Monday, May 16 (1:03 p.m.)
2010-11 Recap - Ekpe Udoh
It’s truly unfortunate that injuries are part of the game. One can only wonder how the season would have played out had Ekpe Udoh not tore a ligament in his left wrist last summer. That injury delayed the start of his rookie campaign and prevented him from participating in Summer League and training camp, but it didn’t keep him from foreshadowing the player that he can become. In 58 games, Udoh solidified himself as a quality interior defender with a knack for blocking shots, and he even displayed glimpses of a back-to-the-basket game. Hear what he had to say about his rookie season and watch some of his top plays in the video below:
The sixth selection in the 2010 NBA Draft, Udoh led all rookies with 1.48 blocked shots per game. However, he didn’t get the chance to show off his defensive prowess until two months into the season. Until then, he was in full-on learning mode as he recovered from surgery on his left wrist. Udoh spent all of training camp and the first 22 games of the season on the sidelines soaking up everything he could about the NBA game, and that learning process continued once he made his season debut on December 10 against Miami.
As the season wore on, Udoh got more and more of an opportunity to showcase his skills. He became a regular part of the team’s rotation over the last two months of the season and he even started the final 14 games of the year. Although his overall numbers (4.1 ppg & 3.1 rpg) won’t drop any jaws, his 16-point night in Phoenix on February 10 and his eight-game streak with at least two blocks showed that he is certainly capable of making a positive impact on the game. For more facts and figures on Udoh’s rookie season, check out the table below:
NOTES & NUMBERS |
Appeared in 58 games (18 starts), averaging 4.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.48 blocks in
17.8 minutes per contest.
Among NBA rookie leaders, ranked 1st in blocks and 16th in rebounds
Started 18 games, averaging 5.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.28 blocks and 25.5 minutes in
those contests
Posted career-high 16 points on 8-of-12 shooting in 30 minutes at Phoenix (2/10)
Registered two-or-more blocks in eight straight games (3/16 - 3/29) which is the secondlongest
by a Warriors rookie since Robert Parish recorded nine straight in January 1977
Made NBA debut vs. Miami (12/10) and collected two points in three minutes
Missed first 22 games of the season after undergoing off-season sugery to repair a torn ligament in
left wrist
Recorded 10-plus points six times
Recorded three-plus blocks 12 times, including two games with five-plus
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Access more season recaps of individual players in the blog archive on the right (scroll toward the top), and for the complete story of the 2010-11 Warriors, read the Season In Review.
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