He's not going to be able to play",[14] Iguodala used this as motivation in what proved to be a very productive rookie season. Precious Achiuwa was born in the country, while Bam Adebayo, Andre Iguodala, KZ Okpala, Victor Oladipo and Gabe Vincent have one or both parents from Nigeria originally. Just giving those kids back home an opportunity to be able to showcase their talent in a well-put-together league, I think, is great.. So he was invited to try out for and in this case, try out for means make the Nigerian Olympic squad. Antony Ressler: Landry and Kyle are trying to create strongly what it means to be a Hawk. Previously with the 3-time NBA Champions Golden State Warriors, Iguodala was drafted into the NBA in 2004. Iguodala was picked up in the 2004 NBA drafts by the Philadelphia 76ers. I've come a long way since high school. Continuing, he said You see that it is not something that is trendy. Iguodala played 19.5 minutes over only 31 games last season because of an array of injuries from a bulging disk in his lower back, a neck injury and a knee that required draining multiple times. He has also been named to the NBA All-Defensive Team twice. [53] The Warriors would again play the Cleveland Cavaliers for the championship. The organization has hosted basketball camps and the annual "Thanksgiving with Dre", which has distributed food baskets to families in need. You gotta tip your hat to that, to what they did to us in our home floor. Iguodala is a huge figure who wields influence in both on and off the court of Basketball. Hard work, the way you have to handle your business, always working hard, trusting family, just respect, core values and stuff like that.. Rookie Of The Year", "Iguodala powers sophomores in Rookie Challenge", "Robinson, not Iguodala, wins dunkfest amid controversy", "Andre Iguodala Finally Speaks On Being Robbed of 2006 Dunk Contest By Nate Robinson (Because Of Manny Pacquiao)", "He Got (Nate) Robbed: The Oral History of the 2006 NBA Dunk Contest", "Sources: Iguodala agrees to six-year, $80 million deal with Sixers", "Iguodala signs reported six-year, $80 million deal with 76ers", "Denver Nuggets acquire All-Star, Olympian Andre Iguodala", "Warriors, not Grizzlies, are to blame for Andre Iguodala predicament", "Warriors Acquire Andre Iguodala from Denver Nuggets as Part of Three-Team Trade", "Warriors beat Thunder at buzzer, 116-115", "Andre Iguodala hits buzzer-beater 3 to extend Warriors winning streak to eight games (Video)", "Warriors Forward Andre Iguodala Earns NBA All-Defensive First Team Honors - Golden State Warriors", "Iguodala's Willingness to Come off Bench Helps Key Warriors", "Andre Iguodala named Finals MVP after coming off bench to begin series", "Andre Iguodala's defense on LeBron helps him win Finals MVP", "Andre Iguodala 2015-16 Game Log - Basketball-Reference.com", "Clippers' Crawford named Kia NBA Sixth Man of Year", "With Andre Iguodala back in the starting lineup, Warriors are back in the NBA Finals", "When LeBron swooped in and changed the course of Cavs' history", "Hawks vs. Warriors - Game Recap - November 28, 2016 - ESPN", "Warriors rout defending champion Cavaliers 126-91 in rematch", "Iguodala scores 24 to lead Warriors past Hawks, 119-111", "Warriors' Andre Iguodala fined, offers no apology for racial comments", "Warriors trounce Lakers, finish regular season with 67-15 record", "Warriors sweep Spurs, enter NBA Finals 12-0", "Steve Kerr went with his best closer again -- Andre Iguodala for the title", "Warriors Re-Sign Curry, Durant, Iguodala, Livingston, Pachulia and West to Contracts", "Andre Iguodala, Warriors agree to three-year, $48 million deal", "Durant leads short-handed Warriors past Portland 111-104", "Durant has 43, Warriors take 3-0 NBA Finals lead over Cavs", "Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala will play in Game 3 of The Finals", "Sources: Grizz explore trade market for Iguodala", "Warriors Start Hamptons Five, Showing Urgency in Win Over Rockets", "After Game 1, Steve Kerr says 'it's a series where we can play more people', "Warriors Sweep Blazers to Reach Their 5th Straight N.B.A. Im glad he played well, but Im glad we got the win. [97], The Sporting News named Iguodala one of "the good guys of 2006" for establishing the Andre Iguodala Disaster Relief Fund that raised money for tornado victims in his hometown of Springfield, Illinois. He was named NBA All-Star in 2012. You want to play hard for someone who died for you". Two of them, Precious Achiuwa, picked by the Miami Heat, and Udoka Azubuike, picked by Utah Jazz. On September 23, 2022, Iguodala re-signed with the Warriors on a one-year, fully guaranteed, 2.9 million dollar contract (the veteran's minimum) and announced his decision to retire after the season. His partnership with entrepreneurs in San Francisco's Silicon Valley has led to an annual event tagged Players Technology Summit. 