His next opportunity to return will be Sunday against the Lakers, although a timetable for his return isn't yet clear. Ive never been there. 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. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2b9bbd9d8d80d2 From China to the United States and everywhere in between, basketball (and in turn the NBA) has grown immensely over the years. On January 3, 2014, Iguodala hit a game-winning, 3-point buzzer-beater in the Warriors' 101100 win over the Atlanta Hawks. Andre Iguodala played college basketball with the Arizona Wildcats. You want to play hard for someone who died for you.. [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. You do some research on those companies because you are watching where your money is going and how its growing or how its being lost. Free shipping for many products! Join us in wishing @DeandreAyton of the @Suns a HAPPY 23rd BIRTHDAY! And at around the age of 16, Adebayo felt compelled to delve more into his Nigerian roots. The two have also invested in at least 25 different startups in the technology industry. In 2002, he played in the Jordan Brand Classic in Washington, D.C. At the time of Webber's release, the Sixers were 926 (Iverson only played 15 games before he was traded). 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. He showed his versatility during the season posting up a career-high in triple-doubles. I had a similar role to affect the game defensively. Passion for tech investment Speaking about his passion for investment in tech companies, Iguodala said: I started with an E-Trade account. 2 seed Detroit. The 76ers were eventually defeated in 5 games. Iguodala had a poor playoffs series, averaging 13 points per game. His father is Nigerian, while his mother is of African American origin. This led to the firing of Nuggets coach George Karl, who just won the NBA Coach of the Year Award. 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. 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. The 21-year-old, 6ft 9, power forward grew up playing football in Port Harcourt, before moving to the USA as a teenager. "You know, I feel like I bring a mature approach. Theyve gotten here and they want to prove that they belong. [19] A day later, he participated in the Slam Dunk Contest. 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.. He collected three triple-doubles that season, joining Jason Kidd as the only two players in Pac-10 history to post two or more triple-doubles in a season. He played like a man possessed while under the paint. Eight of the draft picks are players with Nigerian heritage. 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. [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. [71] The Warriors returned to the NBA Finals for the fifth straight season, but lost in six games to the Toronto Raptors. Andre Iguodala, whose father is Nigerian, turned down Team Nigeria when they repeatedly tried to recruit him for their Olympic squad. [53] The Warriors would again play the Cleveland Cavaliers for the championship. On February 17, 2006, at the Rookie Challenge, Iguodala won MVP honors for his 30-point performance in the Sophomores win. [32][33] He officially joined the Warriors in a three-team sign-and-trade deal with the Nuggets and the Utah Jazz. The meaning in Igbo is something like " (Igu) Weed/wheat/hay, (o) referring to a person in the like of he/she, (dala) fell/fall". 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. Coming in as the 27th overall pick was Udoka Azubuike who will be playing for the Utah Jazz. So I'm excited to learn from him. Desmond Bane started playing baseball before he switched to basketball and was the 30th overall pick, drafted by the Boston Celtics, with reports that he will be traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. 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. 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. Africa largest e-commerce platform welcomes Golden State super star Andre Iguodala as a board member. A reminder: The Heat has until 5 p.m. tomorrow to decide on the team options in the contracts of Goran Dragic ($19.4 million) and Andre Iguodala ($15 million). His scoring average was the lowest of all the 24 All-Stars, but he was rewarded for being the best player on the 76ers, who were leading the Atlantic Division. 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. [48] The Warriors' NBA-record start ended after 24 wins when they lost to the Milwaukee Bucks 10895 on December 12. In 2015 he received the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award. His partnership with entrepreneurs in San Francisco's Silicon Valley has led to an annual event tagged Players Technology Summit. 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. You get to experience different cultures. It doesnt even do it justice. Copyright 2023 SLAM Media Inc. SLAM, SLAMTV, SLAM MEDIA and the SLAM logo are registered Youre just not prepared to say what that looks like right now? His parents were Nigerian immigrants who moved to America. During the playoffs, he boosted his averages to 9.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists, while also starting a majority of the games. You learn to balance your portfolio. Iguodala's mother is African American while his father is Nigerian. Almost instantly, he became a hit, making his mark as one of the leagues premier players. He was named to the Pac-10 All-Freshmen team for 200203. Andre Iguodala is currently a player for the Miami Heat. He had been making those shots all game, man. [58] The Warriors finished the season as the first seed in the West with a 6715 record. [93], In August 2015, Iguodala married his childhood sweetheart, Christina Gutierrez, at One&Only Palmilla in Los Cabos, Mexico. He was named NBA All-Star in 2012. He has the ability to drive to the basket and finish with aggressive dunks or crafty layups. 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. Philadelphia started the season poorly but were one of the best teams down the stretch. His return fill's the team's 14th . He went on to play for the Golden State Warriors and won three rings in 2015, 2017, and 2018. Sadness. So he was invited to try out for - and in this case, "try out for" means "make" - the Nigerian Olympic squad. Iguodala had averaged 18.