Former Baylor Bear Ekpe Udoh Could Return to the NBA

After his successful play in Turkey, Ekpe Udoh could return to the NBA. He was Baylor’s starting power forward on the 2009-2010 Elite Eight team.

Udoh told RealGM:

“Spending this season with Fenerbahce was critical,” Udoh said. “After the previous two years in the NBA, it was difficult to go through injuries and not receiving the chance to play my game. Fenerbahce allowed me to be aggressive, and I got to play for a great coach in [Zeljko] Obradovic. I got to play a lot of minutes and keep my body in shape.

Udoh was the 6th pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. He was drafted by the Golden State Warriors and last played for the Los Angeles Clippers. He was known for his intelligence and defensive acumen but never quite got it going in the NBA.

The biggest reason to hope Udoh can stick in the NBA this time is that he looks faster and thinner. The league is dominated by the pick-and-roll, and if Udoh can switch onto smaller defenders, he could make it this time. These highlights from Eurohoops TV show how far he’s come from his last days with the Clippers:

We should know by August if Udoh plans to return to the NBA. Some guys enjoy playing overseas and being the stars of their team. But I expect Udoh will give it another shot and return to the NBA.