'They have no choice now': LeBron James, seldom labeled a pure scorer, eyes the NBA points summit, Warriors' Iguodala set for season debut vs. Magic, The questions that will determine the Warriors' repeat title run, 16 carats?! And the saying is almost very literal, so just taking care of your own and being there for family and obviously all the other pieces of hard work and honesty and integrity and all that comes into play as well., [My parents instilled] just the go get it mentality, Achiuwa said. Its interesting. He can knock down mid-range jumpers, floaters and fadeaways to score in contests making him a lethal scorer. In Game 1, Orlando had an 18-point lead in the fourth quarter, but Philadelphia made an amazing comeback led by Iguodala, eventually scoring a step-back, fadeaway jumper in the face of Hedo Trkolu with 2.2 seconds remaining to give the Sixers the win. Jordan, who was born to a Nigerian father Alexander and American mother Amy, was part of the Nigerian team that played at the 2019 Men's World Cup. Even though I wasn't born in Nigeria, I still got Nigerian blood. Coach Mike Krzyzewski called Iguodala one of the team's best players, and compared his game to that of Scottie Pippen. In the playoffs the 76ers were set to face the third seed Orlando Magic. Spin: Iguodala hasn't suited up since mid-January and will miss yet another game Friday. On August 10, 2012, Iguodala was dealt to the Denver Nuggets in a series of trades also involving the Sixers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Orlando Magic. You'll never hear a bad thing said about Russell Westbrook from anyone in this league that's played against him or with him. pic.twitter.com/mLYtH2hVnj, Mark Haynes (@markhaynesnba) March 4, 2023, De'Aaron Fox, Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, ASVEL, Business, France, Owners, Uncategorized, ASVEL, Business, France, Owners, Tony Parker, Ja Morant was allegedly seen showing off a gun in his IG Live this morning. [68][69] After starting nine consecutive games,[70] he missed the deciding Game 4 in the conference finals against Portland with a sore left calf injury from Game 3. It didnt feel right to me. I never gave it any serious thought. ", "Iguodala sheds light on decision to return to Warriors: 'He started crying', "Basketball Olympian says faith keeps him balanced", "Hooked: Golden State Warriors Star Andre Iguodala Has Become A Golf Fanatic - Golf Digest", "Andre Iguodala puts golf passion to work at PGA Championship", "Wale and Andre Iguodala go Head to Head at NBA2K10 Launch Party", "NBA All-Star Andre Iguodala Named Twice Menswear Style Director", "Silicon Valley Warrior: Andre Iguodala blazing the trail for the NBA in Players Tech Summit | BWB", "Andre Iguodala On Upping His Game From The Basketball Court To The Boardroom", "Andre Iguodala On 'The Sixth Man,' Retirement And The Pressures Faced By The Modern Athlete", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Andre_Iguodala&oldid=1142643864, American sportspeople of Nigerian descent, Arizona Wildcats men's basketball players, Basketball players at the 2012 Summer Olympics, National Basketball Association All-Stars, Olympic gold medalists for the United States in basketball, Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball), United States men's national basketball team players, 21st-century African-American sportspeople, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 3 March 2023, at 16:01. It wasnt easy to make the team. I had a similar role to affect the game defensively. [104], On June 25, 2019, Iguodala released The Sixth Man: A Memoir. Theres the saying, It takes a village to raise a child, and that kind of mindset and mentality, I think with his upbringing, rang very true, Vincent said. He began his career as the first overall NBA draft pick in 2018. [95][96], Iguodala is a Christian. His scoring average was the lowest of all the 24 All-Stars, but he was rewarded for being the best player on the 76ers, who were leading the Atlantic Division. Full Name. I dont open the door or