Iguodala has played in six NBA finals, out of which five were with the Golden State Warriors and one with the Miami Heat. Iguodala was born in Springfield, Illinois. 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. 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. Antony Ressler on Trae Young: 'I don't open the door or close the door to any personnel'. [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]. [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. Andre Iguodala, whose father is Nigerian, turned down Team Nigeria when they repeatedly tried to recruit him for their Olympic squad. Isaac Okoro was fifth overall pick and has been chosen by Cleveland Cavaliers. The 21-year-old, 6ft 9, power forward grew up playing football in Port Harcourt, before moving to the USA as a teenager. Iggy is currently playing for Miami Heat. 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.. "I'm so excited to play alongside Rudy (Gobert)," Azubuike said. Iguodala developed into more of a primary player in the 200809 season, becoming more active as a facilitator on the offensive end of the floor. At Arizona he joined future NBA players Channing Frye, Luke Walton, Mustafa Shakur, Salim Stoudamire and Hassan Adams. [46] He finished the series averaging 16.3 points, 4 assists, and 5.8 rebounds. In 201415, he became a reserve for the first time in his career, but played a major bench role. 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. 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]. Coming into the 201011 NBA season, the 76ers were expected to rebound from their poor season. 8 years ago today. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. A lot of companies were in this area. Of course, the Basketball Africa League, which was organized by the NBA and FIBA, should foster even more interest in the sport. 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. The swingman was an NBA All-Star in 2012 and has been named to the NBA All-Defensive Team twice. Collins called him a "stat-sheet stuffer". He played like a man possessed while under the paint. Almost instantly, he became a hit, making his mark as one of the leagues premier players. He also made the All-Pac-10 First Team and was named Honorable Mention All-America by The Associated Press. Theres a lot of talent in Africa, Achiuwa said. 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. Im proud of where Im from. This is something for the long run. [30] Iguodala returned on opening night of 201213 to play his former team. Previously with the 3-time NBA Champions Golden State Warriors, Iguodala was drafted into the NBA in 2004. Along with his star teammate Jimmy Butler, Adebayo has taken the Florida team to three playoffs, reaching the NBA finals against the LA Lakers in the 2019-20 season. Iguodala averaged 5.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists in the regular season. 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. Ive never been there. He showed his versatility during the season posting up a career-high in triple-doubles. [99][100] Iguodala enjoys playing video games, particularly the NBA 2K series. Two of them, Precious Achiuwa, picked by the Miami Heat, and Udoka Azubuike, picked by Utah Jazz. Born to and African American mother and Nigerian father, Adebayo began his career as the 14th overall NBA draft pick by the Miami Heat in 2017. [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. 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. 6 small forward and the No. 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. Then we invested in Apple. 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. That season, he averaged 23.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. Vincent, one of Miamis two-way players, played for the Nigerian National Team in the FIBA World Cup in 2019 with Josh Okogie and Al-Farouq Aminu. [104], On June 25, 2019, Iguodala released The Sixth Man: A Memoir. [74][75], On July 7, 2019, Golden State traded Iguodala along with a protected first-round draft pick to the Memphis Grizzlies for Julian Washburn. Landry has referenced the need for accountability. [35] Getting the inbound pass from Klay Thompson, Iguodala turned and made the fade-away jump shot over the Thunder's Thabo Sefolosha. [79][80] Memphis was hoping for a quality trade with a playoff contender in exchange for Iguodala and his championship experience. 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. From protecting his rim to cutting off a drive, he knows how to defend and score points. In the FIBA World Championships Iguodala displayed his athleticism with an array of fastbreak dunks. You gotta tip your hat to that, to what they did to us in our home floor. Coach Mike Krzyzewski called Iguodala one of the team's best players, and compared his game to that of Scottie Pippen. 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. Its just one of those random occurrences, but it shows you how much basketball has grown. The two have also invested in at least 25 different startups in the technology industry. "To be honest, I didn't think I'd be in the position I'm in today. [77][78] Afterwards, the Warriors stated that they planned to eventually retire Iguodala's No. Per the Philly Inquirer: Iguodalas father is Nigerian. Theyve gotten here and they want to prove that they belong. Whether it works out or not, its a learning experience. And so, "Iguodala" could easily mean "Weed/wheat/hay which he/she threw (which fell)" Some Igbo names are in the context of . Antony Ressler: Landry and Kyle are trying to create strongly what it means to be a Hawk. Theyve been trying to get here for a long time now, Iguodala said. [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. In Game 6 of the series, Iguodala's defense on Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook was key to the Warriors forcing Game 7. Iguodala was picked up in the 2004 NBA drafts by the Philadelphia 76ers. "I've been working a lot during these quarantine times, and I feel like I've made a lot of improvements," Nnaji explained. The National Basketball Association (NBA) superstar Andre Iguodala has joined Jumia's board of directors. He was named to the Pac-10 All-Freshmen team for 200203. Ayton was born to a Nigerian father and a Jamaican and Bahamian mother. During the season, he averaged 9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 32.8 minutes per game. Im glad he played well, but Im glad we got the win. Im glad he played well, but Im glad we got the win. What development first really means. You want to play hard for someone who died for you". Considered a four-star recruit by Scout.com, Iguodala was listed as the No. He plays like a typical center, his strong fundamentals help him score. [41] The Warriors advanced to the 2015 NBA Finals to face Cleveland, where he was the team's best defender against Cavaliers star James. 