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. The two have also invested in at least 25 different startups in the technology industry. [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. He had narrowed down his list of desired schools to two: Kansas or Arkansas. Iguodala was picked up in the 2004 NBA drafts by the Philadelphia 76ers. 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. [15] Iguodala was thrust into the starting lineup immediately during his rookie season and was the only 76er to play and start all 82 regular-season games plus 5 playoff games, becoming a favorite target of Allen Iverson in the process, often connecting on highlight-reel dunks on passes or alley-oops from Iverson. "I'm so excited to play alongside Rudy (Gobert)," Azubuike said. 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. Mr. Oladipo is a multi-dimensional player. He practices Christianity as his religion. After posting career totals of 594 points (9.6 ppg), 409 rebounds (6.6 rpg) and 95 steals (1.53 spg) in 62 games (34 starts) he left to enter the NBA draft. Andre Iguodala found himself in recent months in discussions with his few N.B.A. [53] The Warriors would again play the Cleveland Cavaliers for the championship. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. 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. HEAT Proud Of Their Connection To Nigeria | NBA.com He has appeared in three playoffs and two NBA All Stars games proving his potential. Is Iguodala An Edo Last Name? - Politics - Nigeria - Nairaland Free shipping for many products! 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! We did not. Click to reveal This led to the firing of Nuggets coach George Karl, who just won the NBA Coach of the Year Award. Andre Iguodala | Basketball Wiki | Fandom Sadness. Collins called him a "stat-sheet stuffer". 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. In 2002, he played in the Jordan Brand Classic in Washington, D.C. His mother is African American, while his father is Nigerian. 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. Philadelphia 76ers Andre Iguodala #9 NBA SWINGMAN adidas Basketball In his rookie year, Ayton posted noteworthy numbers by averaging 16.3 points and 10.3 rebounds. 26 player in the nation in 2002. Thats tough, but we didnt deserve to win. On August 12, 2008, Iguodala reportedly agreed to a six-year, $80 million contract extension with the Sixers. Every NBA Draft night, draft prospects, domestic and international, are picked by the NBA teams. He is a Nigerian who migrated to the capital of the United Stage, Springfield, Illinois. He began to step up his game as the season went on, leading Philadelphia to a playoff berth. But I think once guys get in, what they are realizing is this is not a quick space. Andre has left an indelible mark on the NBA, particularly his clutch performance in 2017 that helped the Warriors win the season. Andre Tyler Iguodala ( / wdl / ig-w-DAH-l; born January 28, 1984) [1] is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). DeAaron Fox showed Russell Westbrook nothing but respect after defeating the Clippers on Friday. His stellar performance, however, wasn't enough and the Phoenix Suns lost to a stronger Milwaukee Bucks but not due to a lack of effort. 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. [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. Iguodala will promote business development and technology in the U.S. on behalf of Lagos-based Jumia, the online marketplace founded in 2012 that sells 6 million products from more than 50,000 . We went to the Eastern Conference finals, last year we were out in the first round and this year were a .500 team. [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. Other players involved in the deal included All-Stars Andrew Bynum and Dwight Howard. The inaugural edition of the event began in 2017 where Iguodala and teammate Stephen Curry played hosts. [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. 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? [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. When Iguodala was selected, ESPN personality Dick Vitale commented that it was a mistake for the Sixers to take him, saying "Iguodala was a [27 percent] shooter from the college three-point line. I make sure I stay in the chapel and have a good relationship with our chaplain. 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.. [104], On June 25, 2019, Iguodala released The Sixth Man: A Memoir. It doesnt even do it justice. [41] The Warriors advanced to the 2015 NBA Finals to face Cleveland, where he was the team's best defender against Cavaliers star James. [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. He finished the season averaging 17.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 5.8 apg, and 1.7 spg. During the 2011 NBA lockout, Iguodala had a week-long internship with Merrill Lynch.[28]. He has said, "Faith is something I heavily lean on to give me that balance. His next opportunity to return will be Sunday against the Lakers, although a timetable for his return isn't yet clear. 