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 WHEN HE WASN'T PICKED IN THE NBA DRAFT, KELENNA AZUBUIKE PICKED UP HIS GAME A NOTCH AND EVENTUALLY EARNED A SPOT WITH THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
by matt sieger
Golden State trailed the Denver Nuggets by six with three minutes left in the second quarter at the Warriors' Oracle Arena earlier this season. The Warriors' Kelenna Azubuike leaped over Car-melo Anthony to grab a defensive rebound, threw an outlet pass, ran downcourt, and set up just behind the three-point line. Monta Ellis whipped a pass to Azubuike, who nailed the three.
That play highlighted Azubuike's great leaping ability, aggressiveness, and three-point shooting touch. It also typified the frenetic style that carried the Warriors to their first playoff appearance in 13 years last season and a stunning 4-2 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. It was the first time in NBA history that a No. 8 seed had defeated a No. 1 seed in a seven-game series.
Don Nelson, who has the second most wins of any coach in NBA history, brought a free-wheeling style to Golden State when he returned to coach the Warriors last season. Azubuike, who at 6'5" can play both guard and small forward, is a model player in Nelson's scheme.
"He's a pretty good all-around player. His No. 1 thing is that he has some shooting range," says Nelson. "He works on defense, he's a pretty good rebounder, and fits right into our system." Last season, Azubuike's .430 three-point field-goal percentage was second among NBA rookies. He averaged 7.1 points in 16 minutes per game. This season he is playing more, providing quality play off the bench to ease the load on star players Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson.
"I've got to bring a lot of energy when I come in," Azubuike says, "and do whatever we need at the time, whether it's getting rebounds or shooting threes if the right shot is there."
Azubuike's path to the NBA is as incredible as the Warriors' resurgence from doormat of the league to one of its most exciting teams. Raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Azubuike led Victory Christ- ian High School to the state basketball title as a sophomore. He topped the state in scoring in each of his final three high school seasons, averaging 39.1 points and 13.3 rebounds as a senior. After three years with the Univer- sity of Kentucky, including two trips to the NCAA Elite Eight, Azubuike decided to enter the 2005 NBA draft. No team selected him.
He was devastated, but the Cleveland Cavaliers asked him to play in their summer league. "I decided I wasn't going to give up. I'm not going to let my dream die here," he recalls. "I decided I belong in the NBA. So I just kept working hard to stay focused. I realized that I had a tough road ahead of me, but I was ready." . . .
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