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). His next opportunity to return will be Sunday against the Lakers, although a timetable for his return isn't yet clear. Im thrilled to be a part of this unique enterprise that is shaping the future of digital Africa., His affirmation was also rechoed by Jumia co-founder Sacha Poignonne who said: Having Andre join our board sends the world the message that Africa has successful companies and great entrepreneurs, and that athletes can play a key role in contributing to their success.. 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. [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. News: 20 hours agoIguodala (hip) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Pelicans. As part of the trade, he agreed to a two-year, $30 million extension with Miami, with the last year being a team option. The Sixers hired coach Eddie Jordan to take over for Tony DiLeo. [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. The 6ft 6 shooting guard was raised in Indiana with a southern-Nigerian father and American mother. peers remaining, the ones who sculpted paralleling journeys, from being teenagers to experiencing parenthood, from . A total of eight players with Nigerian heritage were picked during Wednesday night's NBA draft for the 2020-21 season. During the 2011 NBA lockout, Iguodala had a week-long internship with Merrill Lynch.[28]. For other guys like Vincent and Achiuwa, it was a bit different. We want to be a good representation of what we believe in. Almost instantly, he became a hit, making his mark as one of the league's premier players. His stellar performance, however, wasn't enough and the Phoenix Suns lost to a stronger Milwaukee Bucks but not due to a lack of effort. He has won four NBA championships with the Warriors and was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2015. [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. He rested on one end of every back-to-back the . Iguodala joined Jumia as an ambassador and a board member. 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. In his best NBA regular-season performance, Oladipo averaged 19.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. The Warriors' small lineup, which came to be known as the Death Lineup, helped turn the series around. [5], As a sophomore in 200304, Iguodala was named team MVP after leading his team in rebounds, assists and steals. His partnership with entrepreneurs in San Francisco's Silicon Valley has led to an annual event tagged Players Technology Summit. Obinna Ukwuani: The Nigerian MIT graduate who turned down 6-figure paycheck in US and returned to Africa. Be the first one to comment on this story. [27] The contract had $5 million in bonuses and a player option for the sixth year. Andre Iguodala. [51] In the first round of the playoffs, the Warriors faced the eighth-seeded Houston Rockets, and in a Game 4 win on April 24, Iguodala scored a season-high 22 points. Secret trap doors? Oladipo is a multi-dimensional player. 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. My body feels explosive. Jordan is also Nigeria's highest scorer in a single match after registering 36 points in a 2019 World Cup qualifier in Lagos. 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], Iguodala is a Venture Partner in the Catalyst Fund, which invests in underrepresented founders and entrepreneurs of tech companies. [44][45] He was also the first MVP to not have started every game in the Finals. He finished the season averaging 17.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 5.8 apg, and 1.7 spg. [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. He returned to the Warriors in 2021 and won his fourth NBA championship the same season. Free shipping for many products! 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. His older brother, Frank, played for Lake Land College in Mattoon, Illinois, and Dayton. [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. Ive gotten calls from them a few times about participating. In 2004, the first time he was called, Iguodala was preparing for his rookie season with the 76ers. After posting career totals of 594 points (9.6 ppg), 409 rebounds (6.6 rpg) and 95 steals (1.53 spg) in 62 games (34 starts) he left to enter the NBA draft. [95][96], Iguodala is a Christian. [3], Iguodala was born in Springfield, Illinois. Iguodala is a strong Christian, credited to a famous quote, that: Faith is something I heavily lean on to give me that balance. Latest on Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN The Sixers, however, were a big disappointment, going only 2755 during the regular season and missing the playoffs after two straight playoff berths. The 76ers played much better basketball under Tony DiLeo. [65][66] The Warriors went on to win their third championship in four years with a sweep of the Cavaliers. He had narrowed down his list of desired schools to two: Kansas or Arkansas. 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). [24] Iguodala averaged 12.3 points and 5.9 rebounds on the season. 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. 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 was also a finalist for the Illinois Mr. Basketball award, which was awarded to Dee Brown. I had a similar role to affect the game defensively. This was also the fifth time in NBA history that an eighth seed defeated a first seed in the opening round of the playoffs. Victor began his NBA career in 2013 as a second overall draft pick by the Orlando Magic. He is a Nigerian who migrated to the capital of the United Stage, Springfield, Illinois. Antony Ressler: If youre the final decision maker, which I am, you have to have complete accountability. He protects the paint regularly, implements chase-down blocks, and can even snatch offensive and defensive rebounds. Andre Iguodala is currently a player for the Miami Heat. And at around the age of 16, Adebayo felt compelled to delve more into his Nigerian roots. 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. 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. I think I can add a lot to the table, like add a lot of aggression and grittiness.". Name. In the playoffs, Iguodala had the assignment of guarding James and Dwyane Wade in the first round. '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?! Philadelphia also traded veteran big man Samuel Dalembert to the Sacramento Kings for a younger center Spencer Hawes; the 76ers also acquired Andrs Nocioni in the deal. He captured the Finals MVP after returning to the starting lineup in the middle of the championship series. BBC Sport Africa has been finding out about all eight of the players set to be the stars of the future. American Basketball star. !@Giannis_An34 @Paschketball pic.twitter.com/kxLuUoXP0A. About Andre Iguodala. Iguodala got off to a slow start to the season, even to a point where he was leading the league in turnovers. Jordan Nwora will be the most popular pick on the list to Nigerians as the 22-year-old is a member of the country's senior men's basketball team, otherwise known as D'Tigers. In February 2019, Iguodala was elected first vice-president of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA).