Ike Diogu

Ike Diogu

Ike Diogu (left)
No. 2 – Guangdong Southern Tigers
Position Power forward / Center
League Chinese Basketball Association
Personal information
Born (1983-09-11) September 11, 1983
Buffalo, New York
Nationality Nigerian / American
Listed height 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight 255 lb (116 kg)
Career information
High school Garland (Garland, Texas)
College Arizona State (2002–2005)
NBA draft 2005 / Round: 1 / Pick: 9th overall
Selected by the Golden State Warriors
Playing career 2005–present
Career history
2005–2007 Golden State Warriors
2007–2008 Indiana Pacers
2008–2009 Portland Trail Blazers
2009 Sacramento Kings
2010–2011 Los Angeles Clippers
2012 San Antonio Spurs
2012 Xinjiang Flying Tigers (China)
2012 Capitanes de Arecibo (Puerto Rico)
2012–2013 Guangdong Southern Tigers (China)
2013 Leones de Ponce (Puerto Rico)
2013–2014 Bakersfield Jam (D-League)
2014 Leones de Ponce (Puerto Rico)
2014–2015 Dongguan Leopards (China)
2015– Guangdong Southern Tigers (China)
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's Basketball
Representing  Nigeria
FIBA Africa Championship
2015 Tunisia National Team

Ikechukwu Somtochukwu "Ike" Diogu (born September 11, 1983) is a Nigerian American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Shenzhen Leopards of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).

Family and early life

Diogu's parents, natives of Nigeria, moved to the U.S. in 1980 to pursue further education. They later moved from Buffalo, New York, where he was born, to Garland, Texas. Ike attended Austin Academy, then enrolled at Garland High School. Diogu is a member of the Igbo ethnic group.[1]

College career

Diogu stands at 6 foot 9 inches (2.06 m) tall which is considered slightly undersized for an NBA power forward, but he makes up for his lack of height with his muscle, girth and 7'4" wingspan.[2]

Diogu attended Arizona State University, where he excelled on the team under head coach Rob Evans. He garnered several honors, both in the Pac-10 Conference and nationally. He won Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, and then Pac-10 Player of the Year in his final season with ASU, as a Junior. Many in the public speculated that Diogu would enter the draft after playing for his third season with Arizona State. On June 21, 2005, he made the decision to enter the NBA draft.

Professional career

Golden State Warriors

Diogu was selected 9th overall in the first round of the 2005 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors. On December 23, 2005, he recorded a professional career-best 27 points on 13–15 shooting, surpassing his previous best by 12 points.[3]

Indiana Pacers

On January 17, 2007, Diogu, whom Larry Bird called the "gem" of the deal, was traded to the Indiana Pacers along with teammates Mike Dunleavy, Jr., Troy Murphy, and Keith McLeod for Stephen Jackson, Al Harrington, Sarunas Jasikevicius, and Josh Powell.[4]

Portland Trail Blazers

On June 26, 2008 (draft night), Diogu was traded by Indiana to the Portland Trail Blazers along with the draft rights to Jerryd Bayless in exchange for Jarrett Jack, Josh McRoberts and the draft rights to Brandon Rush to the Indiana Pacers.

Sacramento Kings

Diogu was traded to the Sacramento Kings for the Chicago Bulls' Michael Ruffin on February 18, 2009.[5]

New Orleans Hornets

Diogu signed with the New Orleans Hornets on July 29, 2009, but never appeared in a game for the team.

Detroit Pistons

He signed with the Detroit Pistons on September 27, 2010, becoming a member of their preseason roster. On October 20, 2010, Diogu was waived by the Pistons.

Los Angeles Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers signed Diogu as a free agent on December 22, 2010.[6] On February 8, 2011, Diogu scored a season-high 18 points against the Orlando Magic.

San Antonio Spurs

Diogu joined the San Antonio Spurs on January 3, 2012.[7] One week later, the Spurs waived him.