close the door to any personnel. Philadelphia was set to face the No. Iguodala entered the 2017 off-season as a free agent and held meetings with numerous competing teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Sacramento Kings, and Houston Rockets. Basketballers from every corner of the planet dream of playing in the league one day. The former UC Santa Barbara standout first thought about playing for the national team in high school and started reaching out to former Nigeria coaches while in college. Giannis is often double-teamed in defense and yet he spins, pivots, or just drives past. Iguodala joined Jumia as an ambassador and a board member. During the season, the 76ers brought Iguodala's old friend Allen Iverson back in what would be his final season in the NBA before going to play overseas for Beikta. ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. [16][17] He finished fourth in voting for NBA Rookie of the Year.[18]. This led to the firing of Nuggets coach George Karl, who just won the NBA Coach of the Year Award. [27] The contract had $5 million in bonuses and a player option for the sixth year. After three championships and five trips to the Finals with the Warriors, Iguodala had a two-year stint with the Miami Heat, with whom he reached his sixth straight Finals in 2020. BBC Sport Africa has been finding out about all eight of the players set to be the stars of the future. Antony Ressler: If youre the final decision maker, which I am, you have to have complete accountability. "I've added 20 pounds of muscle. [5] After the season, Iguodala signed with agent Rob Pelinka, co-founder of the Landmark Sports Agency, who had represented NBA All-Stars such as Kobe Bryant, Carlos Boozer and Gerald Wallace. From China to the United States and everywhere in between, basketball (and in turn the NBA) has grown immensely over the years. Iguodala averaged career-highs in rebounds, assists, and blocks, and a career-low in personal fouls. You gotta tip your hat to that, to what they did to us in our home floor. It doesnt even do it justice. [46] He finished the series averaging 16.3 points, 4 assists, and 5.8 rebounds. He reminds me a lot of Kevin Garnett with his package - his athleticism, his skill set," Underwood said. [36] Iguodala finished with 14 points and 9 assists. [76] Golden State was eyeing a replacement for Thompson while he recovered from his injury, and the trade freed salary cap space for them to acquire All-Star guard D'Angelo Russell in a sign-and-trade package with the Brooklyn Nets for Durant, who had announced earlier that he planned to sign with the Nets. On February 17, 2006, at the Rookie Challenge, Iguodala won MVP honors for his 30-point performance in the Sophomores win. The swingman was an NBA All-Star in 2012 and has been named to the NBA All-Defensive Team twice. Iguodala was born in Springfield, Illinois. He finished the season averaging 17.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 5.8 apg, and 1.7 spg. And once guys realize that, they really get into something that is really healthy for you.. [13] On March 6, 2017, he set a new season high with 24 points in a 119111 win over the Atlanta Hawks. [25] He went on to finish the season with averages of 18.2 points, along with 5.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists. In 201415, he became a reserve for the first time in his career, but played a major bench role. Giannis posted his best playoff numbers in his 2021 NBA Championship bid, averaging an incredible 30.2 points, 12.8 rebounds and 5.1 assists. He played like a man possessed while under the paint. Iggy is currently playing for Miami Heat. Victory. Name. His partnership with entrepreneurs in San Franciscos Silicon Valley has led to an annual event tagged Players Technology Summit. His parents were Nigerian immigrants who moved to America. [88][89] Iguodala went on to win his fourth championship after the Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics in 6 games of the 2022 NBA Finals. When Iguodala was in the game, James made only 38.1% of his shots, compared to 44% without Iguodala. On defense, Giannis swats the ball away with ease. We felt like we were good enough to medal in the World Cup, but we did the other part of our job to qualify for the Olympics, so that was incredibly fulfilling and an awesome experience to make the people back in Nigeria proud.. Andre Iguodala, whose father is Nigerian, turned down Team Nigeria when they repeatedly