"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.". 2 seed Detroit. On defense, Oladipo can guard all around his court. He was named NBA All-Star in 2012. Iguodalas father is Nigerian. [95][96], Iguodala is a Christian. [11] However, after their coach, Nolan Richardson, was fired that year (2002), Iguodala decided to attend Arizona instead. 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. One of them was a mobile gaming company that had a lot of success in Zynga. Name. Your IP: Africa largest e-commerce platform welcomes Golden State super star Andre Iguodala as a board member. I didn't think I'd be able to play at a level like Louisville," he said before the draft. Its just one of those random occurrences, but it shows you how much basketball has grown. What development first really means. The 2020-21 NBA Champion and NBA Finals MVP, a player who is now arguably the best player in the league, Giannis Antetokounmpo is without a question number 1 on our list. [102], Iguodala is a tech investor and a leading advocate for athletes in the NBA to invest in the technology industry. 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. for $3.6 million. Andre Iguodala played college basketball with the Arizona Wildcats. [4] His mother is African American, while his father is Nigerian. 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? Andre Iguodala, whose father is Nigerian, turned down Team Nigeria when they repeatedly tried to recruit him for their Olympic squad. He has won four NBA championships with the Warriors and was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2015. [40] On March 18, 2015, he scored a then season-high 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting in a 11495 win over the Atlanta Hawks. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. I think I can add a lot to the table, like add a lot of aggression and grittiness.". And I wouldnt trade anything for my culture and me being from Nigeria.. The 19-year-old, who is 6ft 6, was born in Atlanta, Georgia to Nigerian parents and the small forward was part of the USA's winning team at the 2018 Under-17 Basketball World Cup in Argentina. He was named Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year as well as a second-team Parade All-American and Nike All-American. He put up 11 points in an 8475 loss, and received a mixed response from the crowd. He supported Devin Booker and Chris Paul as they fought their way through the ranks. The 6ft 7 small forward was chosen as the 45th overall pick (or the 15th in the second round) by the Milwaukee Bucks. Antony Ressler: Absolutely not. [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. Considered a four-star recruit by Scout.com, Iguodala was listed as the No. 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. In the second round, Iguodala helped the Warriors defeat the Portland Trail Blazers in five games to qualify for the Western Conference Finals. I dont open the door or close the door to any personnel. It made me who I am, and its pretty much the foundation of who I am today, Achiuwa said. 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). 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. Every NBA Draft night, draft prospects, domestic and international, are picked by the NBA teams. pic.twitter.com/xBfn4VKGBm. For his defensive contributions to the Warriors, Iguodala was named to the 2014 All-NBA Defensive first team. Do you believe significant roster changes might be necessary after this season? So it's just having that on my shoulders.". His next opportunity to return will be Sunday against the Lakers, although a timetable for his return isn't yet clear. On January 3, 2014, Iguodala hit a game-winning, 3-point buzzer-beater in the Warriors' 101100 win over the Atlanta Hawks. [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. The Sixers fired head coach Eddie Jordan and brought in Doug Collins. He went on to play for the Golden State Warriors and won. Continuing, he said You see that it is not something that is trendy. 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. On August 10, 2021, Iguodala returned to the Golden State Warriors. He replaced LeBron James in that role. BBC Sport Africa has been finding out about all eight of the players set to be the stars of the future. He captured the Finals MVP after returning to the starting lineup in the middle of the championship series. 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. He was born to Nigerian parents who are pentecostal ministers in Minnesota, with his father Francis a former table tennis player for Nigeria. [32][33] He officially joined the Warriors in a three-team sign-and-trade deal with the Nuggets and the Utah Jazz. "I'm so excited to play alongside Rudy (Gobert)," Azubuike said. Deandre Ayton averaged 15.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and registered a 65.8 field goal percentage. Performance & security by Cloudflare. 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. It was an amazing experience, man. In Game 6 of the series, Iguodala's defense on Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook was key to the Warriors forcing Game 7. In the FIBA World Championships Iguodala displayed his athleticism with an array of fastbreak dunks. [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. This year, a country has established its presence during the NBA drafts - Nigeria. You want to play hard for someone who died for you.. Although the rookie had to adapt to a new culture when he moved from Port Harcourt to the United States in the eighth grade, he knows his upbringing played a vital role in who hes become. #NBABDAY #ThatsGame pic.twitter.com/X4xCz3NFvr. Andre Tyler Iguodala. This list will consider the players' impact on the NBA league and their current form and past seasons. The second edition saw other athletes from the NBA like Kevin Durant and Jaylen Brown make debuts. The NBA is home to talent from all over the world. 