Utah Jazz: Ekpe’s Book Club, the J-Notes edition
By Josh Padmore
Chapter Three
On July 13th of 2017, Udoh agreed to sign a two-year, $6.5 million dollar deal with the Utah Jazz. When the Jazz needed him, Ekpe was always ready. With Rudy Gobert being injured multiple times during the 2017-2018 season, Udoh was called upon a lot. He ended up appearing in 63 games, averaging 2.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. Udoh also had a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in which he recorded nine points, seven rebounds, three assists, six blocks and three steals.
Eight days into the 2018 NBA Free Agency period, it was reported that Udoh would return to the Jazz. The organization decided to guarantee his contract for the 2018-2019 season. It was well deserved. For your information, Udoh was tied with two other players for the league leading position in blocks per-48 minutes, with 4.4.
Ekpe is an awesome teammate, and the Jazz have to feel very comfortable knowing they have such a quality backup center in him. Like he proved this past season, if someone goes down, Udoh will step up. Everyone on the team loves him, he’s a very likable guy.
This edition of Ekpe’s Book Club is still in progress, and hopefully won’t be finished for a number of years. The epilogue will be completed once Ekpe retires from the game of basketball. But I see him sticking around in the NBA for many more years to come.