Iguodala had averaged 18.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game through 82 regular-season games. The annual draft sees NBA teams choose from the world's best young talent. ", "Analysis: Memphis Grizzlies betting on quality return for Andre Iguodala", "The opportunity cost of trading Andre Iguodala mapping out a decision timeline", "Grizzlies' Ja Morant fires back as Steph Curry defends Andre Iguodala", "Heat Acquire Andre Iguodala, Jae Crowder & Solomon Hill", "An N.B.A. It was something that I was nervous about because my father wasnt in my life, so I didnt really have like an easy outlet to just figure out my heritage, Adebayo said. [83] The Heat reached the 2020 NBA Finals, where they lost 42 to the Los Angeles Lakers,[84] and Iguodala became the tenth player in NBA history to make it to six straight Finals. "I've been working a lot during these quarantine times, and I feel like I've made a lot of improvements," Nnaji explained. 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. "I watched the NBA Finals, and thankful that they're welcoming me to Miami. His father is Nigerian, while his mother is African American. Theyve been trying to get here for a long time now, Iguodala said. [37] When playing against the Los Angeles Lakers on November 23, 2013, Iguodala strained his left hamstring late in the third quarter. Looking at the HEAT-Nigeria connection, as 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 . [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. The Warriors' small lineup, which came to be known as the Death Lineup, helped turn the series around. During the summer of 2000, Iguodala captured the attention of coaches around the nation as he was named the AAU national tournament Most Valuable Player after hitting the game-winning shot at the final buzzer to give his team the 17-and-under national title. He put up 11 points in an 8475 loss, and received a mixed response from the crowd. "He is the most improved player in the country [in 2019-20]. 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. He can knock down mid-range jumpers, floaters and fadeaways to score in contests making him a lethal scorer. ", "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. Basketballers from every corner of the planet dream of playing in the league one day. Your login session has expired. During the playoffs, he boosted his averages to 9.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists, while also starting a majority of the games. A 6' 4" shooting guard, he is agile and athletic with exceptional explosive strength. I've come a long way since high school. [59] Following a 129115 victory in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals over the Spurs, the Warriors reached their third straight NBA Finals series while becoming the first team in league history to start the playoffs 120. His high-flying leap and freakishly strong frame put him at second number on this list. Obinna Ukwuani: The Nigerian MIT graduate who turned down 6-figure paycheck in US and returned to Africa. And then with other companies, I am doing very well. The most noteworthy performance of his career came last season when the Phoenix Suns reached the NBA finals, a first for Ayton. In 2015 he received the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award. This was also the fifth time in NBA history that an eighth seed defeated a first seed in the opening round of the playoffs. I bring a mature, consistent approach, both on and off the floor, and I think that'll be beneficial early on," he said about the prospect of playing in the NBA. So he was invited to try out for and in this case, try out for means make the Nigerian Olympic squad. It keeps me focused. Coach Mike Krzyzewski called Iguodala one of the team's best players, and compared his game to that of Scottie Pippen. Were not there yet in terms of decision-making. Performance & security by Cloudflare. He had previously served as vice-president of the NBPA executive committee starting in 2013. "I'm so excited to play alongside Rudy (Gobert)," Azubuike said. Iguodala got off to a slow start to the season, even to a point where he was leading the league in turnovers. Eight of the draft picks are players with Nigerian heritage. 6 small forward and the No. From China to the United States and everywhere in between, basketball (and in turn the NBA) has grown immensely over the years. I've really improved my jump shot and shooting the three-pointer well. Its no secret that basketball is a global sport. During the season, he averaged 9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 32.8 minutes per game. Your IP: Iguodala also expressed his observation that there are not enough black athletes involved in tech investments. Thats where I grew up. Andre Iguodala, whose father is Nigerian, turned down Team Nigeria when they repeatedly tried to recruit him for their Olympic squad. He went on to play for the Golden State Warriors and won. 