Ekpe Udoh is a professional basketball player. Ekpe Udoh cemented his reputation as a top talent during his time in Turkey. He won the league title in both of his seasons, as well as the EuroLeague MVP award in 2017, on his way to capturing the cup.
When Ekpe left the NBA in 2015 after years of bench-warming, everyone expected him to wilt out and become an inconsequential player who could never live up to his promise.
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Early Life, Family, and Education
On May 20, 1987, Ekpe Udoh was born to his parents, Sam and Alice Udoh.
Similarly, Ekpe was born and reared in Edmon, which is a city in Oklahoma.
When it comes to his siblings, the 6’10 center grew up with Eddie Udoh, his brother, and sisters, Esther and Sefon Udoh.
Thus, Ekpe’s desire to outdo his siblings was instilled in him from an early age.
Moving forward, Udoh attended the University of Michigan from 2006 to 2008, according to his school background.
He then spent a year at Baylor University before entering the NBA draft.
The Oklahoma native competed in 103 games in collegiate basketball, averaging 8.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 2.8 blocks per game.
He was also named to the All-Big 12 12-second team, the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, the Big 12 All-Rookie team, the USBWA All-District VII Team, and the NABC Division I All-District 8-second team.
Height, Age, and Nationality
Ekpe Udoh is currently 33 years old, having been born in the year 1987.
Similarly, the Oklahoma native was born on May 20, making his zodiac sign Taurus.
Moving on, Udoh is 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m) tall and weighs 245 pounds (111 kg).
Similarly, Udoh is a well-known commodity in China due to his enormous stature.
Ekpe also plays at the center position, which allows him to completely exploit his strengths.
Despite the fact that Ekpe was born in Oklahoma, one of the 50 states of the United States, his parents are Nigerian.
As a result, he is a dual citizen of the United States and Nigeria.
Facts of Ekpe Udoh
| Full Name | Ekpedeme Friday Udoh |
| Birth Date | May 20, 1987 |
| Birth Place | Edmond, Oklahoma, U.S |
| Nick Name | Not available |
| Religion | Not available |
| Nationality | Nigerian-American |
| Ethnicity | African-American |
| Education | Not available |
| Horoscope | Taurus |
| Father’s Name | Sam Udoh |
| Mother’s Name | Alice Udoh |
| Siblings | Eddie Udoh, Esther Udoh, Sefon Udoh |
| Age | 34 years old |
| Height | 6’10″ (2.08 m) |
| Weight | 245 lbs (111 kg) |
| Shoe Size | Not available |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Body Measurement | Not available |
| Build | Athletic |
| Married | No |
| Girlfriend | No |
| Spouse | No |
| Profession | Basketball Player |
| Position | Center |
| Net Worth | $12 million |
| Clubs | Beijing Ducks (Current), Golden State Warriors, Fenerbache (Former) |
| Jersey Number | 9 (Beijing Ducks) |
| Social Media | Instagram, Twitter |
| Merch | Pants, Shorts, Accessories |
| Last Update | May 2022 |
Salary, Net Worth, and Contract
Ekpe Udoh has a staggering net worth of $12 million as of 2022, which he has accumulated primarily from his professional basketball career.
Similarly, the Oklahoma native has been playing professionally for ten years, nine of them in the NBA.
As a result, his net worth should come as no surprise. Furthermore, until 2019, Udoh was paid a yearly salary of $3.3 million by the Utah Jazz.
Udoh, on the other hand, went to China to play for the Beijing Ducks once his contract expired. Unfortunately, the specifics of his deal are currently unknown.
Nonetheless, based on how much money great football players like Oscar, Hulk, and others make in China, we’re confident that a former NBA star like Ekpe is making millions each year.
In terms of Ekpe’s contract, he inked a two-year, $6.5 million agreement with the Utah Jazz in 2017. As a result, throughout the term of his deal, Udoh earned $3.3 million every year.
Udoh, on the other hand, signed with the Beijing Ducks of China once his contract expired.
