], On April 22, 2019, Azubuike announced he would return to Kansas for his senior season. After that, Fitzgerald and Azubuike laughed while they mocked the accent of the Argentinian Campazzo. Hes going to be good. 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. I really couldn't find much and was wondering if I'm missing something? For all other types of cookies we need your permission. Not exactly my problem. [5] For more information, please see our The Cleveland Cavaliers are the only team to come back after being down 3-1 in the NBA Finals and win Game 7 (2016). Im not trying to be Jim Barnett hes one of a kind, and nobody can do that. The law states that we can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site. In short, nobody loves this relatively new-ish duo. Why the Warriors should replace Bob Fitzgerald and Kelenna Azubuike with Jim Barnett and Baron Davis. Azubuike entered the 2005 NBA Draft after his junior year. 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. Check out the article here via InvestmentNews Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Azubuike was the youngest of 3, with two older brothers and two older sisters. Appreciating Klay Thompson filling in the superstar shoes. The same will apply to their telecasts and radio broadcasts. Pilfer Mark Jones from the Kings. "He's an energetic, athletic guy that's a very good 3-point shooter. [16] On 20 April 2012, Azubuike played in his first NBA game since 14 November 2009, against the Golden State Warriors. He got a big contract extension when, oh wait, his dad was the coach, said Fitzgerald. 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. 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. After the blockbuster trade that sent Dunleavy and Troy Murphy to Indiana, Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington soaked up many of Azubuikes minutes, and he played sparingly in the teams playoff run. src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=674090812743125&ev=PageView&noscript=1"/>. 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. 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. While Kelenna scored just four points in his debut, he was in the starting lineup the next night. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. [10] In the final hour, Golden State matched the offer made by the Clippers on 24 July 2008, allowing Azubuike to remain a Warrior. 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. He looked to be a very promising young player. 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). Its altogether too simple to decry him as a homer. 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. As shambolic as the broadcasts have been these Barnett-less years, were now used to a somewhat unorthodox approach. 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. Please enter a valid email and try again. The couple recently made headlines after getting married earlier in October 2022. A broadcaster obviously shouldnt have noticeable loathing for the team whose games they call. 7 off his back . But Kelena's an analyst for the Warriors local broadcast station now, offers some pretty good insight. 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. Ive had a great run of 34 years on TV, Barnett said. [2] In his first high school game he was matched up against fellow future Kansas Jayhawk Joel Embiid. 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. Warriors majority owner and trophy-cuddler Joe Lacob bet on the wrong horse, or rather, didnt want anything to do with the right horse. The injury, plus a botched surgery that left his kneecap up against his quadriceps, ultimately ended his NBA career. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. The most notable thing Azubuike did as a Knick was sell his No. You know, he might just be the perfect guy to take on the team ambassador role, whatever that means. Seemed to work out alright., Azubuike asked, Are you saying there was some nepotism there? to which Fitzgerald said, Im just saying, if youre gonna give the money, might as well give it to your kid., Rivers continued to defend himself in his comment, writing, Do u know how many guys in league made more than me while not doing half as much?! 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. The Warriors also will unveil a reshaped team, given the departures of Kevin Durant and Andre Iguodala and Klay Thompsons torn ACL. 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. [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. Azubuike played three years for the Kentucky Wildcats, averaging 15 points per game in his junior season. You make that deal. He finished the season averaging 13.4 points and 6.8 rebounds. 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 . 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? Im ecstatic. [20] Since then, he has been assigned to announce 11 of the 19 NBA D-League games produced by NBA TV in 2016. Fitzgeralds homerism isnt the genuine, charming if sort of silly homerism of a drunk but passionate fan. Watson has swine flu, "Knicks Acquire Randolph, Azubuike & Turiaf", "Kelenna Azubuike gets call to replace Lamar Odom", "Azubike plays in first NBA game in three seasons", "UK basketball notebook: Ex-Cats Azubuike, Mohammed take crash course in broadcasting", "NBA D-League Alum Kelenna Azubuike Heading To Broadcast Booth For D-League Showcase", "ESPNU to Televise 11 Regular-Season NBA D-League Games Starting in January", "Kelenna Azubuike to be Warriors TV game analyst; Jim Barnett to radio", "Former NBA Star Kelenna Azubuike Shares Details on New Faith Based Film 'Midrange' and Being a Christian Among Pro-Athletes (VIDEO INTERVIEW)", "WARRIORS: Kelenna Azubuike: On A Mission To Tanzania", Career Statistics at Basketball-Reference.com, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kelenna_Azubuike&oldid=1135532503, This page was last edited on 25 January 2023, at 06:49.