Ndudi Ebi
Encyclopedia
Ndudi Hamani Ebi is a Nigeria
n-British
professional
basketball
player who formerly played in the NBA
.
He committed to the University of Arizona
, in the U.S., but reneged by making himself eligible for the NBA Draft
. Ebi was selected out of Westbury Christian School
by the Minnesota Timberwolves
in the first round (26th pick overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft
.
Ebi was raised in Nigeria before moving to Houston, Texas, U.S. as a teenager to attend high school. He holds both British and Nigerian citizenship. He currently plays for Limoges CSP in France
.
(NBDL).
He was technically ineligible as the 2005–06 NBA season was his third year, and the now-renamed NBA Development League
now only accepts players who have been in the NBA less than two years. Minnesota wanted to guide Ebi in, and they tacitly argued that Ebi was hardly a two-year veteran in the figurative sense, given his limited playing time. The Timberwolves attempted to do this without letting Ebi know that they were planning on sending Ebi to the NBDL. The league rejected Minnesota's request regarding Ebi, and to make room for Ronald Dupree
, Minnesota released Ebi on 1 November 2005. He signed a free agent contract over the summer of 2006 with the Dallas Mavericks
.
After playing five pre-season games, averaging 5.2 points per game (ppg), Ebi was waived by the team on 26 October 2006.
On 30 September 2007, he signed with Israeli club Bnei HaSharon
for one season.
On 3 August 2008, he signed with Italian club Carife Ferrara
, newly promoted to Serie A
.
He later played for the Basket Rimini Crabs
in Italy and averaged 15.3 points per game, 13.6 rebounds per game, and 3.2 steals per game.
In March 2011, he signed with Limoges CSP.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n-British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
professional
Professional sports
Professional sports, as opposed to amateur sports, are sports in which athletes receive payment for their performance. Professional athleticism has come to the fore through a combination of developments. Mass media and increased leisure have brought larger audiences, so that sports organizations...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who formerly played in the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
.
He committed to the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
, in the U.S., but reneged by making himself eligible for the NBA Draft
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
. Ebi was selected out of Westbury Christian School
Westbury Christian School
-History:Westbury Christian School is a private, Christian, co-ed, K3 through 12th grade school system. While WCS is a church of Christ educational institution, it is open to students of all faiths, nationalities and ethnic origins...
by the Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
in the first round (26th pick overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft
2003 NBA Draft
The 2003 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2003 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from high schools and...
.
Ebi was raised in Nigeria before moving to Houston, Texas, U.S. as a teenager to attend high school. He holds both British and Nigerian citizenship. He currently plays for Limoges CSP in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Professional career
Ebi was the first first-round pick in three years for the Wolves due to their forfeiture of five first-round picks after the team owner illegally made a deal with then Wolves forward Joe Smith (the penalty was later reduced to three picks). Minnesota attempted to get an exception for Ebi to be able to send him to the National Basketball Developmental LeagueNBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
(NBDL).
He was technically ineligible as the 2005–06 NBA season was his third year, and the now-renamed NBA Development League
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
now only accepts players who have been in the NBA less than two years. Minnesota wanted to guide Ebi in, and they tacitly argued that Ebi was hardly a two-year veteran in the figurative sense, given his limited playing time. The Timberwolves attempted to do this without letting Ebi know that they were planning on sending Ebi to the NBDL. The league rejected Minnesota's request regarding Ebi, and to make room for Ronald Dupree
Ronald Dupree
Ronald Edmund Dupree Jr. is an American professional basketball player.-College career:Dupree played at Louisiana State University under Coach John Brady. He averaged 4.9 points and 3.3 rebounds in 12.7 minutes per game in the Tigers' 2000 Sweet Sixteen season...
, Minnesota released Ebi on 1 November 2005. He signed a free agent contract over the summer of 2006 with the Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
.
After playing five pre-season games, averaging 5.2 points per game (ppg), Ebi was waived by the team on 26 October 2006.
On 30 September 2007, he signed with Israeli club Bnei HaSharon
Bnei HaSharon
Bnei HaSharon/Herzliya is a professional basketball club based in Herzliya, in central Israel. The club currently plays in Ligat HaAl, the top division of Israeli basketball.The club was created by the merge of Maccabi Ra'anana and Bnei Herzliya in 2002...
for one season.
On 3 August 2008, he signed with Italian club Carife Ferrara
Basket Club Ferrara
Basket Club Ferrara is an Italian professional basketball team from the town of Ferrara. The club was established in 1999. For past club sponsorship names, see the list below.-History:...
, newly promoted to Serie A
Serie A (basketball)
Lega Basket Serie A is the highest level club competition in Italian professional basketball where play determines the national champion. The season consists of a home-and-away schedule of 30 games, followed by an eight-team playoff round. Quarterfinals and semifinals series are best-of-five, and...
.
He later played for the Basket Rimini Crabs
Basket Rimini Crabs
The Basket Rimini Crabs are a Italian basketball team from the city of Rimini.Basket Rimini was established in 1947 as Polisportiva Libertas...
in Italy and averaged 15.3 points per game, 13.6 rebounds per game, and 3.2 steals per game.
In March 2011, he signed with Limoges CSP.