L.A. Lakers Sign Charleston’s Udoka
GREENVILLE, S.C., Jan. 14 – Charleston Lowgators forward Ime Udoka has signed a 10-day contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, making him the third “Gatorade Call-up” of the season for the National Basketball Development League. Udoka is set to join the Lakers for tonight’s game against Denver.
Mikki Moore of Roanoke and Ronald Dupree of Huntsville are the other two “Gatorade Call-ups” of the 2003-04 season, with Moore going to the New Jersey Nets and Dupree to the Chicago Bulls. Since the NBDL began competition in November 2001, 20 players have received 25 “Gatorade Call-ups” to play for NBA teams.
Check out a photo gallery of call-ups from the past two seasons in the Gatorade Call-Up Gallery.
Udoka has played in 17 games (16 starts) for the Lowgators, averaging 29.2 minutes, 14.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. He has recorded four double-doubles this season.
The NBDL, the NBA’s minor league, includes the Fayetteville Patriots (N.C.), Charleston Lowgators (S.C.), Huntsville Flight (Ala.), Roanoke Dazzle (Va.), Columbus Riverdragons (Ga.) and Asheville Altitude (N.C.).
The league offers players the opportunity to develop their talent in a highly competitive atmosphere under the NBA’s umbrella. In addition to 25 players, four coaches and six referees have also been called up to the NBA since the start of the league’s inaugural season in November 2001.
Designed to help grow the sport of basketball both domestically and internationally, the league also offers fun, family entertainment at affordable prices. The NBDL is a source of on-court talent for the NBA’s 30 teams and is a diverse human resources pool for the NBA and its teams by training employees in management, operations, public relations, sales and marketing positions.
