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Utah Jazz: Ekpe Udoh proving worthy of NBA minutes

By Hayden Van de Maat

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 4: Ekpe Udoh (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 4: Ekpe Udoh (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /
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Dennis Lindsey and the Utah Jazz may have found a diamond in the rough when they signed Ekpe Udoh in the offseason. He’s proving to be an instrumental part of this revamped Jazz team.

After Gordon Hayward left Utah in the offseason, it looked as though the Utah Jazz went on a bit of a panic buy as they brought in Jonas Jerebko, Thabo Sefolosha and yes…Ekpe Udoh.

Sefolosha has earned himself a spot in the in the Jazz’s rotation rather quickly but Ekpe Udoh has been the story of the Jazz season so far. He has been a defensive menace that’s allowing an already incomparable defense to play with even more aggression.

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Something that’s been on my mind heading into the season was how the Jazz could defend without Rudy Gobert on the court. Last season, with Gobert on the court, the Jazz had a defensive rating of 100.6 which is among the NBA’s best. But without the Stifle Tower on the floor, the Jazz had a defensive rating 107.5, which is well below league average.

This was in fact influenced by Derrick Favors struggling to stay healthy for the entire season, but he alone couldn’t have made the Jazz a top three defense without Rudy Gobert. Now with a healthy Favors and Ekpe Udoh guarding the paint when Gobert leaves the game, the Jazz are still competing at a very high level defensively.

In the three games thus far in the 2017-18 regular season, the Jazz have a defensive rating of 77.0 without Rudy Gobert on the court. This shows the quality of Ekpe Udoh’s handiwork. There has yet to be a stage where neither Gobert or Udoh are on the floor and it’s starting to look like that time wont come.

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – OCTOBER 4: Ekpe Udoh #33 of the Utah Jazz blocks this first half shot of Luke Martinez #25 of the Maccabi Haifa in preseason action at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 4, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – OCTOBER 4: Ekpe Udoh #33 of the Utah Jazz blocks this first half shot of Luke Martinez #25 of the Maccabi Haifa in preseason action at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 4, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /

Ekpe Udoh has a defensive rating of 77.0 so far this season. That is an astounding number because anything below 102.0 is considered elite. His ability to hold down the fort for just 15 minutes a game is adding another dimension to this already stifling Jazz defense.

Every time he’s checked into a game, he’s come out ready. Much like the effort Jeff Withey gave the Jazz night in and night out last season, but Udoh has the physical tools to be a real difference maker.

Every time you hear a teammate or any media guy talk about him, you’ll hear them say that he’s ‘deceptively long’, meaning he has an incredible wingspan for his height. Standing just shy of six-foot-nine with a wingspan close to seven feet, five inches gives him the ability to contest shots that only very few NBA players can.

Udoh has recorded seven blocks in just 44 minutes of action so far this season. To put that into perspective, Rudy Gobert, the NBA’s best interior defender, has blocked just three shots in 100 minutes of play.

I’m not taking anything away from the talents of Rudy Gobert; he’s already had to match up on three of the NBA’s best centers in Nikola Jokic, Karl-Anthony Towns and Steven Adams. But what Udoh has done on the defensive end is simply incredible.

Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz /

Utah Jazz

Just off the top of my head, I can recall a handful of defensive plays he’s made this season that no more than five other NBA players could make. And it’s not just his shot blocking that makes him a threat in the paint, he is the best player I’ve seen since Roy Hibbert was in his prime at challenging layups and dunks while staying vertical.

Countless times already, Udoh has jumped straight up and down against a player running downhill against him, and he’s managed to force a missed shot without fouling. He’s been an integral part of the Jazz’s defensive schemes and he’s even been very impressive as a screen-setter offensively. He has wiped out a lot of on-ball defenders with legal, bone-crushing picks in his short time with the Jazz.

It’s only been three games, but the addition of center Ekpe Udoh could be an incredible find from Dennis Lindsey and the Utah Jazz front office. Tune in Tuesday night to watch Udoh and the Jazz take on the LA Clippers from the Staples Center where the Jazz will look to improve to an impressive 3-1 record.

Next: Utah Jazz vs. Oklahoma City Thunder reactions: What went right/wrong?

Statistics courtesy of Basketball Reference and NBA.com. Draft combine measurements courtesy of DraftExpress.

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