Xinjiang Flying Tigers / Capitanes de Arecibo

During the 2012 CBA Playoffs, the Xinjiang Flying Tigers signed Diogu for the rest of the 2012 CBA Playoffs. Diogu was a replacement for Gani Lawal during this time. He later signed with Capitanes de Arecibo of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional.[8]

Phoenix Suns

On October 1, 2012, Diogu signed with the Phoenix Suns.[9] He was then waived on October 24, 2012.

Guangdong Southern Tigers / Leones de Ponce

In the fall of 2012, Diogu signed with the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association.[10] After the season in China, he joined the Leones de Ponce in Puerto Rico.

New York Knicks

On September 27, 2013, Diogu signed with the New York Knicks.[11] However, he was waived on October 25.[12]

Bakersfield Jam

On December 12, 2013, he was acquired by the Bakersfield Jam.[13]

On February 3, 2014, Diogu was named to the Prospects All-Star roster for the 2014 NBA D-League All-Star Game.[14] On April 25, 2014, he was named the 2014 NBA D-League Impact Player of the Year.[15]

Leones de Ponce

On April 29, 2014, Diogu joined Leones de Ponce (basketball) of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional. This year Ike Diogu helped the Lions to win the championship over the Capitanes of Arecibo.

Dongguan Leopards

On July 5, 2014, Diogu signed with the Dongguan Leopards of China for the 2014–15 season.[16]

Nigerian national team

Diogu has played with the senior men's Nigerian national basketball team. He competed at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

NBA career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2005–06 Golden State 69 14 14.9 .524 .000 .810 3.3 .4 .2 .4 7.0
2006–07 Golden State 17 0 13.1 .530 .000 .795 3.7 .3 .2 .6 7.2
2006–07 Indiana 42 2 12.8 .454 .000 .802 3.3 .5 .1 .4 5.8
2007–08 Indiana 30 1 10.2 .478 .000 .851 2.8 .3 .2 .1 5.6
2008–09 Portland 19 0 3.8 .316 .000 .750 .9 .0 .1 .1 1.4
2008–09 Sacramento 10 1 14.2 .600 .500 .758 3.9 .3 .2 .1 9.2
2010–11 L.A. Clippers 36 0 13.1 .561 .000 .661 3.2 .1 .1 .1 5.8
2011–12 San Antonio 2 0 7.0 .000 .000 1.000 .5 .0 .0 .0 1.0
Career 225 18 12.4 .509 .500 .786 3.1 .3 .2 .3 6.0

References

  1. ↑ Kirkpatrick, Curry. "Plenty to like about Ike". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
  2. ↑ "Ike Diogu Stats, Video, Bio, Profile | NBA.com". nba.com. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  3. ↑ Pistons remain hot with 12-point win over Golden State
  4. ↑ "Pacers, Warriors announce 8-player deal". Associated Press. January 17, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-23.
  5. ↑ Blazers get Ruffin from Bulls, send Diogu to Kings
  6. ↑ "CLIPPERS SIGN FREE AGENT FORWARD IKE DIOGU". NBA.com. December 22, 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  7. ↑ Spurs Sign Ike Diogu
  8. ↑ "Capitanes de Arecibo tab Ike Diogu". Sportando.com. April 7, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Paul Coro’s Suns blog | Insiders". azcentral.com. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  10. ↑ Guandong Tigers add Diogu to their roster
  11. ↑ New York Knicks sign Ike Diogu
  12. ↑ Knicks waive Ike Diogu, C.J. Leslie, Josh Powell, Jeremy Tyler, Chris Douglas-Roberts
  13. ↑ Jam Acquire Ike Diogu
  14. ↑ Eighth Annual NBA D-League All-Star Game Features 16 Players With NBA Experience
  15. ↑ Jam's Ike Diogu Named 2014 NBA D-League Impact Player of the Year
  16. ↑ Ike Diogu signs with DongGuan with NBA out

External links

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