tried to recruit him for their Olympic squad. For his defensive efforts throughout the season, Iguodala was named to the NBA All-Defensive Team Second Team, though his coaches and teammates lobbied for him to make the First Team. View player profile, bio, stats, news and video highlights. Bernard Mensah | Meet the Ghanaian-born CEO of Merrill Lynch International, Bank of Americas largest International subsidiary, Barak Jacuzzi: 5 quick facts to know about the Kenyan-American rapper, Ghanaian-born Stephen Osei explains how his life is the American Dream, Tashitaa Tufaa | Meet the Ethiopian who started as a dishwasher but now owns 300 buses in Minneapolis, Adenah Bayoh: The Liberian-born real estate millionaire who is one of the largest employers in Irvinton, New Jersey. In his best NBA regular-season performance, Oladipo averaged 19.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. That was just an E-Trade investment. During the year, Andre was the subject of multiple trade rumors that had him being traded to either the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers or Los Angeles Lakers. [38] The win extended the Warriors' season-high winning streak to 8 games. Iguodala is a huge figure who wields influence in both on and off the court of Basketball. Ricky Rubio Feels Back to Normal After Comeback Game, Stephen Curry on His Return to Play and Regaining His Rhythm, REPORT: Miami Interested in Buying Out Jae Crowder, Drexel Guard Keishana Washington is One of the Coldest Scorers in the CountryAnd Shes Just Getting Started, How the NBA G League is at the Forefront of Basketball Innovation, from Player Development to Testing New Rules, Frank Jackson on His NBA Journey, Proving Himself and Getting to Play for the City He Calls Home, Stephen Curry Believes Andre Iguodala is Absolutely An Hall of Famer, Andre Iguodala Confirms Hell Return to the Warriors for His 19th Season, Warriors Owner Joe Lacob Fined $500,000 For Calling the Luxury Tax Unfair. Iguodala was also a finalist for the Illinois Mr. Basketball award, which was awarded to Dee Brown. Iguodala had averaged 18.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game through 82 regular-season games. Its just one of those random occurrences, but it shows you how much basketball has grown. That was the first time that two players born in Nigeria have been picked in the first round of the same draft. In his NBA finals run, Adebayo put up unbelievable numbers in the playoffs for a second-year-player. He still calls this house home now. In February 2019, Iguodala was elected first vice-president of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA). Standing at 7ft tall, he drew the attention of recruiters at one of the NBA and Fiba's developmental camps in Africa, despite only taking up the sport at 13. In July 2013, Iguodala declined a five-year deal with Denver and agreed to a four-year for a reported $48 million with the Golden State Warriors. He went on to play for the Golden State Warriors and won three rings in 2015, 2017, and 2018. He put up 11 points in an 8475 loss, and received a mixed response from the crowd. That team, which includes Penn grad Koko Archibong,. Deandre Ayton averaged 15.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and registered a 65.8 field goal percentage. He attacks it as if wanting to tear it apart from the very board. News: 20 hours agoIguodala (hip) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Pelicans. Between Jan. 18 and March 31 of last year, Iguodala played in just two games. pic.twitter.com/zOuopMbpCb, Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) March 4, 2023, Agents, Free Agency, George Langberg, Top Rumors, Top Rumors, Agents, Free Agency, George Langberg, Nerlens Noel, Brooklyn Nets, Detroit Pistons. Andre Iguodala. The Sixers fired head coach Eddie Jordan and brought in Doug Collins. Andre Tyler Iguodala was born on the 28th of January 1984 to a Nigerian father and an African American mother in Illinois. [105], Iguodala appeared as a fictionalized version of himself in the second season of Abbott Elementary (2022).[106]. [29] At the end of the 201112 NBA season, Iguodala averaged 12.