In April 2005, the third year of college
Azubuque
Declare that you will
Draft, and despite signing agent Joel Bell, he went undrafted in the 2005 NBA Draft.During the 2005-06 season, Azubuike joined the Fort Worth Flyers of the Developmental League, and in 41 games played during the season, Azubuike averaged 12.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. Azubuike played for the Denver Nuggets in the 2006 Toshiba Vegas Summer League, and averaged 16.4 points per game to rank 10th in scoring for the tournament.Azubuike joined the Houston Rockets as a free agent in August 2006, but was cut by the team in October and continued to play back with the Fort Worth Flyers. In 37.7 minutes per game this season, Azubuike averaged 5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.17 steals, and a league-high 26.0 points per game, while shooting 51.4% from the field and 48.5% from three-point range.
On January 2, 2007, the Golden State Warriors signed Azubuike, who had excelled in the Development League. Azubuike also became the first player from the Development League to enter the NBA in the 2006-07 season and the 49th player since November 2001 to enter the NBA from the Development League. During his second season with the Golden State Warriors, Azubuike expressed interest in representing Great Britain at the 2010 London Olympics, but his British citizenship has been denied under 1981 British international law.On July 17, 2008, the Los Angeles Clippers offered Azubuike a three-year, $9 million contract. The Warriors matched the contract at the last minute of the deal, and Azubuike remained with the Warriors.
On November 17, 2009, Azubuike missed all of the remainder of the season with a torn patellar tendon.
On July 9, 2010, Azubuike, along with Anthony Randolph, Ronny Turiaf, and a future second-round pick were sent by the team to the New York Knicks in exchange for the sign-and-trade of David Lee.
Azubuike has said that his time at Kentucky was one of his most improved, especially in terms of having more offensive firepower on top of his already tough defensive abilities.
Under head coach Tubby Smith, Azubuike was named to the Southeastern Conference's second-team All-Southeastern Conference as selected by the Associated Press as a junior, averaging 14.7 points per game, which ranked 10th in the Southeastern Conference. In the 2005 Southeastern Conference tourney, Azubuike was named to the Southeastern Conference Best XI after boasting 18.0 points per game in three games. In total, Azubuike's collegiate career helped the University of Kentucky Wildcats to two Southeast Conference titles, two conference tourney championships and two national Elite Eight appearances.
Azubuike appeared in 97 games during his collegiate career, averaging 10.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and shooting 48.5 percent from the field.
At the University of Kentucky, Azubuike majored in corporate marketing.
Born in London, England to parents Kenneth and Chy, Azubuike grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Azubuike attended Victory Christian High School where he led the varsity team to a state championship. In his final year of high school, Azubuike averaged 39.1 points and 13.3 rebounds per game, was named to the All-State Team of the Year and led his varsity team to the 4A State Championship. In his final three years of high school, Azubuike has emerged as Oklahoma's top scorer, averaging 28.5 points per game as a sophomore and 38.7 points per game his senior year.
Azubuike's high school career total of 3,530 points is just 89 points away from Oklahoma's state high school career scoring record.
