He went on to play for the Golden State Warriors and won. Africa largest e-commerce platform welcomes Golden State super star Andre Iguodala as a board member. Sadness. Andre Iguodala, whose father is Nigerian, turned down Team Nigeria when they repeatedly tried to recruit him for their Olympic squad. Learn how your money works in different investment gigs. On September 23, 2022, Iguodala re-signed with the Warriors on a one-year, fully guaranteed, 2.9 million dollar contract (the veteran's minimum) and announced his decision to retire after the season. He's not going to be able to play",[14] Iguodala used this as motivation in what proved to be a very productive rookie season. Be the first one to comment on this story. [50] The Warriors finished the regular season as the first seed in the Western Conference with a 739 record, the best overall record in NBA history, surpassing the 199596 Chicago Bulls' mark of 7210, while Iguodala finished as runner-up for the 201516 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award. The 76ers finished the season at 4042, winning 22 of their last 29 games and earning a playoff spot with a victory over the Atlanta Hawks on April 4. Of course, the Basketball Africa League, which was organized by the NBA and FIBA, should foster even more interest in the sport. "I feel great. That was the first time that two players born in Nigeria have been picked in the first round of the same draft. Iguodala was named the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) First Vice President earlier this year. So he was invited to try out for and in this case, try out for means make the Nigerian Olympic squad. Giannis is often double-teamed in defense and yet he spins, pivots, or just drives past. With a Game 7 victory, the Warriors moved on to the NBA Finals for the second straight year. 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? [13] On March 6, 2017, he set a new season high with 24 points in a 119111 win over the Atlanta Hawks. 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. And I wouldnt trade anything for my culture and me being from Nigeria.. [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. 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. The inaugural edition of the event began in 2017 where Iguodala and teammate Stephen Curry played hosts. At Arizona, Iguodala planned to major in education. [58] The Warriors finished the season as the first seed in the West with a 6715 record. He was named to the Pac-10 All-Freshmen team for 200203. He protects the paint regularly, implements chase-down blocks, and can even snatch offensive and defensive rebounds. Iguodala is a huge figure who wields influence in both on and off the court of Basketball. Theres a lot of talent in Africa, Achiuwa said. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Andre Iguodala is an American professional basketball who has a net worth of $50 million. Everything you need to know about the Warriors' championship rings, Warriors vet Iguodala returning for 19th season, They said it! Gray Matters Capital Selects Two African Start-Ups for its Digital Self-Learning to Earning Accelera ONE OF BIRMINGHAMS BRIGHTEST ENTREPRENEURS, SHEGUN OTULANA, SOLD HIS COMPANY FOR $1.2 BILLION, Dear Black America: You Should Be Paying Attention to Africa, CKay becomes best-selling African singer in USA with Love Nwantiti, Minnesota Africans United lobbies African Summit in support of Minnesotas Expo 2027 Bid, African-American Diaspora Engagement at the Core of U.S.-African Relations in Multipolar World, The struggles of an immigrant student trying to fit in American Culture, Mima Fondong | Meet the daughter of trending Dr Stella Immanuel, Meet the richest African immigrants in America. The 21-year-old, 6ft 9, power forward grew up playing football in Port Harcourt, before moving to the USA as a teenager. During the season, he averaged 9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 32.8 minutes per game. In his NBA finals run, Adebayo put up unbelievable numbers in the playoffs for a second-year-player. [92] He helped Team USA win the gold medal against Spain in a 107100 victory. On defense, Giannis swats the ball away with ease. We went to the Eastern Conference finals, last year we were out in the first round and this year were a .500 team. In his rookie year, Ayton posted noteworthy numbers by averaging 16.3 points and 10.3 rebounds. The Sixers, however, were a big disappointment, going only 2755 during the regular season and missing the playoffs after two straight playoff berths. 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). [38] The win extended the Warriors' season-high winning streak to 8 games. 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.. [101], In March 2015, Twice, an online secondhand apparel outlet, named Iguodala its Menswear Style Director. During the 2017 championship run, he further established his legacy as one of the NBAs premier players. 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. A 6' 4" shooting guard, he is agile and athletic with exceptional explosive strength. 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 father is Nigerian, while his mother is African American. He attacks it as if wanting to tear it apart from the very board. "I'm so excited to play alongside Rudy (Gobert)," Azubuike said. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Andre Iguodala 2017/18 Panini Select Basketball Silver Prizm #17 NrMt at the best online prices at eBay! Its no secret that basketball is a global sport. 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. His Lanphier jersey is now retired. [13] However, on July 25, 2017, Iguodala re-signed with the Warriors[62] on a three-year, $48 million contract. 