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.. Between Jan. 18 and March 31 of last year, Iguodala played in just two games. 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". My mom always tells me to keep that Nigerian pride. But I think once guys get in, what they are realizing is this is not a quick space. 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. It was an amazing experience, man. That should be everyone's goal, to win a championship that everyone wants to win," Okongwu insisted. [12], Iguodala also won a bronze medal with the U.S. at the FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship in 2002. At Arizona he joined future NBA players Channing Frye, Luke Walton, Mustafa Shakur, Salim Stoudamire and Hassan Adams. Andre Iguodala is born of a Nigerian father and an African-American mother. ", "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. 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. trademarks of Slam Media Inc. All rights reserved. This list will consider the players' impact on the NBA league and their current form and past seasons. Andre Iguodala Parents and Family Andre was born on 28 January 1984 in Springfield, Illinois, United States to parents Leonard Shanklin and Linda Shanklin. 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. Andre Iguodala played college basketball with the Arizona Wildcats. Iguodala hasn't suited up since mid-January and will miss yet another game Friday. Per the Philly Inquirer: Iguodalas father is Nigerian. 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. Im glad he played well, but Im glad we got the win. [65][66] The Warriors went on to win their third championship in four years with a sweep of the Cavaliers. He has won three NBA championships with the Golden State Warriors and was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2015. [5] He later established the Andre Iguodala Youth Foundation, whose stated mission is to use sports as a means to help youths. However, he also had his career-best season in assists with 6.3 apg and helped the Sixers make the playoffs with the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. [38] The win extended the Warriors' season-high winning streak to 8 games. Were not there yet in terms of decision-making. I make sure I stay in the chapel and have a good relationship with our chaplain. 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. [104], On June 25, 2019, Iguodala released The Sixth Man: A Memoir. His father is Nigerian, while his mother is African American. Name. Andre has left an indelible mark on the NBA, particularly his clutch performance in 2017 that helped the Warriors win the season. Passion for tech investment Speaking about his passion for investment in tech companies, Iguodala said: I started with an E-Trade account. Previously with the 3-time NBA Champions Golden State Warriors, Iguodala was drafted into the NBA in 2004. I had a similar role to affect the game defensively. Andre Iguodala is currently a player for the Miami Heat. He has an older. 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. He also made the All-Pac-10 First Team and was named Honorable Mention All-America by The Associated Press. American Basketball star Andre Iguodala , a notable tech investor and board member of Jumia Group, recently visited Nigeria his country of descent to engage . [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. Read about our approach to external linking. In Game 7, Iguodala started in place of Harrison Barnes and again marked Kevin Durant. 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. [79][80] Memphis was hoping for a quality trade with a playoff contender in exchange for Iguodala and his championship experience. "It feels great to be the first Nigerian in this draft to be drafted," he said after being picked. Iguodala was second behind James for most triple-doubles during the 201011 season. Per Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated, Adebayo had actually planned on going to that camp last summer before COVID hit. We did not. And we felt like we fell short without getting a medal. In his last year with co-captain and veteran point guard Andre Miller, Iguodala helped lead the Sixers to another playoff berth, finishing the season with a 4141 season record, 6th in the Eastern conference. 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. His arrival in Denver led to some league experts labeling Denver a contender. That's tough, but we didn't deserve to win. [10], Iguodala initially signed a National Letter of Intent to play at Arkansas. His Lanphier jersey is now retired. Thats tough, but we didnt deserve to win. In 2015 he received the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award. You gotta tip your hat to that, to what they did to us in our home floor. Jordan is also Nigeria's highest scorer in a single match after registering 36 points in a 2019 World Cup qualifier in Lagos. In the deciding Game 7 with the score tied at 89 late in the game, Iguodala was going for a potential layup when Cleveland's James recovered for a chase-down block with 1:50 remaining, a play which came to be known as "The Block".[54]. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. 6 small forward and the No. "I want to win a championship. [97], The Sporting News named Iguodala one of "the good guys of 2006" for establishing the Andre Iguodala Disaster Relief Fund that raised money for tornado victims in his hometown of Springfield, Illinois. Eight of the draft picks are players with Nigerian heritage. During the 2017 championship run, he further established his legacy as one of the NBAs premier players. On February 17, 2006, at the Rookie Challenge, Iguodala won MVP honors for his 30-point performance in the Sophomores win. Jordan, who was born to a Nigerian father Alexander and American mother Amy, was part of the Nigerian team that played at the 2019 Men's World Cup. In 22 minutes of play, Iguodala put up six points on 36 shooting, five rebounds, two assists, three steals and a block. He is the son of Linda Shanklin. In February 2019, Iguodala was elected first vice-president of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA). Philadelphia was set to face the No. 2 seed Detroit. Ive never really had a chance to experience their culture, only from the outside looking in because of my father.'. 