Golden State Warriors: Ranking the last 10 first-round picks
By Drew Taylor
Ekpe Udoh (#6 Pick in the 2010 NBA Draft)
Drafted out of Baylor University, Ekpe Udoh was known for his shot-blocking abilities. Only averaging 8.4 points and 6.3 rebounds a game in college, Udoh’s main responsibility was to protect the rim; with his 7’4” wingspan, he averaged 2.8 blocks a game for the Bears.
That success, however, did not translate to the NBA (to say the least). He’s only averaged more than five points a game once in his career, and to be drafted sixth as a shot-blocker, he only averages 1.1 blocks a game.
After his sophomore season, the Warriors had enough; they traded him to the Bucks for Andrew Bogut.
Related Story. Evaluating Tom Thibodeau's NBA landing spots. light
And after two lackluster, bench-warming seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks and another with the Los Angeles Clippers, Udoh signed with Turkish club Fenerbahçe.
As one of the better players on the squad, Udoh contributed to a Turkish cup win and a EuroLeague Final Four appearance in 2016.
He then returned to the NBA, signing with the Utah Jazz.
He now plays for the Beijing Ducks.
Expectations were high for Udoh considering his draft slot. Though he wasn’t expected to be a scorer or playmaker, he was expected to be a presence around the rim. And he was not.
Even with a semi-productive two seasons in Turkey, Udoh is not exactly how you want that pick to turn out. Fortunately, the Golden State Warriors were able to quickly turn him into Andrew Bogut before his value completely collapsed.
Considering his high draft status and a very underwhelming performance in the NBA, Udoh is one of the Warriors’ worst draft picks in recent history, and most definitely the worst first-rounder in the last 12 years.