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game through 82 regular-season games. [10], Iguodala initially signed a National Letter of Intent to play at Arkansas. [13] However, on July 25, 2017, Iguodala re-signed with the Warriors[62] on a three-year, $48 million contract. Other players involved in the deal included All-Stars Andrew Bynum and Dwight Howard. In the FIBA World Championships Iguodala displayed his athleticism with an array of fastbreak dunks. Iguodala is a Nigerian name borne by people of Edo in South . In the second round, Iguodala helped the Warriors defeat the Portland Trail Blazers in five games to qualify for the Western Conference Finals. Antony Ressler: Absolutely not. Philadelphia 76ers Andre Iguodala #9 NBA SWINGMAN adidas Basketball Jersey XL | Sport, Weitere Ballsportarten, Basketball | eBay! 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. [52] The Warriors went on to defeat the Rockets in five games. 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. At Arizona, Iguodala planned to major in education. [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. Deandre Ayton averaged 15.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and registered a 65.8 field goal percentage. So it's just having that on my shoulders.". 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. Between Jan. 18 and March 31 of last year, Iguodala played in just two games. View player profile, bio, stats, news and video highlights. 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. There have been a few things that Ive invested in that are no longer operating, but Ive learned so much through them. What development first really means. He captured the Finals MVP after returning to the starting lineup in the middle of the championship series. Giannis is often double-teamed in defense and yet he spins, pivots, or just drives past. 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. [56] In February 2017, long-time agent Rob Pelinka was appointed as the new general manager for the Los Angeles Lakers; Iguodala chose to remain with the Landmark Sports Agency, and co-founder Brandon Rosenthal took over as Iguodala's agent. He was named Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year as well as a second-team Parade All-American and Nike All-American. Your IP: The second edition saw other athletes from the NBA like Kevin Durant and Jaylen Brown make debuts. As part of the trade, he agreed to a two-year, $30 million extension with Miami, with the last year being a team option. On defense, Giannis swats the ball away with ease. That season, he averaged 23.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. [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. We went to the Eastern Conference finals, last year we were out in the first round and this year were a .500 team. 26 player in the nation in 2002. Secret trap doors? He began to step up his game as the season went on, leading Philadelphia to a playoff berth. [103], Together with partner Rudy Cline-Thomas, Iguodala has been able to invest in companies like Facebook, Twitter, and Tesla. The NBA is home to talent from all over the world. 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. 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? American Basketball star Andre Iguodala , a notable tech investor and board member of Jumia Group, recently visited Nigeria his country of descent to engage . That team, which includes Penn grad Koko Archibong,. Jim, we did it baby! Iguodala was picked up in the 2004 NBA drafts by the Philadelphia 76ers. He can pivot and spin around defenders for easy floaters or reach out for in-traffic dunks. [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. 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. It was an amazing experience, man. I feel Im accountable for this business, on and off the court. In the playoffs, Iguodala had the assignment of guarding James and Dwyane Wade in the first round. Collins called him a "stat-sheet stuffer". However, on December 17, 2013, Iguodala returned to action in a game against the New Orleans Pelicans. [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. 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 Iguodala is an American professional basketball who has a net worth of $50 million. [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]. Andre Iguodala PPG 2.3 RPG 2.3 APG 1.7 PIE 5.3 HEIGHT 6'6" (1.98m) WEIGHT 215lb (98kg) COUNTRY USA LAST ATTENDED Arizona AGE 39 years BIRTHDATE January 28, 1984 DRAFT 2004 R1 Pick 9 EXPERIENCE. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Iguodala was second behind James for most triple-doubles during the 201011 season. Andre Iguodala, an NBA star, has returned to the Golden State Warriors and is currently destroying the 2021 season playoffs by doing what he does best. Continuing, he said You see that it is not something that is trendy. We want to be a good representation of what we believe in. Coming into the 201011 NBA season, the 76ers were expected to rebound from their poor season. Iguodala averaged 5.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists in the regular season. In 201415, he became a reserve for the first time in his career, but played a major bench role. 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. He still calls this house home now. He supported Devin Booker and Chris Paul as they fought their way through the ranks. He is an American professional basketball . This is something for the long run. Onyeka Okongwu, also born to Nigerian parents, was the sixth overall pick selected by Atlanta Hawks. Latest on Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN Were a lot further than we were three, four years ago. 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. I'm just excited to do whatever I can to help our team win.". [24] Iguodala averaged 12.3 points and 5.9 rebounds on the season. A 6' 4" shooting guard, he is agile and athletic with exceptional explosive strength. His high-flying leap and freakishly strong frame put him at second number on this list. The inaugural edition of the event began in 2017 where Iguodala and teammate Stephen Curry played hosts. 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. We did not. 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And once guys realize that, they really get into something that is really healthy for you.. His older brother, Frank, played for Lake Land College in Mattoon, Illinois, and Dayton. "A defensive specialist, that's mostly what I did at Kansas.