If there's one thing Ekpe Udoh is confident at, it's his defensive skills.
In fact, the 30-year-old journeyman is so high on his defense that he's convinced he's “one of the best defenders in the world.”
Speaking to reporters during Friday's shootaround, the new Utah Jazz big man made the bold statement not just once but multiple times.
“I’m still one of the best defenders in the world, hands down,” Udoh said, per Mike Sorensen of Deseret News.
He then backed it by saying that he further developed his defense during his two-year stint with Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahce.
“Like I said, I’m one of the best defenders in the world — I’ve really developed over the past two years overseas and I really look forward to that challenge over here,” Udoh added.
“I really believe I am one of them and I just have fun with it.”
Udoh's confidence is certainly something, and it might be coming from the fact that he had two fruitful years with Fenerbahce, during which he won two Turkish Super League titles and was even named EuroLeague Final Four MVP this past season.
As what Jazz head coach Quin Snyder said, it's a good thing Udoh has “so much pride in his defense.” However, after a couple of years away from the NBA, the 6-foot-10 center certainly has a lot of work to do to walk the talk.
Ekpe Udoh signed a two-year, $6.5 million deal with Utah last July; and if he can prove what he said is true, then the Jazz got him at a bargain price.
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