Ekpe Udoh: Did Don Nelson Get the Player He Wanted?

by Feltbot on Jun 26, 2010 10:30 AM PDT

Multi-tooled?

Don't answer until you check out this profile of Udoh. I note several characteristics of a quintessential Don Nelson player. First of all, "he has an incredible basketball intelligence." Secondly, he has a love of doing the dirty work, which is something Nellie desperately wants from his four, and which has been sadly lacking in both Brandan Wright and Anthony Randolph. Third, he has versatility, or as Nellie puts it, the ability to do more than one thing well.

Jump for the full Nightmare!

Udoh has the beef, at a full 40 lbs. over what BWright and Randolph weighed coming into the league. They were 200 dripping wet. He's 240. Udoh plays above the rim. He loves to defend and rebound and block shots. He has a 7'5" wingspan.

On offense, he has some low post moves (say what?!!). He shoots the jumper out to at least the college three point line. He handles well, and can face up and beat his man off the dribble. He runs the court.

And he's "an underrated passer." Baylor played him at point forward, for heaven's sake:

Drew had used a three- or four-guard, dribble-drive attack the past few seasons but now often circulates the ball through Udoh in the post, where he has terrific awareness and passing skills. "Defenses have to be honest with Ekpe, which opens up driving lanes," Morefield says. When Sam Houston State came out in a triangle-and-two to lock down the Bears' backcourt of Tweety Carter and LaceDarius Dunn, Udoh shifted to point forward and scored 20 points while handing out five assists and grabbing 13 rebounds.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1167638/index.htm

Did I mention that "he has an incredible basketball intelligence?"

I've never seen him play, but I have to say that Udoh sounds like a Don Nelson wet dream.

I have a funny feeling brewing. A sneaking suspicion...

That The Nightmare has already beaten out Brandan Wright and Anthony Randolph.

Sorry, fanboys.

Poll

Grade the Pick:

A: Steal of the draft

244 votes

B: Best available

545 votes

C: Uninspired

468 votes

D: Monroe will be better

557 votes

F: I want an internship with a draft guru

225 votes

2039 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 66 comments | 3 recs |

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Comments

I wouldn’t go as far to say that he’s already won the starting PF spot. Even at 23, he’s still a rookie after all. Plus his competiton has 2 years of NBA playing experience under their belts.

But I do think he has the ability to certainly push both guys, and maybe even win the spot by the end of the season. At some point, I think he’ll be the bonafied backup 4, probably pushing Brandan Wright to become a benchwarmer. And I’m perfectly ok with that. No use in trying to fit a peg in a square hole with Wright. Even if he did cost us Richardson to get, there’s no point in playing him if he won’t ever amount to anything in the league.

Because we have three lottery PF’s on the squad, I know one thing is certain. One of them will at least pan out to be a solid NBA starter. Even it takes the front office three drafts to do it.

by SnakesOnAPlane on Jun 26, 2010 10:42 AM PDT reply actions

I’m sick of this AR and BW trashing and Nellie worshipping from you and Atma. Udoh was 23 coming into the league. Wright was 19 and so was Randolph. Thats 4 years of development and weight gaining and they are already better. Wright weighs 235 now, and hes a better player than Udoh. Randolph now at 21 is about 225. Sorry you are fanboys.

Kobe sucks

by GovernorStephCurry on Jun 26, 2010 10:48 AM PDT reply actions 4 recs

Comparing rookie weight is moronic ...

Since Udoh is much older than they were as rookies …

by Ronaldinho on Jun 26, 2010 11:02 AM PDT reply actions 4 recs

Age is relative to developement though..

I’m tired of ’he’s too old’ like it’s a reason he can’t be better. I’m not saying he is, but at same time, older generally means more maturity, more attention to detail, stronger work ethic. Maybe he’s a late bloomer.

