The impact and progress of Golden State Warriors rookie big man
Ekpe Udoh, it seems, can’t be adequately understood by looking at
the numbers. Not by his 3.1 points per game. Not by his 1.1 blocks
per game. Not because he was drafted No. 6 overall out of Baylor in
June.
BOSTON
The impact and progress of Golden State Warriors rookie big man Ekpe Udoh, it seems, can’t be adequately understood by looking at the numbers.
Not by his 3.1 points per game. Not by his 1.1 blocks per game. Not because he was drafted No. 6 overall out of Baylor in June.
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The numbers don’t illustrate the little things he does. The numbers don’t convey his growth. They certainly don’t convey the effect he has on his teammates.
“Ekpe was terrible tonight,” point guard Stephen Curry said Wednesday, barely able to keep a straight face. “I think Coach should reconsider moving him into the starting lineup. No rookie should start, ever. Ekpe should never start again. In fact, I don’t think Ekpe should play at all.”
Udoh could make his second NBA start Friday in Boston. In his first start, Wednesday’s 106-102 win at Washington, Udoh gave the Warriors something they haven’t had much all season: a defensive presence inside.
Not only did he block three shots, he changed countless others. His understanding of positioning, his progress at being in the right place, his knowing how to use his length—those add up over the course of a game. It was enough to negate Washington’s JaVale McGee, who dominated the Warriors inside last season.
“He clogged the paint up, changed some shots and blocked a couple of balls,” Warriors coach Keith Smart said of Udoh. “He did some things that the stats sheet won’t show.”
Udoh, by no means, is a finished product. Smart said Udoh has to develop his conditioning so he can go hard for longer stretches. And he may be taught a few lessons Friday by the Celtics’ All-Star big man Kevin Garnett.
But his coaches and teammates are impressed with his humility through this process, his work ethic and his application. Even Udoh, who a few months ago said he wasn’t ready to start, recognizes his growth.
“The game has slowed down for me,” said Udoh, who missed training camp and the first part of the season after undergoing surgery on his left wrist July 14. “I’m ready to play. And if you’re ready to play, I feel like you’re ready to start.”
That Smart felt comfortable starting Udoh at center over longtime starter Andris Biedrins, someone Smart is close with, shows how much the rookie has developed since his NBA debut Dec. 10. More growth is needed on offense. He’s learned a few post moves down low, including a jump hook. His midrange jumper is pretty consistent, as well. But Udoh isn’t needed to score, as offense is not the Warriors’ problem.
Golden State needs him to be a factor on defense. And to rebound. So, actually, there is a number you can use to evaluate Udoh. Well, it’s a number he’s using to critique himself.
Two.
“That’s terrible,” Udoh said of his two rebounds in 30 minutes of action Wednesday. “I’ve got to do better than that. It’s awful, period.”
—The Warriors announced Thursday the signing of small forward Al Thornton, who was bought out and waived by the Wizards on Tuesday. Thornton, 27, signed almost immediately after clearing waivers at 3 p.m. He was at the Warriors’ hotel in Boston when he signed his one-year contract for a prorated amount of the league minimum, which for him amounts to just over $180,000 for the remaining 22 games. Thornton is expected to participate in Friday morning’s shootaround. But based on Smart’s past handling of similar situations, Thornton likely won’t play until he practices. The Warriors were off Thursday but will practice Saturday in Philadelphia. In 49 games with Washington this season, Thornton was averaging 8.0 points and 3.2 rebounds in 21.8 minutes.
— Story by Marcus Thompson II, Contra Costa Times
