Golden State Warriors: 3 draft picks from the 2010s we wish worked out
By Zane Harris
Warriors picks in the NBA draft: 1. Ekpe Udoh
The Golden State Warriors selected Ekpe Udoh with the 6th pick in the 2010 draft.
Scouts were not too sure what to make of Udoh when he came into the league. He was predicted to be an elite defensive big and a top tier rim protector. Udoh has a 7’4″ wingspan which makes it very difficult to get off a shot anytime Udoh is in the same area code.
However, there were a lot of question marks in terms of his offensive game. It was said that he looked indecisive and at times nervous when the ball was in his hands. He did not play with the same ease and confidence as he did on the defensive end.
These predictions held true throughout his NBA career. Udoh averaged only 14.8 minutes per game through his career. Along with this, he only put up 3.5 points per game over his seven seasons in the league. Despite the few minutes he played, he still averaged 1.1 blocks per game.
He did not last long with the Golden State Warriors. The team traded Udoh, Monta Ellis, and Kwame Brown to the Milwaukee Bucks for Stephen Jackson and Andrew Bogut. If he remained on the team, Udoh could have played the perfect role of a center for the Warriors during their championship runs.
He did not need the ball in his hands at all to be productive. Udoh would have been perfectly content setting screens, crashing the glass for offensive rebounds, then getting back and playing defense. It would have been intriguing to see how he could have effected the Warriors dynasty and to what level he would have played on the biggest stage.