[101], In March 2015, Twice, an online secondhand apparel outlet, named Iguodala its Menswear Style Director. Almost instantly, he became a hit, making his mark as one of the leagues premier players. Along with his star teammate Jimmy Butler, Adebayo has taken the Florida team to three playoffs, reaching the NBA finals against the LA Lakers in the 2019-20 season. Early on in the year, Iguodala was on a Sixers team with high expectations after signing All-Star forward Elton Brand and seeing the success of forward Thaddeus Young, whom they drafted with their lottery pick the prior year. Iguodala averaged career-highs in rebounds, assists, and blocks, and a career-low in personal fouls. It keeps me focused. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. His father is Nigerian, while his mother is African American. The 6ft 6 shooting guard was raised in Indiana with a southern-Nigerian father and American mother. View player profile, bio, stats, news and video highlights. 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). The 76ers played much better basketball under Tony DiLeo. It keeps me focused When people see us on the court, we want them to see God's work. Name. BBC Sport Africa has been finding out about all eight of the players set to be the stars of the future. He was awarded the Finals MVP in 2015. Iguodala was second behind James for most triple-doubles during the 201011 season. [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. Antony Ressler on Trae Young: 'I don't open the door or close the door to any personnel'. He can knock down mid-range jumpers, floaters and fadeaways to score in contests making him a lethal scorer. "He is the most improved player in the country [in 2019-20]. [58] The Warriors finished the season as the first seed in the West with a 6715 record. 8 years ago today. Andre Iguodala, an 18-year veteran of the NBA, has made his mark as one of the league's premier players. In acknowledgment of the players of Nigerian Origin's impact on the NBA, this list is a chronicle of the best such active players. The two have also invested in at least 25 different startups in the technology industry. Were a lot further than we were three, four years ago. Your money starts growing. 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. Houses Andre Iguodala bought a mansion in Lafayette, California. He is an American professional basketball . Then we invested in Apple. The National Basketball Association (NBA) superstar Andre Iguodala has joined Jumia's board of directors. [10], Iguodala initially signed a National Letter of Intent to play at Arkansas. [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. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2b9bbd9d8d80d2 Do you believe significant roster changes might be necessary after this season? 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.. 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]. During the 2011 NBA lockout, Iguodala had a week-long internship with Merrill Lynch.[28]. Daniel Oturu was the third choice in the second round of the draft which made him the 33rd pick overall. 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. I make sure I stay in the chapel and have a good relationship with our chaplain. A lot of companies were in this area. for $3.6 million. The Sixers eventually fell to the Magic in the playoffs, failing to reach the second round. Iguodala is a huge figure who wields influence in both on and off the court of Basketball. You gotta tip your hat to that, to what they did to us in our home floor. Andre Iguodala is signing with the Golden State Warriors, according to Jonathan Abrams of the New York Times on Friday. That was the first time that two players born in Nigeria have been picked in the first round of the same draft. With a Game 7 victory, the Warriors moved on to the NBA Finals for the second straight year. Per Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated, Adebayo had actually planned on going to that camp last summer before COVID hit. His date of birth is however unknown but he is believed to be in his early 60s considering the age of his son younger Andre (age 38 years). [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. 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. 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 . [13] On March 6, 2017, he set a new season high with 24 points in a 119111 win over the Atlanta Hawks. He is a Nigerian who migrated to the capital of the United Stage, Springfield, Illinois. [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. We tend to hop on what is trending at the moment. Miami Heat may well get a few more fans in Nigeria as Achiuwa will join four others at the team who have Nigerian heritage - Bam Adebayo, Andre Iguodala, Chikezie 'KZ' Okpala and Gabe Vincent. After Allen Iverson was traded to the Denver Nuggets and Chris Webber was released, Iguodala would have to get accustomed to his new leadership role with the 76ers. 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. Of course I take responsibility. The Sixers hired coach Eddie Jordan to take over for Tony DiLeo. [26] He officially signed on August 17, 2008. Iguodala was born in Springfield, Illinois. ", Jazz general manager Justin Zanik said: "We felt at the end of the day that 'Dok was the best defensive player, best player available given his unique production, physical attributes and ability to affect both offensively and defensively on the court,". Andre Iguodala played college basketball with the Arizona Wildcats. 