There is no reason Udoh in his 2nd year can’t be better than Wright and Randolph in 4th/5th. Where as he stayed in college and worked through A LOT of his flaws and gradually improved (and i don’t see any star potential in him, but at same time, i don’t see any in Wright or Randolph either) Wright and Randolph were thrown into pros and just didn’t get as much playing time as they probably needed.

by tafkasam on Jun 27, 2010 3:49 PM PDT up reply actions

So, this is front-page quality material huh?

by randolphforpresident on Jun 26, 2010 11:02 AM PDT reply actions 3 recs

This is really poor stuff.

Kobe sucks

by GovernorStephCurry on Jun 26, 2010 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Seriously. I think it’s pretty clear who the “fanboy” here is.

There will be no extra point!

by Sleepy Freud on Jun 26, 2010 1:26 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

One of the 3 of them are going to have to eventually move to center. Biedrins is likely to be gone with both this management and the next one. And Ronny is not starting material. My guess is Udoh buffs up a little and moves to center, with AR at the 4, and Wright off the bench. Probably won’t happen right away, but within the next year or so.

by duballers23 on Jun 26, 2010 11:12 AM PDT reply actions

And also, who starts where won’t be up to Riley and Nelly for much longer, so Udoh may very well be starting at center when this management and coaching goes out the door. So don’t really take into mind the things that Riley s saying because he is going to be gone soon.

by duballers23 on Jun 26, 2010 11:15 AM PDT up reply actions

Or maybe the new guys will wanty to try AR at the 3. Who knows?

by duballers23 on Jun 26, 2010 11:16 AM PDT up reply actions

a big NO

he isn’t skilled enough to play PF, now you want to move him to SF?

by tafkasam on Jun 27, 2010 3:50 PM PDT up reply actions

For those who chose D and F...

I think it’s because of his name right?
I mean like Greg Monroe sounds like a star name and Ekpe Udoh…ehh.
Also,just because Udoh played in a smaller conference doesn’t mean he still can’t translate his game well to the NBA.

Monroe and Udoh practically has the exact same body and game except Udoh is more talented in some aspects,I don’t know why you guys wanted Monroe more.

by Cpt. Jack in the Box on Jun 26, 2010 11:15 AM PDT reply actions

Also,just because Udoh played in a smaller conference doesn’t mean he still can’t translate his game well to the NBA.

Smaller conference? Smaller than what? Baylor is in the Big 12, the same Big 12 with Kansas, K.State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma St., Texas, Texas A&M and Missouri. Baylor was one of 7 teams in the NCAA tourney from that conference this year including a 1 seed, a 2 seed and a 3 seed. Top to bottom, there wasn’t a better conference this year.

by jae on Jun 26, 2010 12:23 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Why move Udoh to Center and move Biedrins. Biedrins is much better than Udoh will ever be! I am sick of this franchise. I was a Riley fan but i have lost all hope until this team is sold….cmon Larry!

Kobe sucks

by GovernorStephCurry on Jun 26, 2010 11:29 AM PDT reply actions

BW and AR

they are better and always be better than Udoh. Out of the few games BW has played he has shown promise. Wait until this year when he is fully healthy for the first time and packed on 30 pounds of muscle. I cant wait for him and AR to prove the haters wrong.

by dhod on Jun 26, 2010 12:10 PM PDT reply actions

I agree

I’m saying Udoh is better than Beidrins, and should be our long term center over Biedrins, especially with the kind of money AB is making.

by duballers23 on Jun 26, 2010 12:30 PM PDT up reply actions

Biedrins was one of teh best center's in the western contract 2 years ago

and completely warrented the contract he recieved. He was fantastic at rebounding, perfect for our system, and incredibly efficient (i know he has no jump shot).

Everyone is blinding by how poor he played last season WHEN INJURIES SCREWED HIM ALL YEAR. Everyone keeps harping on this 19 percent free throw shooting, when its a useless, small sample stat from a lost year.

If he comes back healthy, he his taller, bigger, true starting center, which Udoh at his size can not be.

by Lincoln Logs on Jun 26, 2010 4:23 PM PDT up reply actions 4 recs

+1. Rec.

