Jazz center Udoka Azubuike out for the season after undergoing ankle surgery

Jazz center Udoka Azubuike underwent successful surgery on Friday to repair multiple ligaments in his right ankle and foot, Utah announced. He’ll miss the rest of the 2021-22 season.

Azubuike appeared to suffer a dislocated ankle in a G League contest on March 10, his third right ankle injury in the past 13 months. He had a partially dislocated ankle back in November and a severe ankle sprain in February 2021.

Through 17 games this season, the second-year big man averaged 4.7 points and 4.2 rebounds in 11.5 minutes per night while shooting 75.5% from the field. He appeared in just 15 games as a rookie last season for a total of 57 minutes.

After four seasons at Kansas, Azubuike was the 27th pick in the 2020 draft. Although his NBA run has been brief, the 22-year-old has shown flashes of upside. As Eric Walden of the Salt Lake Tribune notes, Azubuike averaged 9.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks over a six-game stretch between February 2-14.