Utah Jazz Center Udoka Azubuike Becomes U.S. Citizen
May 28, 2022, 4:12 PM
Udoka Azubuike #20 of the Utah Jazz before the NBA game at Footprint Center on January 24, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Jazz center Udoka Azubuike became a citizen of the United States of America after participating in a naturalization ceremony.
Azubuike became a U.S. citizen on Friday, May 27.
The Jazz center was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and came to the United States after getting the attention of Basketball Without Borders recruiters in 2012.
After participating in an Oath of Allegiance ceremony, Azubuike became a citizen of the United States.
Congrats to Udoka Azubuike on officially becoming a U.S. citizen today! 🇺🇸🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/FB8b86agxb
— Priority Sports (@PrioritySports) May 27, 2022
Azubuike is one of the five international players on the Jazz roster.
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About Udoka Azubuike
After a standout college career at Kansas, Azubuike was selected by the Jazz with the No. 27 overall pick during the first round of the 2020 NBA Draft.
In addition to playing for the Jazz, Azubuike has played for Utah’s G-League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars.
Throughout his first two seasons as a professional player, the Nigerian center has battled multiple injuries. In March, Azubuike underwent season-ending ankle surgery. The surgery came after the center suffered his third significant ankle injury in the last two years.
Azubuike’s first injury came in his G-League debut in February of 2021. He suffered a gruesome ankle sprain that kept him out for several months during his rookie season.
The Jazz bench was loving Udoka Azubuike’s slam 👏😂#NBAPreseason pic.twitter.com/I3KI6KnYW0
— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 13, 2020
In November 2021, Azubuike suffered another serious ankle injury during the Stars game against the Stockton Kings that sidelined him through January.
Udoka Azubuike threw it down 💪 #NBASummer pic.twitter.com/0e88CduVub
— NBA TV (@NBATV) August 10, 2021
In two seasons with the Jazz, Azubuike has averaged 3.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, 0.5 blocks, and 0.1 steals in 7.9 minutes per contest. He’s appeared in 32 games for Utah.
