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And so, "Iguodala" could easily mean "Weed/wheat/hay which he/she threw (which fell)" Some Igbo names are in the context of . Theyve been trying to get here for a long time now, Iguodala said. Learn how your money works in different investment gigs. Iguodala was picked up in the 2004 NBA drafts by the Philadelphia 76ers. Andre Iguodala, whose father is Nigerian, turned down Team Nigeria when they repeatedly tried to recruit him for their Olympic squad. He also made the All-Pac-10 First Team and was named Honorable Mention All-America by The Associated Press. 6 small forward and the No. Copyright 2023 SLAM Media Inc. SLAM, SLAMTV, SLAM MEDIA and the SLAM logo are registered I think I can add a lot to the table, like add a lot of aggression and grittiness.". for $3.6 million. In 2015 he received the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award. 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. Sadness. 153.122.85.11 When people see us on the court, we want them to see Gods work. Andre Iguodala is signing with the Golden State Warriors, according to Jonathan Abrams of the New York Times on Friday. "A defensive specialist, that's mostly what I did at Kansas. Collins called him a "stat-sheet stuffer". 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. 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. Read about our approach to external linking. Constantly contesting with the help of his exceptional strength and size. His parents were Nigerian immigrants who moved to America. 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). In the final round, he did a behind-the-back dunk and followed with a reverse. 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. Im glad he played well, but Im glad we got the win. The swingman was an NBA All-Star in 2012 and has been named to the NBA All-Defensive Team twice. [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. I feel quick. Iguodalas father is Nigerian. The 22-year-old was the last of the players of Nigerian heritage to be selected in the first round of the draft. His partnership with entrepreneurs in San Francisco's Silicon Valley has led to an annual event tagged Players Technology Summit. 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. ", "Anger. 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). 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. With Golden State down 21 in the series, Iguodala made his first start of the season, replacing center Andrew Bogut in Game 4. And then with other companies, I am doing very well. I didn't think I'd be able to play at a level like Louisville," he said before the draft. Oladipo is a multi-dimensional player. [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. And I wouldnt trade anything for my culture and me being from Nigeria.. Continuing, he said You see that it is not something that is trendy. He is the son of Linda Shanklin. 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 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. Aug 6, 2021 at 11:20 am ET 1 min read. "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.". This is the first time Nigeria qualified for the Olympics, but with Iguodala aboard, who knows if the team would have made it sooner? He played like a man possessed while under the paint. The 19-year-old shooting guard is 6ft 9 and was a high school teammate of third pick LaMelo Ball at Chino Hills in California, where he was born. News: 20 hours agoIguodala (hip) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Pelicans. On his 28th birthday, Iguodala recorded a 10-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist triple-double effort in a win over the Pistons. Other players involved in the deal included All-Stars Andrew Bynum and Dwight Howard. Fulfilling, I dont even think that is the word for it. So it's just having that on my shoulders.". Andre Iguodala is an American professional basketball who has a net worth of $50 million. The NBA is home to talent from all over the world. 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. 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. [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. [52] The Warriors went on to defeat the Rockets in five games. Your IP: Thats where I grew up. "I watched the NBA Finals, and thankful that they're welcoming me to Miami. The 6ft 11 center was born to a Nigerian father and American mother and played college basketball for the Arizona Wildcats. The 2020-21 NBA Champion and NBA Finals MVP, a player who is now arguably the best player in the league, Giannis Antetokounmpo is without a question number 1 on our list. Iguodala averaged career-highs in rebounds, assists, and blocks, and a career-low in personal fouls. 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 meaning in Igbo is something like " (Igu) Weed/wheat/hay, (o) referring to a person in the like of he/she, (dala) fell/fall". 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. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2b9bbd9d8d80d2 The 76ers were eventually defeated in 5 games. 8 years ago today. He is expected to promote the companys business development and technology in the U.S. Iguodala is not only excited that he is visiting Nigeria for the first time as an adult, he is happy to invest home. [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. [35] Getting the inbound pass from Klay Thompson, Iguodala turned and made the fade-away jump shot over the Thunder's Thabo Sefolosha. 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. 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. 