Between Jan. 18 and March 31 of last year, Iguodala played in just two games. 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. 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. [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. He was awarded the Finals MVP in 2015. He also made the All-Pac-10 First Team and was named Honorable Mention All-America by The Associated Press. As the owner, what is your level of accountability? ", "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. After attending Lanphier High School in Springfield, Illinois, Iguodala enrolled at the University of Arizona. 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. The swingman was an NBA All-Star in 2012 and has been named to the NBA All-Defensive Team twice. [99][100] Iguodala enjoys playing video games, particularly the NBA 2K series. A total of eight players with Nigerian heritage were picked during Wednesday night's NBA draft for the 2020-21 season. Per the Philly Inquirer: "Iguodala's father is. Antony Ressler: Absolutely not. The two have also invested in at least 25 different startups in the technology industry. There were like four or five companies total where we made some great success with the investments. On his 28th birthday, Iguodala recorded a 10-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist triple-double effort in a win over the Pistons. Iguodala told . [67] In a sign of respect towards their opponent and with an increased urgency, Kerr opened the conference semifinals against Houston by moving Iguodala from the bench and starting their Hamptons Five lineup for the first time in the season. It was a grind, to be honest. I made some investment in startups with my E-Trade account. Your IP: Iguodala played for Philadelphia until the summer of 2012 when he joined the Denver Nuggets in a four-team trade. Antony Ressler: If youre the final decision maker, which I am, you have to have complete accountability. Andre Tyler Iguodala (born January 28, 1984) is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). "A defensive specialist, that's mostly what I did at Kansas. On February 17, 2006, at the Rookie Challenge, Iguodala won MVP honors for his 30-point performance in the Sophomores win. He finished the season averaging 17.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 5.8 apg, and 1.7 spg. I've come a long way since high school. The 6ft 11 center was born to a Nigerian father and American mother and played college basketball for the Arizona Wildcats. He was named NBA All-Star in 2012. He supported Devin Booker and Chris Paul as they fought their way through the ranks. Victory. Thats tough, but we didnt deserve to win. 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. Continuing, he said You see that it is not something that is trendy. To be fair, some will read this and say the owner didnt close the door to trading Trae Young. 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. His partnership with entrepreneurs in San Francisco's Silicon Valley has led to an annual event tagged Players Technology Summit. [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. [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. [79][80] Memphis was hoping for a quality trade with a playoff contender in exchange for Iguodala and his championship experience. Meet the Nigerian-American NBA star, Andre Iguodala, who is driving tech investments in US and Africa By Henry Ojelu National Basketball Association, NBA star, Andre Tyler Iguodala is on his way to Africa. Born to and African American mother and Nigerian father, Adebayo began his career as the 14th overall NBA draft pick by the Miami Heat in 2017. Remember I wrote that it has an Igbo meaning but I'm not sure whether its an Igbo name. BBC Sport Africa has been finding out about all eight of the players set to be the stars of the future. [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. We went to the Eastern Conference finals, last year we were out in the first round and this year were a .500 team. Be the first one to comment on this story. Constantly contesting with the help of his exceptional strength and size. 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 . Its interesting. [46] He finished the series averaging 16.3 points, 4 assists, and 5.8 rebounds. [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. In addition to his numerous basketball achievements, he has found success in the business world with entrepreneurial ventures in technology and e-commerce. Ive never really had a chance to experience their culture, only from the outside looking in because of my father.'. [87] He missed 31 games from January to April with back soreness. He has since performed phenomenally for his team. However, on December 17, 2013, Iguodala returned to action in a game against the New Orleans Pelicans. 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? 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. 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. 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? Giannis is often double-teamed in defense and yet he spins, pivots, or just drives past. From there, you start doing your homework. Please logout and login again. Andre Iguodala PPG 2.3 RPG 2.3 APG 1.7 PIE 5.3 HEIGHT 6'6" (1.98m) WEIGHT 215lb (98kg) COUNTRY USA LAST ATTENDED Arizona AGE 39 years BIRTHDATE January 28, 1984 DRAFT 2004 R1 Pick 9 EXPERIENCE. When Iguodala was in the game, James made only 38.1% of his shots, compared to 44% without Iguodala. What building a culture really means, and make sure we have a roster that can accommodate those priorities. [103] The second edition saw other athletes from the NBA like Kevin Durant and Jaylen Brown make debuts. In the FIBA World Championships Iguodala displayed his athleticism with an array of fastbreak dunks. [105], Iguodala appeared as a fictionalized version of himself in the second season of Abbott Elementary (2022).[106]. [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. His decision to remain away from the team drew backlash from teammates, notably Dillon Brooks and Ja Morant, who criticized his refusal to play as disrespectful. So I'm excited to learn from him. He began his career as the first overall NBA draft pick in 2018. A lot of companies were in this area. 2 seed Detroit. 