After four years in the NBA, Udoka Azubuike is going abroad. Montenegro’s Buducnost VOLI announced the signing of Azubuike in a press release. It is the first time for the 24-year-old to play professionally outside the USA. He was born in Nigeria but moved to the USA before high school, where he played for Potter’s House Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Florida.

2020 NBA first-round draft pick joins team in Montenegro

Adubuike has played the last four seasons in the NBA

Azubuike was selected in the first round (27th overall) by the Utah Jazz in the 2020 NBA Draft. The center spent three seasons with Utah before joining the Phoenix Suns on a two-way contract last season.

The 6’10” Azubuike previously suffered from ankle and foot problems that kept him out of action in the NBA. He has played a total of just 84 games in his four NBA seasons. He appeared in 17 games last season with Phoenix, averaging 2.2 points and 2.0 rebounds in 7.1 minutes per game. He suffered much of his injury in a game against the Sacramento Kings in the 2023-24 season, when he recorded his second career double-double (11 points and 11 rebounds) on December 22, 2023.

After playing sparingly as a rookie (15 games averaging 3.8 minutes), Azubuike spent more time on the court in his second and third seasons with Utah. In 53 games over those two seasons, Azubuike averaged 10.5 minutes. Although most of his shot attempts came from close range, he still shot an impressive 79.3% from the field overall in 2020-21 and 2021-22. On March 20, 2023, Azubuike scored a career-high 13 points.

In his 84 regular season NBA games (10 starts), Azubuike has averaged 3.0 points and 2.8 rebounds. He shot 74.8% from the field, but just 44.4% (24-54) from the free throw line. Azubuike has played in one playoff game in his career. It was in 2021 against the Los Angeles Clippers, when he grabbed one rebound in one minute.

Excellent senior season in Kansas

Before his NBA career, Azubuike played four seasons at the collegiate level for the Kansas Jayhawks. Both his freshman and junior seasons at Kansas ended prematurely. As a freshman, he tore a ligament in his hand. In his junior year, he tore ligaments in his other hand. Both injuries required season-ending surgery.

In his sophomore year in 2017-18, Azubuike was named to the All-Big 12 Third Team (averages of 13.0 points and 7.0 rebounds). In his senior year in 2019-20, he averaged a double-double with 13.7 points and 10.5 rebounds (also 2.6 blocks), earning him Big 12 Player of the Year honors. Azuibuike’s career field goal percentage of 74.6% is the highest in men’s college basketball since 1992-93.

Azubuike moves to Budecnost VOLI in Montenegro for the 2024–25 season

Azubuike will play the 2024–25 season for Budecnost VOLI, based in Podgorica, Montenegro. After winning 10 consecutive Montenegrin Cups, Budecnost VOLI finished second last season. Other members include former NBA players Juwan Morgan, Yogi Ferrell and McKinley Wright IV. Two-time NBA All-Star Nikola Vucevic also played one year for Budecnost VOLI before entering the 2011 NBA Draft.

Azubuike will turn 25 on September 17, giving him plenty of time to rebuild his value overseas and get back on the NBA radar, if that’s his ultimate goal.