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. We want to be a good representation of what we believe in. On defense, Oladipo can guard all around his court. The 22-year-old was the last of the players of Nigerian heritage to be selected in the first round of the draft. 9 jersey. From China to the United States and everywhere in between, basketball (and in turn the NBA) has grown immensely over the years. 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. View player profile, bio, stats, news and video highlights. He captured the Finals MVP after returning to the starting lineup in the middle of the championship series. Warriors' Andre Iguodala set for season debut vs. Magic - ESPN 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. He was born to Nigerian parents who are pentecostal ministers in Minnesota, with his father Francis a former table tennis player for Nigeria. He has an older. He has since performed phenomenally for his team. My mom always tells me to keep that Nigerian pride. He was named to the Pac-10 All-Freshmen team for 200203. Iguodala averaged a career-high 19.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game through the 82 games. He said: Were not enough. [103], Iguodala is a Venture Partner in the Catalyst Fund, which invests in underrepresented founders and entrepreneurs of tech companies. Andre Iguodala - Wikipedia Previously with the 3-time NBA Champions Golden State Warriors, Iguodala was drafted into the NBA in 2004. 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. I've really improved my jump shot and shooting the three-pointer well. NBA Players & Team Rosters | NBA.com You want to play hard for someone who died for you". [5], As a sophomore in 200304, Iguodala was named team MVP after leading his team in rebounds, assists and steals. Iguodala was born in Springfield, Illinois. Iguodala was enticed by Arkansas's 13 system, which would have allowed Iguodala to run the point occasionally. However, on December 17, 2013, Iguodala returned to action in a game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Of course I take responsibility. [4] His mother is African American, while his father is Nigerian. 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. The Warriors received a traded player exception in the deal. He returned to the Warriors in 2021 and won his fourth NBA championship the same season. Perhaps Vincents connection with his fellow countrymen stemmed from the values he learned from his father, Franklyn. The 21-year-old centre is the second Nigeria-born player on the list and was discovered by Raptors, a Lagos-based basketball academy (not affiliated to NBA team, Toronto Raptors). [58] The Warriors finished the season as the first seed in the West with a 6715 record. [49] An ankle injury suffered in early March forced Iguodala to miss 13 straight games. It made me who I am, and its pretty much the foundation of who I am today, Achiuwa said. 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. So he was invited to try out for and in this case, try out for means make the Nigerian Olympic squad. After being founded in February of 2019, the league just tipped off its inaugural season on May 16 of this year. Im glad he played well, but Im glad we got the win. His Lanphier jersey is now retired. Performance & security by Cloudflare. The Sixers eventually fell to the Magic in the playoffs, failing to reach the second round. That should be everyone's goal, to win a championship that everyone wants to win," Okongwu insisted. 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. [12], Iguodala also won a bronze medal with the U.S. at the FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship in 2002. That was just an E-Trade investment. . [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. Andre Iguodala: The Man Behind The Athlete - Celeb Bio Daily [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. "It's also just a blessing. Andre Iguodala father: Who is Leonard Shanklin? Bio, age, nationality [92] He helped Team USA win the gold medal against Spain in a 107100 victory. Andre Iguodala News | Photos | Quotes | Video | Wiki - UPI.com In the final round, he did a behind-the-back dunk and followed with a reverse. "I feel great. Though he made the team after sinking a game-winning three against Poland in the 2019 Peak Tournament, it wasnt all smooth sailing. Ive never been there. [95][96], Iguodala is a Christian. Iguodala proved his versatility, as he was the only rookie and 76er to record a triple-double that season, doing it against the defending champion Detroit Pistons. In the FIBA World Championships Iguodala displayed his athleticism with an array of fastbreak dunks. From there, you start doing your homework. It keeps me focused When people see us on the court, we want them to see God's work. [34] On November 14, Iguodala made the game-winning, buzzer-beating shot in the Warriors' 116115 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Iguodalas father is Nigerian. Andre Iguodala is signing with the Golden State Warriors, according to Jonathan Abrams of the New York Times on Friday. [98], Alongside teammate Stephen Curry, Iguodala is known to be an avid golfer. He