8 Best undrafted talents to play for the Golden State Warriors
By Tyler Watts
5. Kelenna Azubuike
Azubuike went undrafted in 2005, despite being the Kentucky Wildcats leading scorer on a team that reached the Elite Eight. The 6’5 wing from London went to the G League where he had a strong season that was capped by an impressive two playoff games. It took another outstanding 12 games to open the 2006-07 campaign where he was leading the developmental league in scoring before the Warriors gave him a chance in January.
Azubuike quickly cracked the rotation and steadily improved. He was an outstanding shooter and athlete that quickly drew the eye of head coach Donnie Nelson. Azubuike’s minutes steadily improved until he was the team’s starter during the 2008-09 season where he averaged 14.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 0.8 steals in 32.1 minutes. The 25-year-old still had plenty of room to grow and the Warriors were excited about his future.
Sadly, it ended in a flash as Azubuike suffered a freak knee injury (subscription required) in November 2009 where he ruptured his patellar tendon. He would only play in three more games before being forced to retire. Azubuike is currently the Warriors TV analyst for NBC Sports Bay Area.
Kelenna Azubuike could have been one of the best-undrafted players in NBA history, but a knee injury ended his career after just 208 games. The 6’5 wing is still a fan favorite and everyone will always wonder what could have been if Azubuike stayed healthy.