In the game, he scored 10 points, caught 10 rebounds and dished out 10 assists. Perhaps Vincents connection with his fellow countrymen stemmed from the values he learned from his father, Franklyn. . His mother is African American, while his father is Nigerian. 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]. Per Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated, Adebayo had actually planned on going to that camp last summer before COVID hit. The inaugural edition of the event began in 2017 where Iguodala and teammate Stephen Curry played hosts. Im glad he played well, but Im glad we got the win. 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. 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. He played like a man possessed while under the paint. Of course I take responsibility. 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. [71] The Warriors returned to the NBA Finals for the fifth straight season, but lost in six games to the Toronto Raptors. Oladipo is a multi-dimensional player. His partnership with entrepreneurs in San Franciscos Silicon Valley has led to an annual event tagged Players Technology Summit. But that wasnt what kept him from saying yes to a unique opportunity. 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. Its no secret that basketball is a global sport. 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. 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. Antony Ressler: Landry and Kyle are trying to create strongly what it means to be a Hawk. Iguodala hasn't suited up since mid-January and will miss yet another game Friday. 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]. 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. 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. This was also the fifth time in NBA history that an eighth seed defeated a first seed in the opening round of the playoffs. [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. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Nerlens Noel is signing a deal with the Brooklyn Nets, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. In addition to his numerous basketball achievements, he has found success in the business world with entrepreneurial ventures in technology and e-commerce. Andre Iguodala found himself in recent months in discussions with his few N.B.A. It keeps me focused When people see us on the court, we want them to see God's work. Everything you need to know about the Warriors' championship rings, Warriors vet Iguodala returning for 19th season, They said it! "He is the most improved player in the country [in 2019-20]. Thats where I grew up. 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. He is often called the Greek Freak, a name that perfectly suits his style. Andre Iguodala, whose father is Nigerian, turned down Team Nigeria when they repeatedly tried to recruit him for their Olympic squad. 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. [12], Iguodala also won a bronze medal with the U.S. at the FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship in 2002. 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. [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. Giannis is a force of nature, an unstoppable force that mows down everything in its path. 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. 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 . [13] On March 6, 2017, he set a new season high with 24 points in a 119111 win over the Atlanta Hawks. Aug 6, 2021 at 11:20 am ET 1 min read. Andre Iguodala is signing with the Golden State Warriors, according to Jonathan Abrams of the New York Times on Friday. Iguodala also expressed his observation that there are not enough black athletes involved in tech investments. 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. That was just an E-Trade investment. ", "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. [46] He finished the series averaging 16.3 points, 4 assists, and 5.8 rebounds. The 22-year-old was the last of the players of Nigerian heritage to be selected in the first round of the draft. This is something for the long run. [104], On June 25, 2019, Iguodala released The Sixth Man: A Memoir. His high-flying leap and freakishly strong frame put him at second number on this list. The annual draft sees NBA teams choose from the world's best young talent. 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! [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. 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]. [53] The Warriors would again play the Cleveland Cavaliers for the championship. 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. for $3.6 million. He has appeared in three playoffs and two NBA All Stars games proving his potential. 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. Even though I wasn't born in Nigeria, I still got Nigerian blood. [58] The Warriors finished the season as the first seed in the West with a 6715 record. Iguodala became a member of the Board of Directors for Jumia Technologies, NYSE: JMIA, after the e-commerce platform successfully listed its billion-dollar IPO in April 2019. [103], Together with partner Rudy Cline-Thomas, Iguodala has been able to invest in companies like Facebook, Twitter, and Tesla. 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. 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. The Sixers, however, were a big disappointment, going only 2755 during the regular season and missing the playoffs after two straight playoff berths. [87] He missed 31 games from January to April with back soreness. Every NBA Draft night, draft prospects, domestic and international, are picked by the NBA teams. I made some investment in startups with my E-Trade account. 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! Giannis is often double-teamed in defense and yet he spins, pivots, or just drives past. [99][100] Iguodala enjoys playing video games, particularly the NBA 2K series. The 6' 11" center plays in the NBA for the Phoenix Suns. However, on December 17, 2013, Iguodala returned to action in a game against the New Orleans Pelicans. [26] He officially signed on August 17, 2008. Youre just not prepared to say what that looks like right now? He protects the paint regularly, implements chase-down blocks, and can even snatch offensive and defensive rebounds. [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. You learn to balance your portfolio. Copyright 2023 SLAM Media Inc. SLAM, SLAMTV, SLAM MEDIA and the SLAM logo are registered "It feels great to be the first Nigerian in this draft to be drafted," he said after being picked. [36] Iguodala finished with 14 points and 9 assists. Iguodala told . [5][8][9] As a senior in 2002, Iguodala led Lanphier's basketball team to a runner-up finish at the Illinois High School Association Class AA state tournament. [93], In August 2015, Iguodala married his childhood sweetheart, Christina Gutierrez, at One&Only Palmilla in Los Cabos, Mexico. 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. The National Basketball Association (NBA) superstar Andre Iguodala has joined Jumia's board of directors. 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. 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. Iguodala's father is Nigerian. It made me who I am, and its pretty much the foundation of who I am today, Achiuwa said. Mr. In a 114110 series-ending loss in Game 6, Iguodala had 22 points for his best scoring output of the postseason. Read about our approach to external linking. I think I can add a lot to the table, like add a lot of aggression and grittiness.". Iguodala was named the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) First Vice President earlier this year. Your IP: [44][45] He was also the first MVP to not have started every game in the Finals. There have been a few things that Ive invested in that are no longer operating, but Ive learned so much through them. Aside winning several laurels as an NBA star, Iguodala is also a tech-investor and a. [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. His Lanphier jersey is now retired. About Andre Iguodala. I bring a mature, consistent approach, both on and off the floor, and I think that'll be beneficial early on," he said about the prospect of playing in the NBA. 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. The second edition saw other athletes from the NBA like Kevin Durant and Jaylen Brown make debuts. [94] Iguodala has a daughter and a son. [85], Iguodala continued with the Miami Heat in a bench-role for the 202021 season. This list will consider the players' impact on the NBA league and their current form and past seasons. ", "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. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 2001 Playoff Absolute Memorabilia #175 Andre Carter Premier Materials /850 RC at the best online prices at eBay! Eight of the draft picks are players with Nigerian heritage. Philadelphia started the season poorly but were one of the best teams down the stretch. You get to experience different cultures. Antony Ressler: Absolutely not. Victor began his NBA career in 2013 as a second overall draft pick by the Orlando Magic. 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. We went to the Dominican Republic, played there. [10], Iguodala initially signed a National Letter of Intent to play at Arkansas. That season, he averaged 23.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. Your login session has expired. 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.