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. [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. I didn't think I'd be able to play at a level like Louisville," he said before the draft. That should be everyone's goal, to win a championship that everyone wants to win," Okongwu insisted. Iguodala was enticed by Arkansas's 13 system, which would have allowed Iguodala to run the point occasionally. After the 202021 season, the Heat did not exercise their $15 million option of Iguodala's contract for the 202122 season, making him a free agent.[86]. Full Name. [13] However, on July 25, 2017, Iguodala re-signed with the Warriors[62] on a three-year, $48 million contract. Iguodala was also selected for the 2012 London Olympics team, largely due to his exceptional defensive ability. And so, "Iguodala" could easily mean "Weed/wheat/hay which he/she threw (which fell)" Some Igbo names are in the context of . And at around the age of 16, Adebayo felt compelled to delve more into his Nigerian roots. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network. 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). 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. For other guys like Vincent and Achiuwa, it was a bit different. [98], Alongside teammate Stephen Curry, Iguodala is known to be an avid golfer. [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 made me who I am, and its pretty much the foundation of who I am today, Achiuwa said. The inaugural edition of the event began in 2017 where Iguodala and teammate Stephen Curry played hosts. Andre Iguodala found himself in recent months in discussions with his few N.B.A. 153.122.85.11 [34] On November 14, Iguodala made the game-winning, buzzer-beating shot in the Warriors' 116115 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. '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?! The swingman was an NBA All-Star in 2012 and has been named to the NBA All-Defensive Team twice. Sadness. I didnt necessarily show well early on in the Training Camp process. It was difficult, so just reading what my name comes from, getting the basics down, like really learning like the heritage and where Im from and what tribe.. On January 3, 2014, Iguodala hit a game-winning, 3-point buzzer-beater in the Warriors' 101100 win over the Atlanta Hawks. But that wasnt what kept him from saying yes to a unique opportunity. Perhaps Vincents connection with his fellow countrymen stemmed from the values he learned from his father, Franklyn. He put up 11 points in an 8475 loss, and received a mixed response from the crowd. 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. In the final round, he did a behind-the-back dunk and followed with a reverse. His arrival in Denver led to some league experts labeling Denver a contender. Antony Ressler: There should be clarity. Jumia made the announcement stating that the 35-year old Andre will be "charged with promoting business development and technology in Africa.". [30] Iguodala returned on opening night of 201213 to play his former team. In 2017, he partnered with Bloomberg on the creation of The Players Technology Summit which convenes top executives and leaders in the technology, venture capital, and sports communities to exchange ideas and share expertise in an educational and empowering forum. During the 2011 NBA lockout, Iguodala had a week-long internship with Merrill Lynch.[28]. Almost instantly, he became a hit, making his mark as one of the leagues premier players. Despite the Warriors going up 31 in the series following a Game 4 win, they went on to lose the series in seven games to become the first team in NBA history to lose the championship series after being up 31. Iggy is currently playing for Miami Heat. He plays like a typical center, his strong fundamentals help him score. Andre Iguodala will return to play his 19th season in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors, the veteran announced on his "Point Forward" podcast Friday morning. During the season, Iguodala was hampered by an Achilles injury, leading to career lows in games played and started, field-goal percentage, free-throw percentage, and steals per game as the 76ers finished with a 4141 record. That season, he averaged 23.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. He was also a member of the United States national team at the 2010 FIBA World Championship and 2012 Summer Olympics, winning the gold medal both times.[2]. Iguodala was also a finalist for the Illinois Mr. Basketball award, which was awarded to Dee Brown. It didnt feel right to me. As part of the trade, he agreed to a two-year, $30 million extension with Miami, with the last year being a team option. 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. Theres a lot of talent in Africa, Achiuwa said. The next Basketball Without Borders trip that is in Nigeria, I want to be a part of that one.. [10], Iguodala initially signed a National Letter of Intent to play at Arkansas. Theyve been trying to get here for a long time now, Iguodala said. The Sixers, however, were a big disappointment, going only 2755 during the regular season and missing the playoffs after two straight playoff berths. [35] Getting the inbound pass from Klay Thompson, Iguodala turned and made the fade-away jump shot over the Thunder's Thabo Sefolosha. The objective of the event is to help startups understand what they need to do to attract investment. There have been a few things that Ive invested in that are no longer operating, but Ive learned so much through them. Went to Canada, played there, where I ended up playing against my future teammate Kelly Olynyk, so that was a cool experience when I get here to the HEAT to talk to him about that. Iguodala had averaged 18.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game through 82 regular-season games. 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. Iguodala has played in six NBA finals, out of which five were with the Golden State Warriors and one with the Miami Heat. [49] An ankle injury suffered in early March forced Iguodala to miss 13 straight games. "Myself, I just want to be able to get better, be able to be the best that I can be, continue to work hard, have a great work ethic.". Early into the season, Philadelphia was struggling, which led to the departure of head coach Maurice Cheeks. My mom always tells me to keep that Nigerian pride. 