Ime Udoka
From Hoopedia
Ime Sunday Udoka (pronounced EE-may you-DOE-kuh) (born August 9, 1977 in Portland, Oregon), is a American professional basketball player of Nigerian descent.
Udoka, a small forward, attended Portland's Jefferson High School and Portland State University where he starred for the Vikings. He started his professional basketball career by playing in the NBDL with the Charleston Lowgators. He was called up to play with the Los Angeles Lakers on January 14, 2004, but was later waived and joined another D-League team, the Fort Worth Flyers. On April 6, 2006, Udoka was signed by the New York Knicks. Udoka was waived by the Knicks on September 11, 2006.
During the 2006 off-season ex-Australian professional basketball player Jon Moehring once scored 52 points on Ime in a Ballys league game. (Ime scored 58)
Udoka was the last player invited to his hometown Portland Trail Blazers training camp before the 2006-2007 season, getting the invite only after Aaron Miles failed a physical. Despite the death of his father during the preseason, Udoka impressed the coaching staff with his defense and professionalism, and improbably, made the team. After having played in only 12 NBA games in his career, Ime started 75 games in the 2006-07 season. He averaged 28.6 minutes, 8.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game. He now plays for the San Antonio Spurs.
Though American-born, Udoka's father was born in Nigeria, which qualified him as a member of the Nigerian basketball squad, for whom he played at the 2006 FIBA World Championships. His older sister Mfon used to play in the WNBA.
