Center Udoka Azubuike, the Utah Jazz rookie and a first-round pick in the 2020 NBA draft, left the Salt Lake City Stars’ G League opener on a stretcher Wednesday.
Azubuike appeared to injure his lower leg late in the Stars’ game against the Erie BayHawks. With 2:32 in the game, Azubuike went up for a shot with his right hand in the lane over Erie’s Omari Spellman. Azubuike’s right foot stepped on Spellman’s right foot as he landed, and he immediately fell to the ground while grabbing for his ankle.
Azubuike was taken off the court on a stretcher after a several-minute delay.
Prior to the injury, Azubuike — who was recently assigned to the Stars — had played 28 minutes with eight points, 11 rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots. The BayHawks beat the Stars 117-98 in the season opener for both teams in the G League bubble in Orlando, Florida.
The Stars did not immediately announce the severity of Azubuike’s injury. The 21-year-old center has played in 12 games for the Jazz this season, with averages of 4.1 minutes, 1.0 points and 1.1 rebounds per game.