was named Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year as well as a second-team Parade All-American and Nike All-American. And then as I continued to play better, as we went to Nigeria, we were able to interact with our people and be back home as we would call it, and it was just an eye-opening experience, Vincent said. [37] When playing against the Los Angeles Lakers on November 23, 2013, Iguodala strained his left hamstring late in the third quarter. [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. Iguodala was born in Springfield, Illinois. The most noteworthy performance of his career came last season when the Phoenix Suns reached the NBA finals, a first for Ayton. He was acquired by Golden State in 2013. The NBA is home to talent from all over the world. "A defensive specialist, that's mostly what I did at Kansas. trademarks of Slam Media Inc. All rights reserved. [103] The second edition saw other athletes from the NBA like Kevin Durant and Jaylen Brown make debuts. ", "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. !@Giannis_An34 @Paschketball pic.twitter.com/kxLuUoXP0A. Constantly contesting with the help of his exceptional strength and size. Golden State Warriors veteran forward Andre Iguodala returning for 19th Complete listing of all NBA Players and team rosters. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2b9bbd9d8d80d2 Coming in as the 27th overall pick was Udoka Azubuike who will be playing for the Utah Jazz. [13] On March 6, 2017, he set a new season high with 24 points in a 119111 win over the Atlanta Hawks. Secret trap doors? [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. andre-iguodala News Latest On Andre Iguodala The Guardian Nigeria The 76ers finished the season at 4042, winning 22 of their last 29 games and earning a playoff spot with a victory over the Atlanta Hawks on April 4. Many colleges regarded Iguodala as a track star turned basketball player but teammate Luke Walton said, "He is going to be one of the best players to ever come out of Arizona by the time he is done here". The next Basketball Without Borders trip that is in Nigeria, I want to be a part of that one.. Between Jan. 18 and March 31 of last year, Iguodala played in just two games. Coming into the 201011 NBA season, the 76ers were expected to rebound from their poor season. "I want to win a championship. He supported Devin Booker and Chris Paul as they fought their way through the ranks. The second edition saw other athletes from the NBA like Kevin Durant and Jaylen Brown make debuts. Andre Iguodala: Basketballer With A Mission - The Guardian For other guys like Vincent and Achiuwa, it was a bit different. I feel Im accountable for this business, on and off the court. And then with other companies, I am doing very well. [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. Ayton was born to a Nigerian father and a Jamaican and Bahamian mother. Getty Images. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. [72] However, Thompson left the game after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee,[73] and Durant was already sidelined after rupturing his right Achilles tendon in Game 5. In the game, he scored 10 points, caught 10 rebounds and dished out 10 assists. Im really proud of my culture. [80][81][82], On February 6, 2020, Iguodala was traded to the Miami Heat in a three-team trade along with Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill with Memphis and Minnesota. Its just one of those random occurrences, but it shows you how much basketball has grown. 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 was born in Springfield, Illinois on January 28, 1984. [31] The Nuggets went on to make the playoffs with a franchise-record 5725, and a team record 15 consecutive wins; however, they were upset in the first round by the Golden State Warriors, despite Iguodala having a good series, averaging 18 points, 8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 2 steals per game in the series. Basketballers from every corner of the planet dream of playing in the league one day. 200809 season: Leading the NBA in minutes, 200910 season: Reunion with Allen Iverson, 201011 season: All-Defensive Second Team, 201415 season: First NBA championship and Finals MVP, 201516 season: Sixth Man of the Year runner-up, 201819 season: Fifth NBA Finals appearance, 201920 season: Sixth NBA Finals appearance, 2010 FIBA World Championship Gold medal, List of National Basketball Association career games played leaders, List of National Basketball Association career steals leaders, List of National Basketball Association annual minutes leaders, "Andre Iguodala voted first VP of National Basketball Players Association", "Player Bio: Andre Iguodala University of Arizona Wildcats Official Athletic Site", "Looking into the life of the Sixers' Andre Iguodala", "Operating on the Hardwood- Andre Iguodala to Arkansas", "Inside the free-agency frenzy that almost cost the Warriors a Finals MVP", "Dick Vitale - Some declaring for draft are making a mistake", "Robinson wins dunkfest amid controversy", "Robinson rises above Slam-Dunk competition", "Emeka Okafor Named 2004-05 NBA got milk?