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. 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. Iguodala joined Jumia as an ambassador and a board member. After attending Lanphier High School in Springfield, Illinois, Iguodala enrolled at the University of Arizona. He returned to the Warriors in 2021 and won his fourth NBA championship the same season. They got one. pic.twitter.com/Z8dJNufBYr, Jimmy Butler, Julius Randle, Miami Heat, New York Knicks. [63] On December 11, 2017, against the Portland Trail Blazers, Iguodala played his 1,000th regular-season game, becoming one of 126 players in NBA history to accomplish the feat. This is something for the long run. Iguodala was born in Springfield, Illinois on January 28, 1984. Aside winning several laurels as an NBA star, Iguodala is also a tech-investor and a leading advocate for athletes in the NBA to invest in the technology industry. This list will consider the players' impact on the NBA league and their current form and past seasons. Vincent, one of Miamis two-way players, played for the Nigerian National Team in the FIBA World Cup in 2019 with Josh Okogie and Al-Farouq Aminu. Iguodala attended high school at Lanphier High School in Springfield, Illinois, a school that produced other notable athletes, including baseball Hall of Famer Robin Roberts and basketball guard Kevin Gamble. "A defensive specialist, that's mostly what I did at Kansas. for $3.6 million. We went to the Eastern Conference finals, last year we were out in the first round and this year were a .500 team. The Sixers hired coach Eddie Jordan to take over for Tony DiLeo. The National Basketball Association (NBA) superstar Andre Iguodala has joined Jumia's board of directors. Previously with the 3-time NBA Champions Golden State Warriors, Iguodala was drafted into the NBA in 2004. In 22 minutes of play, Iguodala put up six points on 36 shooting, five rebounds, two assists, three steals and a block. He was acquired by Golden State in 2013. [87] He missed 31 games from January to April with back soreness. Ive never really had a chance to experience their culture, only from the outside looking in because of my father.'. Finals", "Warriors first to 5 Finals in row since 1966 Celtics", "Raptors capture first NBA title, beat Warriors in Game 6", "After the Injuries, What's Next for the Warriors? Precious Achiuwa is the third Nigerian-born player to be drafted in the first round since 2000, while soon after Udoka Azubuike was the 4th. [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. We went to the Dominican Republic, played there. A reminder: The Heat has until 5 p.m. tomorrow to decide on the team options in the contracts of Goran Dragic ($19.4 million) and Andre Iguodala ($15 million). He showed his versatility during the season posting up a career-high in triple-doubles. Founded in Lagos,Nigeria in 2013, Jumia is the African version of Amazon. It didnt feel right to me. The regular season, which has been reduced by 10 matches to 72 due to Covid-19, is due to tip-off on the 22 December. [53] The Warriors would again play the Cleveland Cavaliers for the championship. Two of them, Precious Achiuwa, picked by the Miami Heat, and Udoka Azubuike, picked by Utah Jazz. As the owner, what is your level of accountability? Thats something that theyve talked about, having a Team Nigeria in Miami, and I think its cool, Erik Spoelstra said. Whether it works out or not, its a learning experience. I make sure I stay in the chapel and have a good relationship with our chaplain. #NBABDAY #ThatsGame pic.twitter.com/X4xCz3NFvr. They even had training camp in Dallas, in the States. Iguodala was named the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) First Vice President earlier this year. 9 jersey. The Players Technology Summit, sponsored by Bloomberg, was established as a platform to set a discourse and help shape conversations for athletes' financial future through opportunities in the technology industry. Secret trap doors? Andre Tyler Iguodala (born January 28, 1984) is an American professional basketball swingman for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). This is the first time Nigeria qualified for the Olympics, but with Iguodala aboard, who knows if the team would have made it sooner? Now a permanent fixture in the 76ers' starting rotation, Iguodala was the only Sixer to play in and start all 82 games in his second season. The organization has hosted basketball camps and the annual "Thanksgiving with Dre", which has distributed food baskets to families in need. Iguodala has played in six NBA finals, out of which five were with the Golden State Warriors and one with the Miami Heat. You get to experience different cultures. Mr. He played like a man possessed while under the paint. He scored 17.