Ime Sunday Udoka (born August 9, 1977, in Portland,
Oregon) is an American professional basketball
player of partial Nigerian descent. He is currently
a member of the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA.
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, for whom when
he averaged 17.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.
On April 6, 2006, Udoka was signed by the New York
Knicks. Udoka was waived by the Knicks on September
11, 2006.
Udoka was the last player invited to his hometown
Portland Trail Blazers training camp before the
2006-07 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, Udoka started in
75 games played in the 2006-07 season. He played
28.6 minutes per game while averaging 8.4 points,
3.7 rebounds, and 0.9 steals.
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. His mother is American.
On August 16, 2007 Udoka signed a contract with the
San Antonio Spurs. Terms were not disclosed, but it
is believed to be a two-year deal worth more than $2
million.
