Udoka attended Jefferson High School in Portland, Oregon, where he played basketball as a forward. He initially enrolled at the University of San Francisco before transferring to Portland State University. At Portland State, he competed with the Vikings and began to solidify his presence as a capable collegiate player.

Early Professional Career in the NBDL

Udoka began his professional basketball career in the National Basketball Development League (NBDL), now known as the NBA G League. He was selected 39th overall in the 2002 NBDL Draft. On January 14, 2004, he briefly joined the Los Angeles Lakers but was waived shortly thereafter. Following this, Udoka spent a brief period playing in Europe.

He returned to the United States in 2005 and was once again drafted into the NBDL—this time as the third overall pick. Playing for the Fort Worth Flyers, Udoka averaged 17.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, which helped raise his profile as a versatile and reliable player.

NBA Career and Teams

In April 2006, Udoka signed with the New York Knicks but was waived by the team in September of that year. He then joined the Portland Trail Blazers, becoming the final player added to their roster. Udoka quickly earned respect from coaches and teammates for his strong defensive skills and professionalism.

In 2007, Udoka signed with the San Antonio Spurs, where he contributed as a defensive specialist and role player. He returned to the Trail Blazers in the 2009–2010 season but was waived in October 2009 before the regular season began. In November 2010, Udoka rejoined the Spurs though he appeared in only 20 games before being waived in January 2011.