NBA Contract & Financial Struggle [2024 Update]

10 Dec 2023, 00:00

Udoka Azubuike, a Nigerian-born basketball player, currently plays as a center for the Utah Jazz after being selected as the 27th overall draft in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Born and raised in Nigeria, Azubuike faced several challenges growing up, including the loss of his father at a young age and limited access to basketball facilities.

However, he caught the attention of recruiters from Basketball Without Borders, who offered him a scholarship to play basketball in the United States.

Azubuike moved to the states to attend his high school and lived with a host family who later became his legal guardians.

He played college basketball at the University of Kansas, where he averaged 12.3 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.

In 2020, Azubuike was selected as the 27th overall pick in the NBA draft by the Utah Jazz.

In this article, we will cover Azubuike’s family background, his journey from high school and collegiate basketball to his NBA career, as well as his net worth, contracts, and many more!

Quick Facts

Udoka Azubuike’s Family Details!

Udoka Azubuike was born in Lagos, Nigeria on September 17, 1999. He is the youngest among five siblings; two older brothers and two sisters.

His mother, Florence, was a middle school teacher, and his father, Fabian, worked as a police officer.

When Azubuike was just ten years old, his father fell ill with an undiagnosed disease that caused swelling and pain in his feet, eventually extending up to his thighs.

Florence sold off more of the family’s belongings to cover the medical bills that followed each new attempt at treatment, but doctors never could diagnose Fabian’s illness.

Fabian died in 2010, just a few hours after Udoka visited him in the hospital.

In 2012, Azubuike caught the attention of recruiters from Basketball Without Borders, who offered him a scholarship to play basketball in the United States.

At 13, he moved to Florida, where he was taken in by his assistant high school coach Harry Coxsome and his wife, Donna, who became his “host parents.”

After a few months and completing the necessary paperwork, Harry and Donna became Azubuike’s legal guardians.

High School & Collegiate

Azubuike grew up in a city in Nigeria’s Delta State with limited access to basketball facilities, stating that only one or two hoops were available.

He mostly played soccer during his childhood until he was discovered at a basketball camp.

The NBA player attended The Potter’s House Christian Academy in Jacksonville, where he had his first opportunity to play organized basketball.

During his first high school game, he faced his future teammate at Kansas, Joel Embiid.

Despite receiving offers from Duke, Texas, and Kentucky, he committed to play collegiate basketball for the University of Kansas on January 28, 2016.

Throughout his college career, he played 87 games, starting in 79 of them, and averaged 12.3 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.

NBA Career

The Utah Jazz selected Udoka Azubuike as the 27th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

The 2020 NABC Defensive Player of the Year made his NBA debut against the Portland Trail Blazers on December 23, 2020, and played for 4 minutes.

He played 15 games in his first rookie season but did not start in any of them.

During his second season, the center got his first-ever start in his main rotation in a game against the Denver Nuggets on January 5, 2022.

He played in 17 games and started in six, averaging 4.7 points per game.

Unfortunately, on March 25, 2022, he had to undergo right foot surgery and was ruled out for the remainder of the 2021-22 season.

Net Worth & Contracts

As of 2024, the net worth of the Utah Jazz center is estimated to be between $1 million-$1.5 million.

Although Azubuike has yet to land any endorsements, it is just a matter of time before he signs significant deals with top brands.

He agreed to a four-year rookie scale contract worth $10.15 million with the Jazz, including an annual average salary of $2.53 million and a guaranteed amount at the sign of $4 million on November 24, 2020.

The Jazz exercised the $2.17 million option for the 2022-23 season on October 29, 2021, but opted not to exercise the $3.92 million option for the 2023-24 season on October 31, 2022.

Relationship & Social Media Presence

Udoka Azubuike is present on various social media platforms, like Instagram and Twitter.

As of this writing, he has 50.2k followers on Instagram and 8.7k followers on Twitter.

Azubuike mainly shares posts related to basketball and his vacations on his social media handles.

He has also shared a post featuring Kamaru Usman, the former UFC Welterweight Champion, who is also Nigerian.

However, he has not shared any posts about his partner on social media and has maintained silence about his dating history.

Azubuike is allegedly single and not in a relationship with anyone.

Age, Height & Body Measurements

Udoka Azubuike is currently 24 years old.

The Nigeria-born basketball player stands 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m) tall and weighs 127 kg (280 lbs).

The black-haired and dark brown-eyed NBA player has a wingspan of 7 feet 7 inches (2.31 m) and a standing reach of 9 feet 1 inch (2.7 m). 

Popularity Graph

Azubuike was chosen to participate in several high-profile basketball events, including the 2016 McDonald’s All-American Boys Game, Jordan Brand Classic, and Nike Hoop Summit.

The above graph represents the interest searches over the past twelve months of Udoka Azubuike in the United States.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Udoka Azubuike and Kelenna Azubuike related to each other?

Udoka Azubuike and Kelenna Azubuike are not related to each other despite both being born to Nigerian parents. Kelenna Azubuike currently works as a television analyst for the Golden State Warriors.

How much does Udoka Azubuike make in a year?

Udoka earns a base salary of $2.17 million in the 2022-23 season.

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