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 . Iguodala (hip) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Pelicans. Later that season, he was selected to his first All-Star Game as a reserve. 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. Constantly contesting with the help of his exceptional strength and size. [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. His partnership with entrepreneurs in San Francisco's Silicon Valley has led to an annual event tagged Players Technology Summit. [26] He officially signed on August 17, 2008. That season, he averaged 23.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. He played a leading role in each of Golden States championship seasons. Latest on Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN The next Basketball Without Borders trip that is in Nigeria, I want to be a part of that one.. At the time of Webber's release, the Sixers were 926 (Iverson only played 15 games before he was traded). He played like a man possessed while under the paint. Iguodala scored a season-high 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting, which included four 3-pointers. 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. 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. Andre Iguodala, an 18-year veteran of the NBA, has made his mark as one of the league's premier players. He has the ability to drive to the basket and finish with aggressive dunks or crafty layups. His older brother, Frank, played for Lake Land College in Mattoon, Illinois, and Dayton. Just giving those kids back home an opportunity to be able to showcase their talent in a well-put-together league, I think, is great.. [39], Entering the 201415 season, first-year Warriors coach Steve Kerr elected to move Iguodala from the starting rotation to the sixth man reserve position, in favor of forward Harrison Barnes. Iguodala also expressed his observation that there are not enough black athletes involved in tech investments. 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. Denver Nuggets snapped up 19-year-old Zeke Nnaji as the 22nd overall pick. [65][66] The Warriors went on to win their third championship in four years with a sweep of the Cavaliers. ", "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. [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. From protecting his rim to cutting off a drive, he knows how to defend and score points. Leonard Shanklin is a celebrity parent who happens to be the father of popular NBA star, Andre Iguodala. When Iguodala was in the game, James made only 38.1% of his shots, compared to 44% without Iguodala. The swingman was an NBA All-Star in 2012 and has been named to the NBA All-Defensive Team twice. [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. Jim, we did it baby! Victor began his NBA career in 2013 as a second overall draft pick by the Orlando Magic. [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. We went to the Eastern Conference finals, last year we were out in the first round and this year were a .500 team. 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. 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 was named the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) First Vice President earlier this year. 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.. Iguodala was also a finalist for the Illinois Mr. Basketball award, which was awarded to Dee Brown. Getty Images. He returned to the Warriors in 2021 and won his fourth NBA championship the same season. [10], Iguodala initially signed a National Letter of Intent to play at Arkansas. [49] An ankle injury suffered in early March forced Iguodala to miss 13 straight games. 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]. His father is Nigerian, while his mother is African American. 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). 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. "A defensive specialist, that's mostly what I did at Kansas. 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. [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. You gotta tip your hat to that, to what they did to us in our home floor. Bam Adebayo, simply put, has no regard for the basket. He said: Were not enough. 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. This is something for the long run. The Sixers hired coach Eddie Jordan to take over for Tony DiLeo. [94] Iguodala has a daughter and a son. You want to play hard for someone who died for you". [99][100] Iguodala enjoys playing video games, particularly the NBA 2K series. Giannis is often double-teamed in defense and yet he spins, pivots, or just drives past. Veteran Turns Wisdom Into Wins, On and Off the Court", "Andre Iguodala joins elite company with sixth straight trip to NBA Finals", "Heat decline Iguodala option, pick up Dragic's", "Warriors Sign 2015 NBA Finals MVP Andre Iguodala", "Warriors' Andre Iguodala: Available versus OKC", "Warriors' Andre Iguodala: Available out of nowhere", "Golden State Warriors veteran forward Andre Iguodala returning for 19th NBA season", "Andre Iguodala will make season debut vs. Magic; Andrew Wiggins to return to lineup on minutes restriction", "USA Basketball finalizes 2012 London Olympics 12-man roster", "Andre Iguodala -- In Court for Baby Mama Showdown Where's My Money Going?
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