is andre iguodala nigerian
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. This list will consider the players' impact on the NBA league and their current form and past seasons. 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. Theyve been trying to get here for a long time now, Iguodala said. We tend to hop on what is trending at the moment. From there, you start doing your homework. Denver Nuggets snapped up 19-year-old Zeke Nnaji as the 22nd overall pick. Leonard Shanklin is a celebrity parent who happens to be the father of popular NBA star, Andre Iguodala. [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. He has the ability to drive to the basket and finish with aggressive dunks or crafty layups. Everything you need to know about the Warriors' championship rings, Warriors vet Iguodala returning for 19th season, They said it! Iguodala has played in six NBA finals, out of which five were with the Golden State Warriors and one with the Miami Heat. 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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. For his defensive contributions to the Warriors, Iguodala was named to the 2014 All-NBA Defensive first team. 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. Iguodala was enticed by Arkansas's 13 system, which would have allowed Iguodala to run the point occasionally. He reminds me a lot of Kevin Garnett with his package - his athleticism, his skill set," Underwood said. . I make sure I stay in the chapel and have a good relationship with our chaplain. "You know, I feel like I bring a mature approach. Born to Nigerian immigrants, Giannis is from Greece. The Sixers hired coach Eddie Jordan to take over for Tony DiLeo. [5] He later established the Andre Iguodala Youth Foundation, whose stated mission is to use sports as a means to help youths. It is something that you are invested in. [101], In March 2015, Twice, an online secondhand apparel outlet, named Iguodala its Menswear Style Director. [36] Iguodala finished with 14 points and 9 assists. Thats where I grew up. His older brother, Frank, played for Lake Land College in Mattoon, Illinois, and Dayton. The next Basketball Without Borders trip that is in Nigeria, I want to be a part of that one.. [85], Iguodala continued with the Miami Heat in a bench-role for the 202021 season. In the second round, Iguodala helped the Warriors defeat the Portland Trail Blazers in five games to qualify for the Western Conference Finals. He returned to the Warriors in 2021 and won his fourth NBA championship the same season. Nerlens Noel is signing a deal with the Brooklyn Nets, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. It was something that I was nervous about because my father wasnt in my life, so I didnt really have like an easy outlet to just figure out my heritage, Adebayo said. Read about our approach to external linking. [87] He missed 31 games from January to April with back soreness. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. 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. Copyright 2023 SLAM Media Inc. SLAM, SLAMTV, SLAM MEDIA and the SLAM logo are registered 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. 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). What development first really means. We did not. His mother is African American, while his father is Nigerian. Im proud of where Im from. His father was Nigeria's head coach at the World Cup (now the country's assistant coach) and the duo became the first Nigerian son and father to be part of a Nigerian national team side at the same time. Antony Ressler: We just elevated Landry, elevated Kyle and we brought in a world-class coach (Quin Snyder). His partnership with entrepreneurs in San Francisco's Silicon Valley has led to an annual event tagged Players Technology Summit. #NBABDAY #ThatsGame pic.twitter.com/X4xCz3NFvr. On defense, Giannis swats the ball away with ease. 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. 2 seed Detroit. Iguodala averaged 5.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists in the regular season. 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. 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. trademarks of Slam Media Inc. All rights reserved. The NBA is home to talent from all over the world. He practices Christianity as his religion. 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. '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?! They even had training camp in Dallas, in the States. [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. 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. After the 202021 season, the Heat did not exercise their $15 million option of Iguodala's contract for the 202122 season, making him a free agent.[86]. 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. Even though I wasn't born in Nigeria, I still got Nigerian blood. [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. 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. Per the Philly Inquirer: "Iguodala's father is. "I've added 20 pounds of muscle. Houses Andre Iguodala bought a mansion in Lafayette, California. Basketballers from every corner of the planet dream of playing in the league one day. Giannis posted his best playoff numbers in his 2021 NBA Championship bid, averaging an incredible 30.2 points, 12.8 rebounds and 5.1 assists. 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. Brad Underwood, the coach at college side Illinois, who came up against Oturu as he played for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, was full of praise for the youngster. Its no secret that basketball is a global sport. In 201415, he became a reserve for the first time in his career, but played a major bench role. Ive never really had a chance to experience their culture, only from the outside looking in because of my father.'. [95][96], Iguodala is a Christian. Between Jan. 18 and March 31 of last year, Iguodala played in just two games. You learn to balance your portfolio. I feel quick. 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. We did not. Iguodala is a huge figure who wields influence in both on and off the court of Basketball. Since joining the Warriors in 2013, he has invested in over 40 companies through F9 Strategies, including GOAT, Zoom, HIMS, Lime, Thrive Global, AllBirds, Casper, STANCE, and Carta. Iguodala is a strong Christian, credited to a famous quote, that: Faith is something I heavily lean on to give me that balance. During his career at Arizona, the Wildcats made it to the NCAA Tournament both seasons. Its also gotten more popular on the continent of Africa, which includes 54 sovereign countries, one of which has a deep connection to the HEAT. 9 jersey. 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. Ive never been there. [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. It made me who I am, and its pretty much the foundation of who I am today, Achiuwa said. In Game 6 of the series, Iguodala's defense on Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook was key to the Warriors forcing Game 7. He plays like a typical center, his strong fundamentals help him score. In the playoffs the 76ers were set to face the third seed Orlando Magic. 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. A four-time NBA Champion with the Golden State Warriors and one of the leaders of the . Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. [41] The Warriors advanced to the 2015 NBA Finals to face Cleveland, where he was the team's best defender against Cavaliers star James. 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. It was always my dream to play for the USA team, Iguodala said. I didn't think I'd be able to play at a level like Louisville," he said before the draft. He was named NBA All-Star in 2012. 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. He was named Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year as well as a second-team Parade All-American and Nike All-American. [5], As a sophomore in 200304, Iguodala was named team MVP after leading his team in rebounds, assists and steals. 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. 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. The organization has hosted basketball camps and the annual "Thanksgiving with Dre", which has distributed food baskets to families in need. The swingman was an NBA All-Star in 2012 and has been named to the NBA All-Defensive Team twice. He also made the All-Pac-10 First Team and was named Honorable Mention All-America by The Associated Press. [12][13], Iguodala was selected 9th overall in the 2004 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers eventually fell to the Magic in the playoffs, failing to reach the second round. Iguodala was picked up in the 2004 NBA drafts by the Philadelphia 76ers. Learn how your money works in different investment gigs. He was awarded the Finals MVP in 2015. Iguodala was a member of the United States national team in the 2010 FIBA World Championship, winning the gold medal. And at around the age of 16, Adebayo felt compelled to delve more into his Nigerian roots. They didnt know I invested. 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. [13] However, on July 25, 2017, Iguodala re-signed with the Warriors[62] on a three-year, $48 million contract. It was a grind, to be honest. Of course I take responsibility. Latest on Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN 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. In February 2019, Iguodala was elected first vice-president of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA). The most noteworthy performance of his career came last season when the Phoenix Suns reached the NBA finals, a first for Ayton. He began his career as the first overall NBA draft pick in 2018. Iggy is currently playing for Miami Heat. It wasnt easy to make the team. And once guys realize that, they really get into something that is really healthy for you.. On August 10, 2021, Iguodala returned to the Golden State Warriors. The National Basketball Association (NBA) superstar Andre Iguodala has joined Jumia's board of directors. In his rookie year, Ayton posted noteworthy numbers by averaging 16.3 points and 10.3 rebounds. [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. ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. "It feels great to be the first Nigerian in this draft to be drafted," he said after being picked. Obinna Ukwuani: The Nigerian MIT graduate who turned down 6-figure paycheck in US and returned to Africa. In a 114110 series-ending loss in Game 6, Iguodala had 22 points for his best scoring output of the postseason. 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 . He has said, "Faith is something I heavily lean on to give me that balance. [13] On March 6, 2017, he set a new season high with 24 points in a 119111 win over the Atlanta Hawks. 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. 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]. Perhaps Vincents connection with his fellow countrymen stemmed from the values he learned from his father, Franklyn. 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? Theyve gotten here and they want to prove that they belong. Andre Tyler Iguodala was born on the 28th of January 1984 to a Nigerian father and an African American mother in Illinois. [103], Together with partner Rudy Cline-Thomas, Iguodala has been able to invest in companies like Facebook, Twitter, and Tesla. [98], Alongside teammate Stephen Curry, Iguodala is known to be an avid golfer. Iguodala averaged a career-high 19.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game through the 82 games. Early into the season, Philadelphia was struggling, which led to the departure of head coach Maurice Cheeks. The inaugural edition of the event began in 2017 where Iguodala and teammate Stephen Curry played hosts. When Iguodala was in the game, James made only 38.1% of his shots, compared to 44% without Iguodala. He began to step up his game as the season went on, leading Philadelphia to a playoff berth. Thats tough, but we didnt deserve to win. Iguodala had averaged 18.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game through 82 regular-season games. Iguodala was also a finalist for the Illinois Mr. Basketball award, which was awarded to Dee Brown. A 6' 4" shooting guard, he is agile and athletic with exceptional explosive strength. Free shipping for many products! [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. He replaced LeBron James in that role. Iguodala is a Nigerian name borne by people of Edo in South . Andre Iguodala, who was born on January 28, 1984, will be 38 years old in 2022. Philadelphia started the season poorly but were one of the best teams down the stretch. 