Kobe sucks

by GovernorStephCurry on Jun 26, 2010 4:55 PM PDT up reply actions

so wish I could go back and edit lol

first sentence is embarresing, driven by my anger haha (teh center’s, contract not conference). Typin a lil too fast

by Lincoln Logs on Jun 26, 2010 5:51 PM PDT up reply actions

But Injuries are part of the game.

Granted when he got the contract he showed no real durability issues, but players with durability issues typically don’t get big contracts (well unless you are Corey Maggette :( )

by tafkasam on Jun 27, 2010 3:51 PM PDT up reply actions

@Biedrins Contract

It’s ONLY an issue with cheap management. If you are willing to go into luxury tax (which it seems correlates with winning titles) it doesn’t matter much. Players of his ability/skills/talent get paid what he gets paid.

by tafkasam on Jun 27, 2010 3:53 PM PDT up reply actions

shot blocking: Udoh>Bedrins, overall defense: Udoh>Biedrins, rebounding: Biedrins>Udoh, scoring: Udoh>Biedrins, passing: Udoh>Biedrins, toughness: Udoh>Biedrins, free throw shooting: Udoh>Biedrins, desire to get better: Udoh> Biedrins

by duballers23 on Jun 26, 2010 12:29 PM PDT reply actions

Thats a joke man.

Do you really believe that. Biedrins is a higher volume scorer, the most efficient scorer in league history, a far better rebounder, and a better passer. Your Biedrins hatred is getting in your way of looking at this situation seriously. Poor stuff dude. AB1 material.

Kobe sucks

by GovernorStephCurry on Jun 26, 2010 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions

shot blocking: Udoh>Bedrins

Maybe. Blocking shots against college kids tends to be easier than in the pros.

overall defense: Udoh>Biedrins

That’s the reputation.

scoring: Udoh>Biedrins

A biiiiggggg maybe. Udoh did not score efficiently and he wasn’t a high volume scorer. He struggled below 50% from the field against college competition. Udoh’s 14 points in 35 minutes played against college kids doesn’t look any better than the 14 per 36 that Biedrins averaged over the two seasons prior to this one. If Biedrins doesn’t recover from whatever caused him to be a feeble excuse for a player last season, yeah, Udoh will likely be a better scorer. But the notion that Udoh is clearly a better scorer is an opinion of yours not supported by a whole lot of evidence.

by jae on Jun 26, 2010 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions

He struggled below 50% from the field against college competition.

Jae, don;t forget to take into consideration that Udoh was considered a reliable jumpshooter by his team. His percentages will be lower because of his elbow-based game from the high-post. You can’t say the same about Biedrins.

[Info on Randolph] Would have been valuable at this time... But our management failed.

by LarryLegendofOracle on Jun 26, 2010 12:49 PM PDT up reply actions

Don't forget the fact that Biedrins career TS% is over .6 higher than Udoh's

senior college year when he was playing against boys. It’s not close enough for me to go “Well, Udoh is more versatile” and write it off, especially against the overall poor level of competition that Udoh did against.

Pro-Skub for life

by Reverend_Randy on Jun 26, 2010 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions

His percentages will be lower because of his elbow-based game from the high-post.

Though they do help elsewhere, you do know that the mid-range jumpshot is pretty much the worst shot you can attempt in basketball, right? It’s not as easy as a lay up, marginally easier than a 3 pointer, is only worth 2 points, and very rarely draws a foul. Unless you’re really, really good at it, the defense will happily give you a 15 foot jumper any time they can.

Now, being capable to hit a wide open jumper forces the defense out of the paint and allows you to do certain things, but just because you can hit a jump shot somewhat reliably doesn’t mean you should be taking it… and it certainly doesn’t make you a better scorer by itself because jump shots should be a very small part of a big man’s game.

Trust me, learning english isn’t a waste of time. It is actually sort of useful.

