Last Updated on April 16, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here’s the detailed profile of Udoka Azubuike:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Udoka Timothy Azubuike
  • Nationality: Nigerian
  • Age: Born September 17, 1999
  • Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria
  • Height: 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
  • Weight: 270 lbs (122 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7 ft 7 in (2.31 m)
  • Shoe Size: Size 20 (US)
  • Number: #20, #27
  • Position: Center
  • High School: Potter’s House Christian Academy, Jacksonville, Florida
  • College: University of Kansas (2016–2020)
  • NBA Draft: Selected 27th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz
  • Teams Played For:
    • Utah Jazz (2020–2023)
    • Phoenix Suns (2023–present)
  • Championship Rings: No NBA Championships
  • Kids: No publicly available information on children.
  • Siblings: Udoka Azubuike has five siblings.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Udoka Azubuike’s player archetype is that of a rim-running, paint-anchoring traditional center whose value comes from size, vertical spacing, and interior deterrence more than skill versatility. Defensively, he projects as a deep-drop big who protects the rim, absorbs contact, walls off the lane, and cleans the glass, though his usefulness falls when he is dragged into switches or asked to defend in space. Offensively, his role is narrow but clear: screen hard, dive to the basket, finish lobs, score on dump-offs and putbacks, and leverage his massive frame to create easy interior opportunities rather than operate as a shooter or face-up creator. Physically, Azubuike is imposing even by NBA center standards, listed at 6-foot-11 and 270 pounds, with exceptional length and explosion that have been noted as major tools behind his finishing and shot-blocking profile. Overall, his play style is built on power, reach, efficiency around the rim, and role clarity, making him the kind of specialist big who can help in short bursts when a team wants rebounding, rim pressure, and old-school interior presence. (NBA)

Sources:

NBA.com — Udoka Azubuike | Center-Forward | Phoenix Suns
NBA Draft Room — Udoka Azubuike
Sports Illustrated — 2020 NBA Draft Big Board: Latest Top 80 Rankings
Bleacher Report — B/R Draft Expert’s Final 2020 Big Board: Ranking the Top 50 Prospects