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. From China to the United States and everywhere in between, basketball (and in turn the NBA) has grown immensely over the years. As the owner, what is your level of accountability? [95][96], Iguodala is a Christian. In Game 6 of the series, Iguodala's defense on Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook was key to the Warriors forcing Game 7. While in secondary school, he consistently maintained excellent grades . [11] However, after their coach, Nolan Richardson, was fired that year (2002), Iguodala decided to attend Arizona instead. The second edition saw other athletes from the NBA like Kevin Durant and Jaylen Brown make debuts. He has also been named to the NBA All-Defensive Team twice. 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. And we felt like we fell short without getting a medal. His high-flying leap and freakishly strong frame put him at second number on this list. [102], Iguodala is a tech investor and a leading advocate for athletes in the NBA to invest in the technology industry. CC:Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images for techCrunch "For me, it's really important because I have a lot of roots in Africa with my father being from Nigeria," Iguodala told TechCrunch over the phone this week. 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. Then we invested in Apple. [3], Iguodala was born in Springfield, Illinois. [46][47], On November 11, 2015, Iguodala scored a season-high 20 points against the Memphis Grizzlies to help the Warriors begin the season 90. I'm just excited to do whatever I can to help our team win.". [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]. It was always my dream to play for the USA team, Iguodala said. Thats something that theyve talked about, having a Team Nigeria in Miami, and I think its cool, Erik Spoelstra said. The Sixers hired coach Eddie Jordan to take over for Tony DiLeo. Andre Iguodala. [12][13], Iguodala was selected 9th overall in the 2004 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. 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. 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. During the season, he averaged 9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 32.8 minutes per game. A four-time NBA Champion with the Golden State Warriors and one of the leaders of the . 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. Antony Ressler: We just elevated Landry, elevated Kyle and we brought in a world-class coach (Quin Snyder). Iguodala is a huge figure who wields influence in both on and off the court of Basketball. At the time of Webber's release, the Sixers were 926 (Iverson only played 15 games before he was traded). [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 return fill's the team's 14th . [32][33] He officially joined the Warriors in a three-team sign-and-trade deal with the Nuggets and the Utah Jazz. Jim, we did it baby! [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. Iguodala was second behind James for most triple-doubles during the 201011 season. In the FIBA World Championships Iguodala displayed his athleticism with an array of fastbreak dunks. 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. 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. Victory. In 2002, he played in the Jordan Brand Classic in Washington, D.C. 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. 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. [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. 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. 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. "It's also just a blessing. He was named NBA All-Star in 2012. Iguodala averaged 5.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists in the regular season. [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. Free shipping for many products! [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. Name. [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 swingman was an NBA All-Star in 2012 and has been named to the NBA All-Defensive Team twice. In the playoffs, the Sixers lost in the first round to the Pistons in 6 games after leading the series 21. In the game, he scored 10 points, caught 10 rebounds and dished out 10 assists. It doesnt even do it justice. In his rookie year, he teamed up with Allen Iverson and would regularly display his leap to convert Iverson Alley Oops into monsterous dunks. 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. Coming into the 201011 NBA season, the 76ers were expected to rebound from their poor season. National Basketball Association, NBA star, Andre Tyler Iguodala is on his way to Africa. 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. Its interesting. 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. 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]. Mr. '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?! Early into the season, Philadelphia was struggling, which led to the departure of head coach Maurice Cheeks. In the playoffs, Iguodala had the assignment of guarding James and Dwyane Wade in the first round. Im glad he played well, but Im glad we got the win. 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. [92] He helped Team USA win the gold medal against Spain in a 107100 victory. It was a grind, to be honest. 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. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. On February 17, 2006, at the Rookie Challenge, Iguodala won MVP honors for his 30-point performance in the Sophomores win. [38] The win extended the Warriors' season-high winning streak to 8 games. He captured the Finals MVP after returning to the starting lineup in the middle of the championship series. Iguodala had averaged 18.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game through 82 regular-season games. But I think once guys get in, what they are realizing is this is not a quick space. 