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 5.5 apg, 1.7 spg in 35.6 mpg. Jim, we did it baby! [64] Iguodala played in Game 3 of the 2018 NBA Finals after missing the final four games of the Western Conference Finals and the first two games of the NBA Finals with a left lateral leg contusion. American Basketball star. Theyve been trying to get here for a long time now, Iguodala said. We tend to hop on what is trending at the moment. The 19-year-old shooting guard is 6ft 9 and was a high school teammate of third pick LaMelo Ball at Chino Hills in California, where he was born. One of the determining factors for Iguodala was the commitment of Hassan Adams, whom Iguodala had played with in the Jordan Brand Classic in high school. In the game, he scored 10 points, caught 10 rebounds and dished out 10 assists. Telling the story of African immigrants living in the Americas, Nigerian 'unicorn' Interswitch sells stake to Visa, Nigerian-born Akim Aliu lands book deal on how he confronted racism in hockey. Whether it works out or not, its a learning experience. [87] He missed 31 games from January to April with back soreness. Thats where I grew up. Iguodala's father is Nigerian. "I've been working a lot during these quarantine times, and I feel like I've made a lot of improvements," Nnaji explained. It was an amazing experience, man. During the 2011 NBA lockout, Iguodala had a week-long internship with Merrill Lynch.[28]. Last season, Iguodala played just 31 games during the regular season. Iguodala was picked up in the 2004 NBA drafts by the Philadelphia 76ers. Iguodala was born in Springfield, Illinois to his father Leonard Shanklin, and his mother Linda Shanklin. His high-flying leap and freakishly strong frame put him at second number on this list. HoopsHype: Michael Malone on Nikola Jokic: HoopsHype: Jimmy Butler on Julius Randles winning three-pointer: Mark Haynes: DeAaron Fox showed Russell Westbrook nothing but respect after defeating the Clippers on Friday. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. The meaning in Igbo is something like " (Igu) Weed/wheat/hay, (o) referring to a person in the like of he/she, (dala) fell/fall". Jordan Nwora will be the most popular pick on the list to Nigerians as the 22-year-old is a member of the country's senior men's basketball team, otherwise known as D'Tigers. The draft was originally scheduled for 25 June but had been delayed because of the fallout from the coronavirus and was this year held via video calls. At Arizona he joined future NBA players Channing Frye, Luke Walton, Mustafa Shakur, Salim Stoudamire and Hassan Adams. In Game 6 of the Sixers' first-round playoff series against the Chicago Bulls, he made two free throws with 2.2 seconds left to win the game and help the Sixers upset the Bulls en route to the franchise's first playoff series win since 2003. During the 2017 championship run, he further established his legacy as one of the NBAs premier players. Sadness. This is the first time Nigeria qualified for the Olympics, but with Iguodala aboard, who knows if the team would have made it sooner? Iguodala had a poor playoffs series, averaging 13 points per game. Desmond Bane started playing baseball before he switched to basketball and was the 30th overall pick, drafted by the Boston Celtics, with reports that he will be traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. In his sophomore year, Arizona was defeated in the first round by Seton Hall. After earning first-team all-conference honors in the Pac-10 (known now as the Pac-12) as a sophomore in 2004, he was selected in the 2004 NBA draft with the ninth overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers. You do some research on those companies because you are watching where your money is going and how its growing or how its being lost. Theres a lot of talent in Africa, Achiuwa said. He is expected to promote the companys business development and technology in the U.S. Iguodala is not only excited that he is visiting Nigeria for the first time as an adult, he is happy to invest home. [102], Iguodala is a tech investor and a leading advocate for athletes in the NBA to invest in the technology industry. And then with other companies, I am doing very well. Ive gotten calls from them a few times about participating. In 2004, the first time he was called, Iguodala was preparing for his rookie season with the 76ers. Unfortunately, Iguodala went on to miss twelve consecutive games. For his defensive contributions to the Warriors, Iguodala was named to the 2014 All-NBA Defensive first team. Aug 6, 2021 at 11:20 am ET 1 min read. He can pivot and spin around defenders for easy floaters or reach out for in-traffic dunks. Though he made the team after sinking a game-winning three against Poland in the 2019 Peak Tournament, it wasnt all smooth sailing. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. The 6ft 6 shooting guard was raised in Indiana with a southern-Nigerian father and American mother. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. We went to the Eastern Conference finals, last year we were out in the first round and this year were a .500 team. Free shipping for many products! . Andre Iguodala to remain away from team as Memphis Grizzlies look for trade The Memphis Grizzlies and veteran forward Andre Iguodala have reached an agreement to let him stay away from the. Coming in as the 27th overall pick was Udoka Azubuike who will be playing for the Utah Jazz. [46][47], On November 11, 2015, Iguodala scored a season-high 20 points against the Memphis Grizzlies to help the Warriors begin the season 90. Of course, the Basketball Africa League, which was organized by the NBA and FIBA, should foster even more interest in the sport. [34] On November 14, Iguodala made the game-winning, buzzer-beating shot in the Warriors' 116115 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. pic.twitter.com/xBfn4VKGBm. The objective of the event is to help startups understand what they need to do to attract investment. Iguodala also expressed his observation that there are not enough black athletes involved in tech investments. Andre Iguodala, who was born on January 28, 1984, will be 38 years old in 2022. [4] His mother is African American, while his father is Nigerian. I didnt necessarily show well early on in the Training Camp process. The 22-year-old was the last of the players of Nigerian heritage to be selected in the first round of the draft. He played in a tournament put together at the NBA 2K10 launch party in New York City against other NBA players Nate Robinson, Brook Lopez and Rajon Rondo, and rapper Wale. He returned to the Warriors in 2021 and won his fourth NBA championship the same season. Andre Iguodala, whose father is Nigerian, turned down Team Nigeria when they repeatedly tried to recruit him for their Olympic squad. So I'm excited to learn from him. He had been making those shots all game, man. I make sure I stay in the chapel and have a good relationship with our chaplain. ", "Anger. Iguodala was born in Springfield, Illinois on January 28, 1984. Brad Underwood, the coach at college side Illinois, who came up against Oturu as he played for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, was full of praise for the youngster. Fulfilling, I dont even think that is the word for it. [26] He officially signed on August 17, 2008. Philadelphia started the season poorly but were one of the best teams down the stretch. The 76ers were eventually defeated in 5 games. [55] On January 16, 2017, he came off the bench to make all five of his field goal attempts for a season-high 14 points in a 12691 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. 153.122.85.11 The Sixers, however, were a big disappointment, going only 2755 during the regular season and missing the playoffs after two straight playoff berths. [42][43] The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers in six games, and Iguodala was named the Finals MVP, becoming the first player to win the award without starting a game during the regular season. Antony Ressler: We just elevated Landry, elevated Kyle and we brought in a world-class coach (Quin Snyder). Iguodala got off to a slow start to the season, even to a point where he was leading the league in turnovers. He has since performed phenomenally for his team. Iguodala was a member of the United States national team in the 2010 FIBA World Championship, winning the gold medal. Iguodala visited the Arkansas campus and was impressed by their large gymnasium and the number of fans at a practice while he visited with his mother and father. Ive never really had a chance to experience their culture, only from the outside looking in because of my father.'. He was awarded the Finals MVP in 2015. Is every player on the table when it comes to potential change, including Trae Young? Almost instantly, he became a hit, making his mark as one of the league's premier players. Speaking about the visit, he said: Because of my Nigerian heritage, Jumias use of technology to deliver innovative online services to consumers and improve the quality of everyday life in Africa is very important to me. Copyright 2023 SLAM Media Inc. SLAM, SLAMTV, SLAM MEDIA and the SLAM logo are registered