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. Andre Iguodala is signing with the Golden State Warriors, according to Jonathan Abrams of the New York Times on Friday. He scored 17.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists. I dont open the door or close the door to any personnel. [19] A day later, he participated in the Slam Dunk Contest. : 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. [48] The Warriors' NBA-record start ended after 24 wins when they lost to the Milwaukee Bucks 10895 on December 12. So it's just having that on my shoulders.". His older brother, Frank, played for Lake Land College in Mattoon, Illinois, and Dayton. Unfortunately, Iguodala went on to miss twelve consecutive games. The 22-year-old was the last of the players of Nigerian heritage to be selected in the first round of the draft. The 76ers played much better basketball under Tony DiLeo. ", "Anger. When you go out there, youre not just representing your country or the NBA, youre representing your beliefs. [102], Iguodala is a tech investor and a leading advocate for athletes in the NBA to invest in the technology industry. A 6' 4" shooting guard, he is agile and athletic with exceptional explosive strength. Iguodala got off to a slow start to the season, even to a point where he was leading the league in turnovers. I feel quick. [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. [65][66] The Warriors went on to win their third championship in four years with a sweep of the Cavaliers. 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. From protecting his rim to cutting off a drive, he knows how to defend and score points. And once guys realize that, they really get into something that is really healthy for you.. Iguodala joined Jumia as an ambassador and a board member. I never gave it any serious thought. 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. With Iguodala now averaging 40.3 minutes per game, he led the Sixers on a late-season run, finishing the rest of the season 2621 and almost clinching the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, although their late run came more as a result of other teams "tanking" to secure a higher draft pick. In acknowledgment of the players of Nigerian Origin's impact on the NBA, this list is a chronicle of the best such active players. On defense, Giannis swats the ball away with ease. And then with other companies, I am doing very well. He had narrowed down his list of desired schools to two: Kansas or Arkansas. [76], The Grizzlies, who were rebuilding, reached an agreement before training camp to allow Iguodala to stay away from the team and train on his own. Eight of the draft picks are players with Nigerian heritage. Iguodala had a poor playoffs series, averaging 13 points per game. ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. Iguodala was a member of the United States national team in the 2010 FIBA World Championship, winning the gold medal. The Sixers fired head coach Eddie Jordan and brought in Doug Collins. My body feels explosive. This was also the fifth time in NBA history that an eighth seed defeated a first seed in the opening round of the playoffs. Iguodala scored a season-high 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting, which included four 3-pointers. During his career at Arizona, the Wildcats made it to the NCAA Tournament both seasons. 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. Iguodalas father is Nigerian. Andre Iguodala, an 18-year veteran of the NBA, has made his mark as one of the league's premier players. Antony Ressler: We just elevated Landry, elevated Kyle and we brought in a world-class coach (Quin Snyder). The 6' 11" center plays in the NBA for the Phoenix Suns. In his freshman year, the Wildcats were defeated in the Elite Eight by Kansas. During the season, he averaged 9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 32.8 minutes per game. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Collins called him a "stat-sheet stuffer". Its just one of those random occurrences, but it shows you how much basketball has grown. "I've added 20 pounds of muscle. I make sure I stay in the chapel and have a good relationship with our chaplain. You want to play hard for someone who died for you.. 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. He drives to the ring with great speed and regularly dunks without holding back. Obinna Ukwuani: The Nigerian MIT graduate who turned down 6-figure paycheck in US and returned to Africa. It keeps me focused When people see us on the court, we want them to see God's work. Iguodala was second behind James for most triple-doubles during the 201011 season. . 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. [52] The Warriors went on to defeat the Rockets in five games. This is the first time Nigeria qualified for the Olympics, but with Iguodala aboard, who knows if the team would have made it sooner? I had a similar role to affect the game defensively. 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. CC:Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images for techCrunch "For me, it's really important because I have a lot of roots in Africa with my father being from Nigeria," Iguodala told TechCrunch over the phone this week. 26 player in the nation in 2002. In the game, he scored 10 points, caught 10 rebounds and dished out 10 assists. Victor Oladipo grew up in the town of Upper Marlboro, Maryland. 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. Though he made the team after sinking a game-winning three against Poland in the 2019 Peak Tournament, it wasnt all smooth sailing. His most lethal move is his euro step, which he uses to slither to the basket in traffic. 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. It is something that you are invested in. "I've been working a lot during these quarantine times, and I feel like I've made a lot of improvements," Nnaji explained. 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. 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.