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. [56] In February 2017, long-time agent Rob Pelinka was appointed as the new general manager for the Los Angeles Lakers; Iguodala chose to remain with the Landmark Sports Agency, and co-founder Brandon Rosenthal took over as Iguodala's agent. for $3.6 million. I feel Im accountable for this business, on and off the court. Everything you need to know about the Warriors' championship rings, Warriors vet Iguodala returning for 19th season, They said it! 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. Im glad he played well, but Im glad we got the win. The swingman was an NBA All-Star in 2012 and has been named to the NBA All-Defensive Team twice. [90] After missing the first 39 games due to a hip injury, he made his season debut on January 8, 2023, in a 115101 loss to the Orlando Magic.[91]. [98], Alongside teammate Stephen Curry, Iguodala is known to be an avid golfer. 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. 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. Your login session has expired. HoopsHype: Michael Malone on Nikola Jokic: HoopsHype: Jimmy Butler on Julius Randles winning three-pointer: Mark Haynes: DeAaron Fox showed Russell Westbrook nothing but respect after defeating the Clippers on Friday. American Basketball star. [3], Iguodala was born in Springfield, Illinois. In the playoffs, Iguodala had the assignment of guarding James and Dwyane Wade in the first round. 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. His mother is African American, while his father is Nigerian. He has won four NBA championships with the Warriors and was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2015. From China to the United States and everywhere in between, basketball (and in turn the NBA) has grown immensely over the years. "I've been working a lot during these quarantine times, and I feel like I've made a lot of improvements," Nnaji explained. [52] The Warriors went on to defeat the Rockets in five games. Born to Nigerian immigrants, Giannis is from Greece. 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. Antony Ressler: There should be clarity. 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? His mother is African American, while his father is Nigerian. I didn't think I'd be able to play at a level like Louisville," he said before the draft. The Warriors received a traded player exception in the deal. Since entering the NBA, Iguodala had played in 806 games as a starter without entering a game as a reserve, a league high over that span. 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 practices Christianity as his religion. They got one. pic.twitter.com/Z8dJNufBYr, Jimmy Butler, Julius Randle, Miami Heat, New York Knicks. Constantly contesting with the help of his exceptional strength and size. In his NBA finals run, Adebayo put up unbelievable numbers in the playoffs for a second-year-player. He had been making those shots all game, man. Nerlens Noel is signing a deal with the Brooklyn Nets, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. [16][17] He finished fourth in voting for NBA Rookie of the Year.[18]. 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. He replaced LeBron James in that role. 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. That team, which includes Penn grad Koko Archibong, will compete in these Games with nine American-born players on its roster. [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. The second edition saw other athletes from the NBA like Kevin Durant and Jaylen Brown make debuts. The organization has hosted basketball camps and the annual "Thanksgiving with Dre", which has distributed food baskets to families in need. 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. [4] His mother is African American, while his father is Nigerian. . [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. Coach Mike Krzyzewski called Iguodala one of the team's best players, and compared his game to that of Scottie Pippen. Iguodala's mother is African American while his father is Nigerian. [49] An ankle injury suffered in early March forced Iguodala to miss 13 straight games. [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. And at around the age of 16, Adebayo felt compelled to delve more into his Nigerian roots. 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. 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. He put up 11 points in an 8475 loss, and received a mixed response from the crowd. To be fair, some will read this and say the owner didnt close the door to trading Trae Young. Andre Tyler Iguodala (born January 28, 1984) is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Youre just not prepared to say what that looks like right now? The objective of the event is to help startups understand what they need to do to attract investment. Theyve gotten here and they want to prove that they belong. The two have also invested in at least 25 different startups in the technology industry. ", "Anger. During the 2011 NBA lockout, Iguodala had a week-long internship with Merrill Lynch.[28]. After being founded in February of 2019, the league just tipped off its inaugural season on May 16 of this year. He is an American professional basketball . Iguodala told . He has appeared in three playoffs and two NBA All Stars games proving his potential. !@Giannis_An34 @Paschketball pic.twitter.com/kxLuUoXP0A. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. During the year, Andre was the subject of multiple trade rumors that had him being traded to either the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers or Los Angeles Lakers. About Andre Iguodala. Whether it works out or not, its a learning experience. [77][78] Afterwards, the Warriors stated that they planned to eventually retire Iguodala's No. It was a grind, to be honest. The 6ft 7 small forward was chosen as the 45th overall pick (or the 15th in the second round) by the Milwaukee Bucks. Andre is a citizen of the USA. Other players involved in the deal included All-Stars Andrew Bynum and Dwight Howard. "I'm so excited to play alongside Rudy (Gobert)," Azubuike said. His partnership with entrepreneurs in San Francisco's Silicon Valley has led to an annual event tagged Players Technology Summit. "I've added 20 pounds of muscle. This year, a country has established its presence during the NBA drafts - Nigeria. '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?! [103] The second edition saw other athletes from the NBA like Kevin Durant and Jaylen Brown make debuts. On his 28th birthday, Iguodala recorded a 10-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist triple-double effort in a win over the Pistons. The annual draft sees NBA teams choose from the world's best young talent.