Jazz select Udoka Azubuike with 27th pick in NBA draft

Utah Jazz selected Kansas center Udoka Azubuike with . 27 pick of NBA draft Wednesday night.

Azubuike, a 7-footer from Nigeria, gives Utah a rim protector and interior defender who can be a backup center to spell Rudy Gobert. He is also an accurate shooter around basket.

During his four-year career with Jayhawks, Azubuike set an NCAA record with a .749 career field goal percent. He averd 12.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks in 87 career games at Kansas.

Azubuike’s selection came as a mir surprise. Jazz were widely expected to target a defender on wing or a power forward who could play on perimeter with ir first-round pick.

Utah acquired . 27 pick and . 38 pick from New York on Wednesday morning, sending . 23 pick and rights to Ante Tomic to Knicks.

Tomic, a 7-foot-2 center from Croatia, never appeared in a game for Jazz since being selected in second round of 2008 NBA draft.

Im credits: AP