His contract with the Beijing Ducks reportedly makes him the CBA’s “highest-paid import” (Chinese Basketball Association).
Udoh has developed a unique bond with Jeremy Lin since joining the squad. They’ve both won championships and excelled for the team.
Jeremy Lin is the first American of Chinese or Taiwanese origin to play in the NBA, which is a great fact. Not to mention being the first Asian American to win an NBA title.
Career and Statistics
Expectations were high for the 6 feet 10 behemoth to be picked high in the 2010 NBA Draft after an outstanding three years playing college basketball.
Ekpe was then taken as the sixth overall choice by the Golden State Warriors.
On November 21, 2011, Udoh made his NBA debut against the Miami Heat, giving him his first taste of the game.
After a while, the Oklahoma native put up 22 points, 16 rebounds, four blocks, and three assists in one of the greatest games of his rookie season.
After that, he spent another year with the Warriors until being dealt with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2012.
After three years of largely serving as a bench player, Udoh decided to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers as a free agent in 2014.
Continuing the trend, the Oklahoma native spent the majority of his one-year time in Los Angeles on the bench. The cause for this is a lack of effort and disappointing performances.
Thus, after six years of warming the benches of several teams, Ekpe made the decision to relocate outside of the United States in order to restart his career.
More
As a result, he joined Fenerbache in Turkey, and the rest, as they say, is history, as the 32-year-old led his team to two consecutive league titles in 2016 and 2017.
Udoh also won the EuroLeague Cup in 2017, as well as the EuroLeague Final Four MVP and All-Euro League First Team nominations.
After two successful seasons with Fenerbache, the NBA’s Utah Jazz signed the 6’10 center to a two-year $6.5 million deal.
Unfortunately, the Oklahoma native could not replicate his form, which saw him win the MVP in the EuroLeague the previous year.
Instead, Udoh spent most of his two years on the bench before moving to China.
Beijing Ducks
After the expiration of his contract, Ekpe was free to choose his next destination. Thus, having already played in Europe, the 32-year-old decided to play in China.
Subsequently, in 2019, he signed for the Beijing Ducks, who play in the North Division of the Chinese Basketball Association.
Since then, Udoh has been playing for the Ducks, where he is showcasing his talents to a whole new audience.
Furthermore, due to his towering stature, Ekpe has quickly gained a fan following in China.
However, in light of the recent pandemic of the Corona Virus (COVID-19), all public gatherings have been restricted.
As a result, the Chinese league also has been postponed. In such perilous times, we hope Ekpe manages to take care of himself and remains virus-free.
Olympics
At Tokyo 2020, Udoh made his Olympic debut. He finished 10th in the men’s basketball event while representing Nigeria.
Personal Relationships & Lifestyle
In terms of his personal life, Ekpe Udoh appears to be single at the moment, as seen by his Instagram pictures.
We also couldn’t locate any information on Ekpe’s previous affairs. The 6’10” American appears to want to keep his personal life private.
Moving on to his personal life, Udoh is a voracious reader. When Ekpe is not playing, he enjoys reading various novels and periodicals.
Aside from that, the Oklahoman enjoys spending time with his mother.
Udoh also visits several Chinese schools to inspire young students.
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Book Club
If someone ever wonders why Udoh is so unique, tell them. Someone who can find calm in a book, in a few pages of words, is unique.
Well, Ekpe has his own book club, and the best part is that it has even piqued Michelle Obama’s curiosity.
Ekpe’s literature club, for example, strives to educate and introduce athletes to fields other than basketball.
In fact, Ekpe founded his book club while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks.
He also introduced a mechanism for his fans to communicate with him through a series called “Author’s Talk.”
As Ekpe explains, if you love something, you make time for it; you just make time for it because you love it.
On the Euro Basket website, you can find the most recent news, stats, player profiles, and much more about Udoh.
Presence on Social Media
He has123k followers on Instagram (@ekpeudoh) and 87.8k followers on Twitter (@EkpeUdoh).
