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Riverdragons Obinna Ekezie Earns NBA Call-up With Atlanta Hawks

January 10, 2005 - NBA G League (G League)
Columbus Riverdragons News Release


GREENVILLE, S.C., January 10 – The Atlanta Hawks have signed Columbus Riverdragons forward/center Obinna Ekezie to a 10-day contract, making him the third GATORADE Call-up of the National Basketball Development League season and the second NBDL-to-NBA player promotion in as many days. Ekezie becomes the second NBA Call-up in Riverdragons team history and the first since Tremaine Fowlkes was signed by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2002.

Ekezie is the 42nd overall GATORADE Call-up and the 31st player to be promoted since the NBDL began play in November 2001. Ekezie joins Roanoke forward James Thomas, who was signed by the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, and Asheville guard Kirk Penney, who signed with the Clippers earlier this season.

Ekezie played in 11 games for the Riverdragons after being acquired on November 30. With Columbus, Ekezie averaged 12.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 25.3 minutes per game while shooting 45% from the floor (47-105) and 67% from the foul line. Over his last seven games with the Riverdragons, Ekezie averaged 16.4 points and 6.9 rebounds, including a 20-point, 12-rebound performance in the Dragons 94-82 win over Fayetteville on January 6 at the Columbus Civic Center.

The 6-9, 270-pound center from the University of Maryland ('99) returns to the Hawks after missing the entire 2003-04 season with a torn right ACL suffered in an October 16 exhibition game against Miami. Ekezie played three full seasons in the NBA with the Vancouver Grizzlies ('99-00), Washington Wizards('00-01), Dallas Mavericks ('00-01), and Los Angeles Clippers ('01-02). The 29 year-old from Port Harcourt, Nigeria appeared in 101 NBA games over that period, averaging 2.8 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. His best season as a pro came in 2000-01, as Ekezie appeared in 31 games, averaging 3.1 points and 2.4 rebounds per contest with Washington and Dallas. Originally selected by Vancouver in the second round (37th overall) of the 1999 NBA Draft, Ekezie participated in NBA training camps the past two seasons with the Hawks and New Jersey Nets.

While attending the University of Maryland, Ekezie averaged 9.9 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, helping lead the Terrapins to four consecutive NCAA Tournament berths. Ekezie enjoyed his best season as a junior for the Terps in 1997-98, averaging 12.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.2 blocked shots per game. During his college career, he also had the opportunity to play alongside future NBA players Steve Francis, Juan Dixon, Laron Profit, Lonnie Baxter, and former Riverdragon Terence Morris.

The NBDL, the NBA's minor league, includes the Fayetteville Patriots (N.C.), Florida Flame (Ft. Myers), Huntsville Flight (Ala.), Roanoke Dazzle (Va.), Columbus Riverdragons (Ga.) and Asheville Altitude (N.C.).

The league offers players the opportunity to develop their talent in a highly competitive atmosphere under the NBA's umbrella. In addition to 31 players, nine former NBDL coaches, five athletic trainers, 11 referees and 29 front office executives have also been called up to the NBA umbrella since the start of the league's inaugural season. Six additional front office executives have earned positions with other major league sports.

Designed to help grow the sport of basketball both domestically and internationally, the league also offers fun, family entertainment at affordable prices. The NBDL is a source of on-court talent for the NBA's 30 teams and is a diverse human resources pool for the NBA and its teams by training employees in management, operations, public relations, sales and marketing positions.

For additional information, please visit columbusriverdragons.com or contact Riverdragons Media Relations Manager Tim Becwar at (706) 225-1104 and tbecwar@nba.com. For additional information on the NBDL please visit NBDL.com.

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