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists. Gray Matters Capital Selects Two African Start-Ups for its Digital Self-Learning to Earning Accelera ONE OF BIRMINGHAMS BRIGHTEST ENTREPRENEURS, SHEGUN OTULANA, SOLD HIS COMPANY FOR $1.2 BILLION, Dear Black America: You Should Be Paying Attention to Africa, CKay becomes best-selling African singer in USA with Love Nwantiti, Minnesota Africans United lobbies African Summit in support of Minnesotas Expo 2027 Bid, African-American Diaspora Engagement at the Core of U.S.-African Relations in Multipolar World, The struggles of an immigrant student trying to fit in American Culture, Mima Fondong | Meet the daughter of trending Dr Stella Immanuel, Meet the richest African immigrants in America. I didn't think I'd be able to play at a level like Louisville," he said before the draft. The inaugural edition of the event began in 2017 where Iguodala and teammate Stephen Curry played hosts. Constantly contesting with the help of his exceptional strength and size. On November 28, 2016, Iguodala had a season-best game with 12 points, five rebounds and five assists in a 105100 win over the Atlanta Hawks, helping the Warriors start the season 162 while recording their 12th straight victorytheir equal third-longest streak in franchise history. On August 10, 2021, Iguodala returned to the Golden State Warriors. 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. The award however was given to Nate Robinson,[20] in a controversial decision,[21][22][23] as Robinson had missed 14 straight dunk attempts before hitting his final one. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 2001 Playoff Absolute Memorabilia #175 Andre Carter Premier Materials /850 RC at the best online prices at eBay! So it's just having that on my shoulders.". ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. [94] Iguodala has a daughter and a son. He played a leading role in each of Golden States championship seasons. Isaac Okoro was fifth overall pick and has been chosen by Cleveland Cavaliers. Complete listing of all NBA Players and team rosters. Then we invested in Apple. The 21-year-old, 6ft 9, power forward grew up playing football in Port Harcourt, before moving to the USA as a teenager. [85], Iguodala continued with the Miami Heat in a bench-role for the 202021 season. Copyright 2023 SLAM Media Inc. SLAM, SLAMTV, SLAM MEDIA and the SLAM logo are registered We tend to hop on what is trending at the moment. 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. Is every player on the table when it comes to potential change, including Trae Young? In a 114110 series-ending loss in Game 6, Iguodala had 22 points for his best scoring output of the postseason. In the playoffs the 76ers were set to face the third seed Orlando Magic. 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. Philadelphia also traded veteran big man Samuel Dalembert to the Sacramento Kings for a younger center Spencer Hawes; the 76ers also acquired Andrs Nocioni in the deal. You learn to balance your portfolio. Onyeka Okongwu, also born to Nigerian parents, was the sixth overall pick selected by Atlanta Hawks. [5][8][9] As a senior in 2002, Iguodala led Lanphier's basketball team to a runner-up finish at the Illinois High School Association Class AA state tournament. The 19-year-old, who is 6ft 6, was born in Atlanta, Georgia to Nigerian parents and the small forward was part of the USA's winning team at the 2018 Under-17 Basketball World Cup in Argentina. In 201415, he became a reserve for the first time in his career, but played a major bench role. He supported Devin Booker and Chris Paul as they fought their way through the ranks. Andre Iguodala is signing with the Golden State Warriors, according to Jonathan Abrams of the New York Times on Friday. Andre Iguodala is born of a Nigerian father and an African-American mother. From there, you start doing your homework. His father was Nigeria's head coach at the World Cup (now the country's assistant coach) and the duo became the first Nigerian son and father to be part of a Nigerian national team side at the same time. In the preseason Philadelphia drafted point guard Jrue Holiday out of UCLA to take over the void left at point guard after the departure of veteran point guard Andre Miller, who had joined the Portland Trail Blazers. He is a Nigerian who migrated to the capital of the United Stage, Springfield, Illinois. Be the first one to comment on this story. [79][80] Memphis was hoping for a quality trade with a playoff contender in exchange for Iguodala and his championship experience. During his visit scheduled for next week, Iguodala will be interacting with tech entrepreneurs in the country at an event themed: Moving from zero to growth. [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. [60] The Warriors would again matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals where Iguodala was a key bench player during the 2017 NBA Finals, often guarding James and scored 20 points in Game 5,[61] helping the Warriors win the championship by defeating the Cavaliers in five games. Andre Iguodala is an American professional basketball who has a net worth of $50 million. [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. In the game, he scored 10 points, caught 10 rebounds and dished out 10 assists. Theyve gotten here and they want to prove that they belong. Iguodala became a member of the Board of Directors for Jumia Technologies, NYSE: JMIA, after the e-commerce platform successfully listed its billion-dollar IPO in April 2019. [36] Iguodala finished with 14 points and 9 assists. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Andre Iguodala 2017/18 Panini Select Basketball Silver Prizm #17 NrMt at the best online prices at eBay! Iguodala played AAU basketball under Larry Butler and the Illinois Warriors, the team that has featured other professional players such as Dwyane Wade, Quentin Richardson, and Jon Scheyer. Andre Iguodala Parents and Family Andre was born on 28 January 1984 in Springfield, Illinois, United States to parents Leonard Shanklin and Linda Shanklin. His efforts were rewarded when he was named to the All-Rookie First Team and started on the rookie team during the Rookie Challenge portion of All-Star Weekend. : Ja Morant thinks he could take MJ one-on-one and more Quotes of the Week, Steph: You need guys like Kerr and Iguodala to give you confidence, Warriors minus Iguodala (right knee) for Game 2, 2022 NBA playoffs: The best poster dunks from every series, Warriors' Iguodala, Porter, Payton available for G1. Iguodalas father is Nigerian. At Arizona he joined future NBA players Channing Frye, Luke Walton, Mustafa Shakur, Salim Stoudamire and Hassan Adams. [92] He helped Team USA win the gold medal against Spain in a 107100 victory. Daniel Oturu was the third choice in the second round of the draft which made him the 33rd pick overall. Iguodala was born in Springfield, Illinois to his father Leonard Shanklin, and his mother Linda Shanklin. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2b9bbd9d8d80d2 Antony Ressler: If youre the final decision maker, which I am, you have to have complete accountability. Remember I wrote that it has an Igbo meaning but I'm not sure whether its an Igbo name. On his 28th birthday, Iguodala recorded a 10-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist triple-double effort in a win over the Pistons. Once he picks up momentum it is unstoppable to stop the Greek Freek. Even though I wasn't born in Nigeria, I still got Nigerian blood. Victory. And at around the age of 16, Adebayo felt compelled to delve more into his Nigerian roots. We want to be a good representation of what we believe in When you go out there, youre not just representing your country or the NBA, youre representing your beliefs. [40] On March 18, 2015, he scored a then season-high 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting in a 11495 win over the Atlanta Hawks. Im thrilled to be a part of this unique enterprise that is shaping the future of digital Africa., His affirmation was also rechoed by Jumia co-founder Sacha Poignonne who said: Having Andre join our board sends the world the message that Africa has successful companies and great entrepreneurs, and that athletes can play a key role in contributing to their success.. Although the rookie had to adapt to a new culture when he moved from Port Harcourt to the United States in the eighth grade, he knows his upbringing played a vital role in who hes become. It keeps me focused When people see us on the court, we want them to see God's work. [13] However, on July 25, 2017, Iguodala re-signed with the Warriors[62] on a three-year, $48 million contract. 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. [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. Latest on Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN He was one of four players to average at least 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, with the others being LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Tracy McGrady. Jordan is also Nigeria's highest scorer in a single match after registering 36 points in a 2019 World Cup qualifier in Lagos. That should be everyone's goal, to win a championship that everyone wants to win," Okongwu insisted. 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. Youll never hear a bad thing said about Russell Westbrook from anyone in this league thats played against him or with him., Faced with the internal revolt, Tony Parker is now backing away from the idea to sell the majority shares in the LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne organization, Ja Morant was allegedly seen showing off a gun in his IG Live this morning. 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. I think I can add a lot to the table, like add a lot of aggression and grittiness.".