6 small forward and the No. But I think once guys get in, what they are realizing is this is not a quick space. Coming into the 201011 NBA season, the 76ers were expected to rebound from their poor season. 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. Constantly contesting with the help of his exceptional strength and size. 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. 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. Giannis is a force of nature, an unstoppable force that mows down everything in its path. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. He said: Were not enough. Last season, Iguodala played just 31 games during the regular season. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. Africa largest e-commerce platform welcomes Golden State super star Andre Iguodala as a board member. Victor Oladipo grew up in the town of Upper Marlboro, Maryland. His next opportunity to return will be Sunday against the Lakers, although a timetable for his return isn't yet clear. At Lanphier he did well academically and athletically; he won All-Conference academic honors, was on the National Honor Roll, was a State Journal-Register Student-Athlete of the Week several times,[7] and gained three letters in track for the high jump. The swingman was an NBA All-Star in 2012 and has been named to the NBA All-Defensive Team twice. Getty Images. American Basketball star. Iguodala was picked up in the 2004 NBA drafts by the Philadelphia 76ers. You gotta tip your hat to that, to what they did to us in our home floor. Philadelphia 76ers Andre Iguodala #9 NBA SWINGMAN adidas Basketball Jersey XL | Sport, Weitere Ballsportarten, Basketball | eBay! Andre Iguodala is currently a player for the Miami Heat. Iguodala joined Jumia as an ambassador and a board member. Andre Tyler Iguodala was born on the 28th of January 1984 to a Nigerian father and an African American mother in Illinois Andre Tyler Iguodala was born on the 28th of January 1984 to a. In 2015 he received the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award. Between Jan. 18 and March 31 of last year, Iguodala played in just two games. Its interesting. [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. 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. Oguodala is known for his savvy business instincts and has been at the forefront of navigating the worlds of venture capital and technology in the Bay Area. 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. Iguodala was born in Springfield, Illinois to his father Leonard Shanklin, and his mother Linda Shanklin. Born to Nigerian immigrants, Giannis is from Greece. From protecting his rim to cutting off a drive, he knows how to defend and score points. [5], As a sophomore in 200304, Iguodala was named team MVP after leading his team in rebounds, assists and steals. As part of the trade, he agreed to a two-year, $30 million extension with Miami, with the last year being a team option. Read about our approach to external linking. My body feels explosive. Your login session has expired. [74][75], On July 7, 2019, Golden State traded Iguodala along with a protected first-round draft pick to the Memphis Grizzlies for Julian Washburn. Whether it works out or not, its a learning experience. Aug 6, 2021 at 11:20 am ET 1 min read. Obinna Ukwuani: The Nigerian MIT graduate who turned down 6-figure paycheck in US and returned to Africa. 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. In a 114110 series-ending loss in Game 6, Iguodala had 22 points for his best scoring output of the postseason. Iguodalas father is Nigerian. Andre Iguodala. One of them was a mobile gaming company that had a lot of success in Zynga. This led to the firing of Nuggets coach George Karl, who just won the NBA Coach of the Year Award. His mother is African American, while his father is Nigerian. I dont open the door or close the door to any personnel. His most lethal move is his euro step, which he uses to slither to the basket in traffic. [102], Iguodala is a tech investor and a leading advocate for athletes in the NBA to invest in the technology industry. Free shipping for many products! Iguodala had averaged 18.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game through 82 regular-season games. His mother is African American, while his father is Nigerian. He is the son of Linda Shanklin. 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. [4] His mother is African American, while his father is Nigerian. Iguodala had a poor playoffs series, averaging 13 points per game. 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. 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. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. 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. As guys like Achiuwa, Vincent and Adebayo continue to make a name for themselves, basketball will just continue to get more and more popular in Africa. This list will consider the players' impact on the NBA league and their current form and past seasons. That was just an E-Trade investment. He showed his versatility during the season posting up a career-high in triple-doubles. [79][80] Memphis was hoping for a quality trade with a playoff contender in exchange for Iguodala and his championship experience. To be fair, some will read this and say the owner didnt close the door to trading Trae Young. In his rookie year, he teamed up with Allen Iverson and would regularly display his leap to convert Iverson Alley Oops into monsterous dunks. [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. 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. A four-time NBA Champion with the Golden State Warriors and one of the leaders of the . [19] A day later, he participated in the Slam Dunk Contest. 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. He has appeared in three playoffs and two NBA All Stars games proving his potential. [77][78] Afterwards, the Warriors stated that they planned to eventually retire Iguodala's No. 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. His partnership with entrepreneurs in San Franciscos Silicon Valley has led to an annual event tagged Players Technology Summit. Im really proud of my culture. In 2002, he played in the Jordan Brand Classic in Washington, D.C. 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). Iguodala was also a finalist for the Illinois Mr. Basketball award, which was awarded to Dee Brown. Philadelphia started the season poorly but were one of the best teams down the stretch. After being founded in February of 2019, the league just tipped off its inaugural season on May 16 of this year. 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 his NBA finals run, Adebayo put up unbelievable numbers in the playoffs for a second-year-player. [93], In August 2015, Iguodala married his childhood sweetheart, Christina Gutierrez, at One&Only Palmilla in Los Cabos, Mexico. Andre has left an indelible mark on the NBA, particularly his clutch performance in 2017 that helped the Warriors win the season. Iguodala was enticed by Arkansas's 13 system, which would have allowed Iguodala to run the point occasionally. In his sophomore year, Arizona was defeated in the first round by Seton Hall. 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? Antony Ressler: Landry and Kyle are trying to create strongly what it means to be a Hawk. pic.twitter.com/xBfn4VKGBm. Giannis is often double-teamed in defense and yet he spins, pivots, or just drives past. [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. I never gave it any serious thought. Though he made the team after sinking a game-winning three against Poland in the 2019 Peak Tournament, it wasnt all smooth sailing. The swingman was an NBA All-Star in 2012 and has been named to the NBA All-Defensive Team twice. peers remaining, the ones who sculpted paralleling journeys, from being teenagers to experiencing parenthood, from . It was an amazing experience, man. Collins called him a "stat-sheet stuffer". Performance & security by Cloudflare. His father is Nigerian, while his mother is of African American origin. In 201415, he became a reserve for the first time in his career, but played a major bench role. [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. [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. The inaugural edition of the event began in 2017 where Iguodala and teammate Stephen Curry played hosts. [85], Iguodala continued with the Miami Heat in a bench-role for the 202021 season. He was named to the Pac-10 All-Freshmen team for 200203. He collected three triple-doubles that season, joining Jason Kidd as the only two players in Pac-10 history to post two or more triple-doubles in a season. Victory. But that wasnt what kept him from saying yes to a unique opportunity. Sadness. Theyve been trying to get here for a long time now, Iguodala said. Copyright 2023 SLAM Media Inc. SLAM, SLAMTV, SLAM MEDIA and the SLAM logo are registered 9 jersey. 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. 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. The 22-year-old was the last of the players of Nigerian heritage to be selected in the first round of the draft. 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. The Sixers, however, were a big disappointment, going only 2755 during the regular season and missing the playoffs after two straight playoff berths. News: 20 hours agoIguodala (hip) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Pelicans. Nigeria, Olympics, USA Basketball, Uncategorized, Nigeria, Olympics, USA Basketball, Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia 76ers, Team USA, Top Rumors, Antony Ressler, Trade, Kyle Korver, Landry Fields, Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks, Antony Ressler, Free Agency, Quin Snyder, Trade, Uncategorized, Antony Ressler, Free Agency, Quin Snyder, Trade, Kyle Korver, Landry Fields, Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks, Michael Malone on Nikola Jokic: If you watch that game [vs Grizzlies] and you say hes a negative defender or a poor defender, Id like you to pee in a cup, OK? pic.twitter.com/MVUTnwDeju, Michael Malone, Ja Morant, Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies, Jimmy Butler on Julius Randles winning three-pointer: He had been making those shots all game, man. Iguodala was a member of the United States national team in the 2010 FIBA World Championship, winning the gold medal. [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. When Iguodala was in the game, James made only 38.1% of his shots, compared to 44% without Iguodala. So he was invited to try out for - and in this case, "try out for" means "make" - the Nigerian Olympic squad. He played a leading role in each of Golden States championship seasons. 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.