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? You learn to balance your portfolio. The 21-year-old, 6ft 10 centre looks set to end up at the LA Clippers after he was originally picked by the Minnesota Timberwolves, who immediately traded him the New York Knicks before being moved on again. 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. Free shipping for many products! The next Basketball Without Borders trip that is in Nigeria, I want to be a part of that one.. Be the first one to comment on this story. 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. Every NBA Draft night, draft prospects, domestic and international, are picked by the NBA teams. I didnt necessarily show well early on in the Training Camp process. 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. He has said, "Faith is something I heavily lean on to give me that balance. Andre Iguodala is currently a player for the Miami Heat. In the playoffs, Iguodala had the assignment of guarding James and Dwyane Wade in the first round. [5] Growing up, Iguodala rooted for the Chicago Bulls, and he cites Michael Jordan as the player he looked up to.[6]. Obinna Ukwuani: The Nigerian MIT graduate who turned down 6-figure paycheck in US and returned to Africa. He began to step up his game as the season went on, leading Philadelphia to a playoff berth. 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. After attending Lanphier High School in Springfield, Illinois, Iguodala enrolled at the University of Arizona. Almost instantly, he became a hit, making his mark as one of the leagues premier players. We went to the Eastern Conference finals, last year we were out in the first round and this year were a .500 team. 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.. [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. 9 jersey. 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. Theres a lot of talent in Africa, Achiuwa said. [95][96], Iguodala is a Christian. Iguodala was also a finalist for the Illinois Mr. Basketball award, which was awarded to Dee Brown. Constantly contesting with the help of his exceptional strength and size. [101], In March 2015, Twice, an online secondhand apparel outlet, named Iguodala its Menswear Style Director. The 6ft 7 small forward was chosen as the 45th overall pick (or the 15th in the second round) by the Milwaukee Bucks. Name. 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. When you go out there, youre not just representing your country or the NBA, youre representing your beliefs. 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. The inaugural edition of the event began in 2017 where Iguodala and teammate Stephen Curry played hosts. He can pivot and spin around defenders for easy floaters or reach out for in-traffic dunks. Perhaps Vincents connection with his fellow countrymen stemmed from the values he learned from his father, Franklyn. They were eventually eliminated by the Boston Celtics in a thrilling seven games in the Conference Semifinals. 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. He has won three NBA championships with the Golden State Warriors and was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2015. He attacks it as if wanting to tear it apart from the very board. In Game 6 of the Sixers' first-round playoff series against the Chicago Bulls, he made two free throws with 2.2 seconds left to win the game and help the Sixers upset the Bulls en route to the franchise's first playoff series win since 2003. His older brother, Frank, played for Lake Land College in Mattoon, Illinois, and Dayton. That's tough, but we didn't deserve to win. 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. There were like four or five companies total where we made some great success with the investments. Andre Iguodala, whose father is Nigerian, turned down Team Nigeria when they repeatedly tried to recruit him for their Olympic squad. 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. In the second round, Iguodala helped the Warriors defeat the Portland Trail Blazers in five games to qualify for the Western Conference Finals. They kept him on their 15-man opening day roster instead of buying out the 35-year-old veteran, who was earning $17 million in the last year of his contract. DeAaron Fox showed Russell Westbrook nothing but respect after defeating the Clippers on Friday. 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. 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. [85], Iguodala continued with the Miami Heat in a bench-role for the 202021 season. One of the determining factors for Iguodala was the commitment of Hassan Adams, whom Iguodala had played with in the Jordan Brand Classic in high school. Iguodala was picked up in the 2004 NBA drafts by the Philadelphia 76ers. 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. [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. The organization has hosted basketball camps and the annual "Thanksgiving with Dre", which has distributed food baskets to families in need. 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? Other players involved in the deal included All-Stars Andrew Bynum and Dwight Howard. 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 . Speaking about the visit, he said: Because of my Nigerian heritage, Jumias use of technology to deliver innovative online services to consumers and improve the quality of everyday life in Africa is very important to me. [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. Coming into the 201011 NBA season, the 76ers were expected to rebound from their poor season. So it's just having that on my shoulders.". Andre Iguodala is currently a player for the Miami Heat. My body feels explosive. His Lanphier jersey is now retired. It was always my dream to play for the USA team, Iguodala said. Iguodala is a huge figure who wields influence in both on and off the court of Basketball. [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. I make sure I stay in chapel and have a good relationship with our chaplain. [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. From there, you start doing your homework. [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. Its no secret that basketball is a global sport. Whether it works out or not, its a learning experience. 