-randolphforpresident

by Dubs fan in Boston on Jun 29, 2010 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions

ummmmmm….You’re talking about a guy that’s never played a single game. Also, you’re ignoring the fact that Udoh is clearly a 4. It seems like one of the first traps people fall into when they get into basketball is the belief that most players can simply switch positions and play the same. Well they can’t. Udoh will see some time at the 5 because the Ws don’t have much size there and they play an up-tempo style. However, anyone with a teaspoon of sense can see he will play much more time at the 5 spot, and possibly gaurd some 3s.

…Totally Different Players…

Confront racism: Boycott Arizona

by The Bimbo Coles Experience on Jun 27, 2010 3:52 PM PDT up reply actions

I really like Udoh, and I agree he fits very well with Nelson's system...

I am salivating over this as a potential line-up…

PG: Curry
SG: Ellis
SF: Wright
PF: Randolph
C: Udoh

Bench: Move Morrow/Williams/Azubuike for a backup PG, Biedrins and Turiaf off the bench as bigs

GOD WHAT AN AMAZING LINEUP! If they ever learned how to play well together, that is length and athleticism through the ROOF.

by DubsDominate on Jun 26, 2010 12:42 PM PDT reply actions

BW is not a 3

At all.

When I get older, I will be stronger.
They’ll call me freedom, just like a Waving Flag

by dubzfan on Jun 26, 2010 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions

I think he means Dorrell

I hope.

[Info on Randolph] Would have been valuable at this time... But our management failed.

by LarryLegendofOracle on Jun 26, 2010 12:52 PM PDT up reply actions

Projecting next season’s lineup and bench is futile. Especially if a blockbuster trade is on the horizon. New ownership be damned. Riley’s still collecting a paycheck and until the week he doesn’t, he has a job to do. Another thing, I know people want to link Nellie and Riley and therefore it would appear Riley is gone once the new owner takes over but I don’t see why that is. What has he done (or not done) to lose his GM position? I must’ve head him interviewed a dozen times and each time he appears knowledgeble and truthful to the state of the team. So truthful in fact, he admitted if Cousins was still on the board, he would’ve taken him. I hope he sticks around.

by ChronicMasticator on Jun 26, 2010 2:02 PM PDT up reply actions

OK. In all seriousness:

Is this a joke? Are you under 10 years old? I’m not even going to bother…

Confront racism: Boycott Arizona

by The Bimbo Coles Experience on Jun 27, 2010 3:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Udoh is not a center

even Riley said he needs to gain weight to be able to guard PF every night, let alone centers.

by Evanz on Jun 26, 2010 12:54 PM PDT reply actions

Actually, he already has significant bulk on Randolph and Wright and simply needs to add lower-body strength to be able to fihgt for position on offense and push his man outside of the post. He’s a rookie next year, so I’m hoping that he’d be able add the bulk necessary.

[Info on Randolph] Would have been valuable at this time... But our management failed.

by LarryLegendofOracle on Jun 26, 2010 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions

why did you say "actually"

when nothing you said contradicted my post?

He needs to gain weight. You just said that yourself.

by Evanz on Jun 26, 2010 2:06 PM PDT up reply actions

He'd need to gain weight to guard centers (except Joke)

as it stands, he really isn’t that small for a PF.

Pro-Skub for life

by Reverend_Randy on Jun 26, 2010 2:25 PM PDT up reply actions

Riley said he will get time at center

And he said he’s working towards being able to guard center and will be 250 lbs soon

When I get older, I will be stronger.
They’ll call me freedom, just like a Waving Flag

by dubzfan on Jun 26, 2010 2:36 PM PDT up reply actions

A year ago Riley said that he wanted to add some “beef” to the team. The closest he came to that was trading for Devean George. Riley’s lip service is no more reliable than Nellie’s, coupled with the added insult that at least Nellie can be entertaining in his candor. I don’t think we have any clue what Udoh is going to do, how they’re going to use him, how much he’ll weigh…

by jae on Jun 26, 2010 3:02 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

+1

by Lincoln Logs on Jun 26, 2010 4:29 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree about Riley, but...

This isn’t rocket scince. How tall is he the guy? Just under 6’10". What does he weigh? About 240lbs. What position does he match up well with? Power Forward.