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. In his freshman year he quickly established himself as one of the best all-around players on the team, ranking in the top 5 for his team in just about every major category. [46] He finished the series averaging 16.3 points, 4 assists, and 5.8 rebounds. "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.". When you go out there, youre not just representing your country or the NBA, youre representing your beliefs. The second edition saw other athletes from the NBA like Kevin Durant and Jaylen Brown make debuts. On January 3, 2014, Iguodala hit a game-winning, 3-point buzzer-beater in the Warriors' 101100 win over the Atlanta Hawks. [38] The win extended the Warriors' season-high winning streak to 8 games. Then we invested in Apple. Iguodala was also selected for the 2012 London Olympics team, largely due to his exceptional defensive ability. I dont open the door or close the door to any personnel. The 6ft 11 center was born to a Nigerian father and American mother and played college basketball for the Arizona Wildcats. Iguodala hasn't suited up since mid-January and will miss yet another game Friday. At Arizona, Iguodala planned to major in education. 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. Andre Tyler Iguodala (born January 28, 1984) is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). In addition to his numerous basketball achievements, he has found success in the business world with entrepreneurial ventures in technology and e-commerce. BBC Sport Africa has been finding out about all eight of the players set to be the stars of the future. Iguodalas father is Nigerian. 6 small forward and the No. Victor Oladipo grew up in the town of Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Andre Iguodala is born of a Nigerian father and an African-American mother. [57] On March 13, 2017, he was fined $10,000 by the NBA for using racially intemperate language in an interview following the Warriors' loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 10. 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. 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? 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.. 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. Andre Iguodala is currently a player for the Miami Heat. 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. Name. peers remaining, the ones who sculpted paralleling journeys, from being teenagers to experiencing parenthood, from . Victor began his NBA career in 2013 as a second overall draft pick by the Orlando Magic. In 22 minutes of play, Iguodala put up six points on 36 shooting, five rebounds, two assists, three steals and a block. Ricky Rubio Feels Back to Normal After Comeback Game, Stephen Curry on His Return to Play and Regaining His Rhythm, REPORT: Miami Interested in Buying Out Jae Crowder, Drexel Guard Keishana Washington is One of the Coldest Scorers in the CountryAnd Shes Just Getting Started, How the NBA G League is at the Forefront of Basketball Innovation, from Player Development to Testing New Rules, Frank Jackson on His NBA Journey, Proving Himself and Getting to Play for the City He Calls Home, Stephen Curry Believes Andre Iguodala is Absolutely An Hall of Famer, Andre Iguodala Confirms Hell Return to the Warriors for His 19th Season, Warriors Owner Joe Lacob Fined $500,000 For Calling the Luxury Tax Unfair. He is very close to his parents and his parents also supported him in every phase of his life. That team, which includes Penn grad Koko Archibong, will compete in these Games with nine American-born players on its roster. You gotta tip your hat to that, to what they did to us in our home floor. That's tough, but we didn't deserve to win. 153.122.85.11 As part of the trade, he agreed to a two-year, $30 million extension with Miami, with the last year being a team option. [77][78] Afterwards, the Warriors stated that they planned to eventually retire Iguodala's No. There were like four or five companies total where we made some great success with the investments. 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 is an American professional basketball who has a net worth of $50 million. On November 28, 2016, Iguodala had a season-best game with 12 points, five rebounds and five assists in a 105100 win over the Atlanta Hawks, helping the Warriors start the season 162 while recording their 12th straight victorytheir equal third-longest streak in franchise history. Bernard Mensah | Meet the Ghanaian-born CEO of Merrill Lynch International, Bank of Americas largest International subsidiary, Barak Jacuzzi: 5 quick facts to know about the Kenyan-American rapper, Ghanaian-born Stephen Osei explains how his life is the American Dream, Tashitaa Tufaa | Meet the Ethiopian who started as a dishwasher but now owns 300 buses in Minneapolis, Adenah Bayoh: The Liberian-born real estate millionaire who is one of the largest employers in Irvinton, New Jersey. He had been making those shots all game, man. Last updated on 19 November 202019 November 2020.From the section Sport Africa. The 21-year-old, 6ft 9, power forward grew up playing football in Port Harcourt, before moving to the USA as a teenager. Your IP: In his sophomore year, Arizona was defeated in the first round by Seton Hall. It didnt feel right to me. A total of eight players with Nigerian heritage were picked during Wednesday night's NBA draft for the 2020-21 season. [48] The Warriors' NBA-record start ended after 24 wins when they lost to the Milwaukee Bucks 10895 on December 12. In his NBA finals run, Adebayo put up unbelievable numbers in the playoffs for a second-year-player. 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. Eight of the draft picks are players with Nigerian heritage. 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. 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. The inaugural edition of the event began in 2017 where Iguodala and teammate Stephen Curry played hosts. I'm just excited to do whatever I can to help our team win.".
