Ekpe Udoh: Nigerian big man gets NBA coaching job with Atlanta Hawks

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, former NBA big man and Nigerian basketball sensation Ekpe Udoh is entering the next stage of his career.

Udoh will be a part of the Atlanta Hawks coaching staff under Quin Snyder.

Since 2019, Udoh hasn't been a member of an NBA roster, but he has continued to play abroad, suiting up for clubs in China, Italy, and Japan. 

Udoh will now have a chance to coach the American professional basketball star of Nigerian descent, Onyeka Okongwu, who is with the Atlanta Hawks.

Earlier this year, the 36-year-old played for Kyoto Hannaryz of Japan, but he has decided to retire and transition to coaching.

Udoh, who was selected sixth overall in the 2010 NBA Draft, started his career at Golden State before moving on to Milwaukee, Los Angeles (where he played for the Clippers), and Utah between 2010 and 2019. 

Along with playing in Turkey and Israel at that time, the 6'10" center also represented Fenerbahce in the 2017 EuroLeague championship. 

After leading the league in rebounding and shot blocks that season, he was named to the All-EuroLeague First Team.

Udoh averaged a modest 3.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 14.8 minutes per game during 384 regular-season NBA games in his career.

He also played in 16 playoff games, but he never had a significant role and only contributed 5.8 MPG on average. 

122 of his 400 NBA games were played with the Jazz when Snyder served as their head coach.