If you think Udoh makes for a good center, I guess you think David Lee does too, and Harrington was a beast when Nelson played him there!

Everyone needs to stop using video games as their barometer for feasible NBA lineups!

Confront racism: Boycott Arizona

by The Bimbo Coles Experience on Jun 27, 2010 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions

Udoh noodles

sounds tasty

by Evanz on Jun 26, 2010 12:55 PM PDT reply actions

If our scouting team likes him

I have to go with them. Udoh was one of my sleeper picks, he plays defense and rebounds, areas where the Warriors were inept in for the past few seasons. As felt mentioned he has a great basketball IQ, which will go great with Curry’s play making ability. Udoh has also been known for his high motor, an underrated intangible that many people overlook, similar t Monta’s high motoor.

Udoh is old, yes. But he’s mature and smart, he plays defense, both weak side and man to man, he rebounds very well and plays non-stop and plays like a Winner. We went with a more NBA ready prospect for the first time in a few years. I’m happy with the pick. And as Raider fans been saying for awhile, “Time will tell”.

"I tell him straight, 'If you're going to lead, you have to be the first to practice. You have to come in, get your work down and be prepared for practice,' " assistant coach Keith Smart said. "He needs to figure out why he is having stomach problems and he's got to watch how LeBron (James), Kobe (Bryant) and D-Wade (Dwyane Wade) work. He needs to mimic that if he wants his teammates to speak volumes about him." -Keith Smart on Motna Ellis

by ejdacanay on Jun 26, 2010 2:44 PM PDT reply actions

The coaching staff has mentioned playing two 4's at times...

Therefore, I get the feeling Udoh will not crack the starting 5 immediately. Rather, he will play the 5 behind Biedrins. If Biedrins does not bounce back, I would not be surprised if he ends up receiving the majority of the minutes at the 5.

In all honesty, there is still a lot of player movement to take place, and Biedrins will probably be on a different team, while we will have a new starting center. Let’s hope management doesn’t screw this acquisition up.

Serving it up night in and night out -Steph "The Chef" Curry

by dont_stop_believin' on Jun 26, 2010 3:08 PM PDT reply actions

Wait for the season

GSW play year in and year out, less BD days, proves no desire on part of franchise to win!

So, will GSW get screwed in Lottery next year too?

by jlcdb70 on Jun 26, 2010 4:07 PM PDT reply actions

Draft Sucked

Drafting 5 took us out of the running of anything. And if you got a higher pick current ownership would have tried to raise the asking price and slowed the sale up. The Warriors got a lot of young talent and finally someone in Curry that makes his teamates better. But the devil in Cohen has got fans fighting over players we dont even get to see play or they keep duplicating. They give us 15 min of promise then the spot is rotated with someone else. I think Nelson has a great eye for talent but tries to out smart everyone and confuses himself with his rotation. Then there is no committment to anyone. Last year Morrow and Randolph should have got minutes but you give them Tolliver and Mags. And all the dirty dealing from Management we cannot even get a mid level talent to come to the bay. And we got all these players we have no clue what they can do for a whole season or in the clutch but we are fighting like we got all stars. Let the jedi mind tricks end…Sale this freakin team already and get one direction.

by 707bayallday on Jun 26, 2010 4:30 PM PDT reply actions

my bag drafting 6...

Still was waiting for Cousins to fall….

by 707bayallday on Jun 26, 2010 4:35 PM PDT up reply actions

I like what I'm reading about him, but mostly

(absent an impact trade) I’m hoping with three guys at the positon at least one of them will be healthy enough to play consistently. Sadly, that would be a big improvent.

by geraldmcgrew on Jun 26, 2010 6:10 PM PDT reply actions

Why oh why

does Randolph and Wright have to suck, for Udoh to be good?? Training camp competition will be tough of one of these guys…on another note, could the Warriors send Andris and Radman or Bell to Utah for AK47???

by Brothaplease09 on Jun 26, 2010 6:34 PM PDT reply actions