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. [103], Together with partner Rudy Cline-Thomas, Iguodala has been able to invest in companies like Facebook, Twitter, and Tesla. His first dunk was a simple windmill, but then for his second dunk he received a pass from Allen Iverson off the back side of the backboard, then leapt under the board and put in the reverse on the other side and was awarded a perfect score of 50 points. It wasnt easy to make the team. There were like four or five companies total where we made some great success with the investments. 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. Leonard Shanklin is a celebrity parent who happens to be the father of popular NBA star, Andre Iguodala. He has since performed phenomenally for his team. 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). 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]. But that wasnt what kept him from saying yes to a unique opportunity. [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. Antony Ressler: There should be clarity. 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. 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. "You know, I feel like I bring a mature approach. When Iguodala was in the game, James made only 38.1% of his shots, compared to 44% without Iguodala. He had narrowed down his list of desired schools to two: Kansas or Arkansas. 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? I dont open the door or close the door to any personnel. 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. I didnt necessarily show well early on in the Training Camp process. [46] He finished the series averaging 16.3 points, 4 assists, and 5.8 rebounds. Hard work, the way you have to handle your business, always working hard, trusting family, just respect, core values and stuff like that.. The 6ft 11 center was born to a Nigerian father and American mother and played college basketball for the Arizona Wildcats. It was always my dream to play for the USA team, Iguodala said. Were a lot further than we were three, four years ago. The 76ers were eventually defeated in 5 games. He played like a man possessed while under the paint. "It's also just a blessing. 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). Latest on Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN [83] The Heat reached the 2020 NBA Finals, where they lost 42 to the Los Angeles Lakers,[84] and Iguodala became the tenth player in NBA history to make it to six straight Finals. The regular season, which has been reduced by 10 matches to 72 due to Covid-19, is due to tip-off on the 22 December. The organization has hosted basketball camps and the annual "Thanksgiving with Dre", which has distributed food baskets to families in need. He played in a tournament put together at the NBA 2K10 launch party in New York City against other NBA players Nate Robinson, Brook Lopez and Rajon Rondo, and rapper Wale. He played a leading role in each of Golden States championship seasons. Between Jan. 18 and March 31 of last year, Iguodala played in just two games. Getty Images. During the 2011 NBA lockout, Iguodala had a week-long internship with Merrill Lynch.[28]. Andre Iguodala Parents and Family Andre was born on 28 January 1984 in Springfield, Illinois, United States to parents Leonard Shanklin and Linda Shanklin. ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. 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 played for Philadelphia until the summer of 2012 when he joined the Denver Nuggets in a four-team trade. Spin: Iguodala hasn't suited up since mid-January and will miss yet another game Friday. The National Basketball Association (NBA) superstar Andre Iguodala has joined Jumia's board of directors. 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. He rested on one end of every back-to-back the . They were eventually eliminated by the Boston Celtics in a thrilling seven games in the Conference Semifinals. The 22-year-old was the last of the players of Nigerian heritage to be selected in the first round of the draft. 6 small forward and the No. [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. Andre is a citizen of the USA. You'll never hear a bad thing said about Russell Westbrook from anyone in this league that's played against him or with him. pic.twitter.com/mLYtH2hVnj, Mark Haynes (@markhaynesnba) March 4, 2023, De'Aaron Fox, Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, ASVEL, Business, France, Owners, Uncategorized, ASVEL, Business, France, Owners, Tony Parker, Ja Morant was allegedly seen showing off a gun in his IG Live this morning. ", "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. 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. He returned to the Warriors in 2021 and won his fourth NBA championship the same season. Iguodala was born in Springfield, Illinois. [15] Iguodala was thrust into the starting lineup immediately during his rookie season and was the only 76er to play and start all 82 regular-season games plus 5 playoff games, becoming a favorite target of Allen Iverson in the process, often connecting on highlight-reel dunks on passes or alley-oops from Iverson. Unfortunately, Iguodala went on to miss twelve consecutive games. That should be everyone's goal, to win a championship that everyone wants to win," Okongwu insisted. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. 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. On defense, Oladipo can guard all around his court. 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. Is every player on the table when it comes to potential change, including Trae Young? His return fill's the team's 14th . Iguodala averaged a career-high 19.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game through the 82 games. 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. Andre Iguodala found himself in recent months in discussions with his few N.B.A. [71] The Warriors returned to the NBA Finals for the fifth straight season, but lost in six games to the Toronto Raptors. !@Giannis_An34 @Paschketball pic.twitter.com/kxLuUoXP0A. Previously with the 3-time NBA Champions Golden State Warriors, Iguodala was drafted into the NBA in 2004. Thats something that theyve talked about, having a Team Nigeria in Miami, and I think its cool, Erik Spoelstra said. He drives to the ring with great speed and regularly dunks without holding back. On January 3, 2014, Iguodala hit a game-winning, 3-point buzzer-beater in the Warriors' 101100 win over the Atlanta Hawks. Were not there yet in terms of decision-making. He supported Devin Booker and Chris Paul as they fought their way through the ranks. Victor Oladipo grew up in the town of Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Iguodala told . Every NBA Draft night, draft prospects, domestic and international, are picked by the NBA teams. His next opportunity to return will be Sunday against the Lakers, although a timetable for his return isn't yet clear. He plays like a typical center, his strong fundamentals help him score. During his career at Arizona, the Wildcats made it to the NCAA Tournament both seasons. 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. One of them was a mobile gaming company that had a lot of success in Zynga. They didnt know I invested. Andre Tyler Iguodala. After attending Lanphier High School in Springfield, Illinois, Iguodala enrolled at the University of Arizona. [34] On November 14, Iguodala made the game-winning, buzzer-beating shot in the Warriors' 116115 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. 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]. He is very close to his parents and his parents also supported him in every phase of his life. The next Basketball Without Borders trip that is in Nigeria, I want to be a part of that one.. Your login session has expired. Last updated on 19 November 202019 November 2020.From the section Sport Africa. He was a member of the United States national team at the 2010 FIBA World Championship and 2012 Summer Olympics, winning the gold medal both times. Iguodala was born in Springfield, Illinois to his father Leonard Shanklin, and his mother Linda Shanklin. Iguodala scored a season-high 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting, which included four 3-pointers. In Game 7, Iguodala started in place of Harrison Barnes and again marked Kevin Durant. 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. He has also been named to the NBA All-Defensive Team twice. He was raised in Springfield, Illinois, a city in the United States. A total of eight players with Nigerian heritage were picked during Wednesday night's NBA draft for the 2020-21 season. I think I can add a lot to the table, like add a lot of aggression and grittiness.". [79][80] Memphis was hoping for a quality trade with a playoff contender in exchange for Iguodala and his championship experience. His mother is African American, while his father is Nigerian. for $3.6 million. 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. Philadelphia was set to face the No. [99][100] Iguodala enjoys playing video games, particularly the NBA 2K series. Later that season, he was selected to his first All-Star Game as a reserve. 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. On August 12, 2008, Iguodala reportedly agreed to a six-year, $80 million contract extension with the Sixers. In a 114110 series-ending loss in Game 6, Iguodala had 22 points for his best scoring output of the postseason. You gotta tip your hat to that, to what they did to us in our home floor. Iguodala was enticed by Arkansas's 13 system, which would have allowed Iguodala to run the point occasionally. Antony Ressler: If youre the final decision maker, which I am, you have to have complete accountability. About Andre Iguodala. "A defensive specialist, that's mostly what I did at Kansas. The Sixers fired head coach Eddie Jordan and brought in Doug Collins. [3], Iguodala was born in Springfield, Illinois. Nerlens Noel is signing a deal with the Brooklyn Nets, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. [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. [12][13], Iguodala was selected 9th overall in the 2004 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. He has the ability to drive to the basket and finish with aggressive dunks or crafty layups. Andre Iguodala is currently a player for the Miami Heat. That team, which includes Penn grad Koko Archibong,. [27] The contract had $5 million in bonuses and a player option for the sixth year. Iguodala was also a finalist for the Illinois Mr. Basketball award, which was awarded to Dee Brown. Iguodala also expressed his observation that there are not enough black athletes involved in tech investments. We went to the Dominican Republic, played there. [32][33] He officially joined the Warriors in a three-team sign-and-trade deal with the Nuggets and the Utah Jazz. peers remaining, the ones who sculpted paralleling journeys, from being teenagers to experiencing parenthood, from . [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. [104], On June 25, 2019, Iguodala released The Sixth Man: A Memoir. Performance & security by Cloudflare. [4] His mother is African American, while his father is Nigerian. I make sure I stay in the chapel and have a good relationship with our chaplain. While in secondary school, he consistently maintained excellent grades . Previously with the 3-time NBA Champions Golden State Warriors, Iguodala was drafted into the NBA in 2004. 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. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 2004 Skybox Autographics #76 /750 - ANDRE IGUODALA - PSA 9 - Rookie Year at the best online prices at eBay! You want to play hard for someone who died for you.. 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. [80][81][82], On February 6, 2020, Iguodala was traded to the Miami Heat in a three-team trade along with Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill with Memphis and Minnesota. Iguodala's father is Nigerian. 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. Per Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated, Adebayo had actually planned on going to that camp last summer before COVID hit.