Ekpe Udoh has become a key part of Golden State's rotation in recent weeks.

"He's developing so fast because he is doing such a rapid job of being a student," Keith Smart said. "He's getting into better shape. He didn't have the summer league or the preseason to get his body into NBA shape. Now he's starting to get there."

Udoh, who is considered the team's best perimeter defender, scored a career high of 16 points on Thursday at Phoenix.
Golden State is looking for a center who can defend the rim and also score in the post, but Smart isn't ready to call Udoh the long-term solution.

"I think he's a 4 (power forward), but it's still very, very early in Udoh's career," Smart said. "How I see a 5 (center), that's a big man. He's not a big man right now.

"To make the big jump that we want to make as a team, we have to have a definite 5, not a makeshift 5."