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. Basketballers from every corner of the planet dream of playing in the league one day. 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). [68][69] After starting nine consecutive games,[70] he missed the deciding Game 4 in the conference finals against Portland with a sore left calf injury from Game 3. Its just one of those random occurrences, but it shows you how much basketball has grown. 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. Iggy is currently playing for Miami Heat. It didnt feel right to me. Iguodala was born in Springfield, Illinois. His mother is African American, while his father is Nigerian. He plays like a typical center, his strong fundamentals help him score. He is very close to his parents and his parents also supported him in every phase of his life. Game 5 had it all as the Warriors' title hopes stay alive and they mourn Kevin Durant's injury", "Why Iguodala didn't plan to sit out, re-sign with Warriors", "Warriors trade Andre Iguodala to Grizzlies; Lacob says team will retire jersey", "Why the collapse of the Warriors feels so abrupt", "Warriors Acquire All-Star Guard D'Angelo Russell From Brooklyn Nets", "Should the Blazers be a candidate to acquire Andre Iguodala from the Grizzlies? 9 jersey. For his defensive efforts throughout the season, Iguodala was named to the NBA All-Defensive Team Second Team, though his coaches and teammates lobbied for him to make the First Team. [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. "My hope was to end up in a great organisation, and thank God my prayers got answered and I'm part of a great organisation," Achiuwa said. The Sixers, however, were a big disappointment, going only 2755 during the regular season and missing the playoffs after two straight playoff berths. Andre Tyler Iguodala (born January 28, 1984) is an American professional basketball swingman for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). 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. peers remaining, the ones who sculpted paralleling journeys, from being teenagers to experiencing parenthood, from . 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. Jumia made the announcement stating that the 35-year old Andre will be "charged with promoting business development and technology in Africa.". [30] Iguodala returned on opening night of 201213 to play his former team. We want to be a good representation of what we believe in. [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. I had a similar role to affect the game defensively. 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). 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 . Andre Tyler Iguodala (born January 28, 1984) is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Iguodala was enticed by Arkansas's 13 system, which would have allowed Iguodala to run the point occasionally. He was named Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year as well as a second-team Parade All-American and Nike All-American. It keeps me focused When people see us on the court, we want them to see God's work. On defense, Giannis swats the ball away with ease. Per Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated, Adebayo had actually planned on going to that camp last summer before COVID hit. His mother is African American, while his father is Nigerian. Full Name. Iguodala got off to a slow start to the season, even to a point where he was leading the league in turnovers. For his defensive contributions to the Warriors, Iguodala was named to the 2014 All-NBA Defensive first team. After attending Lanphier High School in Springfield, Illinois, Iguodala enrolled at the University of Arizona. 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. Spin: Iguodala hasn't suited up since mid-January and will miss yet another game Friday. In Game 7, Iguodala started in place of Harrison Barnes and again marked Kevin Durant. Landry has referenced the need for accountability. In his sophomore year, Arizona was defeated in the first round by Seton Hall. I've really improved my jump shot and shooting the three-pointer well. Miami Heat may well get a few more fans in Nigeria as Achiuwa will join four others at the team who have Nigerian heritage - Bam Adebayo, Andre Iguodala, Chikezie 'KZ' Okpala and Gabe Vincent. In the playoffs the 76ers were set to face the third seed Orlando Magic. Aside winning several laurels as an NBA star, Iguodala is also a tech-investor and a. In their conference finals match-up with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Iguodala helped the Warriors fight back from a 31 deficit in the series to win clinch a 43 victory. 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. 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. Born to Nigerian immigrants, Giannis is from Greece. That was just an E-Trade investment. That team, which includes Penn grad Koko Archibong, will compete in these Games with nine American-born players on its roster. American Basketball star Andre Iguodala , a notable tech investor and board member of Jumia Group, recently visited Nigeria his country of descent to engage . You get to experience different cultures. I didnt necessarily show well early on in the Training Camp process. At Arizona, Iguodala planned to major in education. [5] Growing up, Iguodala rooted for the Chicago Bulls, and he cites Michael Jordan as the player he looked up to.[6]. Click to reveal [60] The Warriors would again matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals where Iguodala was a key bench player during the 2017 NBA Finals, often guarding James and scored 20 points in Game 5,[61] helping the Warriors win the championship by defeating the Cavaliers in five games.