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. ", "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. This led to the firing of Nuggets coach George Karl, who just won the NBA Coach of the Year Award. Mr. 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. Its interesting. Iguodala averaged a career-high 19.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game through the 82 games. [103], Iguodala is a Venture Partner in the Catalyst Fund, which invests in underrepresented founders and entrepreneurs of tech companies. I had a similar role to affect the game defensively. When Iguodala was in the game, James made only 38.1% of his shots, compared to 44% without Iguodala. Click to reveal #NBABDAY #ThatsGame pic.twitter.com/X4xCz3NFvr. 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. But I think once guys get in, what they are realizing is this is not a quick space. In his NBA finals run, Adebayo put up unbelievable numbers in the playoffs for a second-year-player. At Arizona he joined future NBA players Channing Frye, Luke Walton, Mustafa Shakur, Salim Stoudamire and Hassan Adams. Thats something that theyve talked about, having a Team Nigeria in Miami, and I think its cool, Erik Spoelstra said. The Warriors' small lineup, which came to be known as the Death Lineup, helped turn the series around. [32][33] He officially joined the Warriors in a three-team sign-and-trade deal with the Nuggets and the Utah Jazz. [99][100] Iguodala enjoys playing video games, particularly the NBA 2K series. Once he picks up momentum it is unstoppable to stop the Greek Freek. He was awarded the Finals MVP in 2015. Later that season, he was selected to his first All-Star Game as a reserve. [5], As a sophomore in 200304, Iguodala was named team MVP after leading his team in rebounds, assists and steals. I never gave it any serious thought. Were not there yet in terms of decision-making. 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 . 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. Fulfilling, I dont even think that is the word for it. That team, which includes Penn grad Koko Archibong, will compete in these Games with nine American-born players on its roster. Leonard Shanklin is a celebrity parent who happens to be the father of popular NBA star, Andre Iguodala. The 76ers were eventually defeated in 5 games. This list will consider the players' impact on the NBA league and their current form and past seasons. During his career at Arizona, the Wildcats made it to the NCAA Tournament both seasons. Theyve gotten here and they want to prove that they belong. Early into the season, Philadelphia was struggling, which led to the departure of head coach Maurice Cheeks. Iguodala had a poor playoffs series, averaging 13 points per game. The two have also invested in at least 25 different startups in the technology industry. The 22-year-old was the last of the players of Nigerian heritage to be selected in the first round of the draft. Per the Philly Inquirer: Iguodalas father is Nigerian. Andre Iguodala is born of a Nigerian father and an African-American mother. 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. Learn how your money works in different investment gigs. [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. BBC Sport Africa has been finding out about all eight of the players set to be the stars of the future. 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?. [35] Getting the inbound pass from Klay Thompson, Iguodala turned and made the fade-away jump shot over the Thunder's Thabo Sefolosha. Ive never really had a chance to experience their culture, only from the outside looking in because of my father.'. He can knock down mid-range jumpers, floaters and fadeaways to score in contests making him a lethal scorer. 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. 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. This is something for the long run. His next opportunity to return will be Sunday against the Lakers, although a timetable for his return isn't yet clear. Full Name. Then we invested in Apple. The Sixers eventually fell to the Magic in the playoffs, failing to reach the second round. Read about our approach to external linking. 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. [79][80] Memphis was hoping for a quality trade with a playoff contender in exchange for Iguodala and his championship experience. This was also the fifth time in NBA history that an eighth seed defeated a first seed in the opening round of the playoffs. We did not. He is very close to his parents and his parents also supported him in every phase of his life. [11] However, after their coach, Nolan Richardson, was fired that year (2002), Iguodala decided to attend Arizona instead. Considered a four-star recruit by Scout.com, Iguodala was listed as the No. Daniel Oturu was the third choice in the second round of the draft which made him the 33rd pick overall. The inaugural edition of the event began in 2017 where Iguodala and teammate Stephen Curry played hosts. National Basketball Association, NBA star, Andre Tyler Iguodala is on his way to Africa. trademarks of Slam Media Inc. All rights reserved. His defensive prowess lies in his ability to gather balls off the rim and offensively, he can put the same balls back in for quick buckets. Previously with the 3-time NBA Champions Golden State Warriors, Iguodala was drafted into the NBA in 2004.
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