Andre Iguodala facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Andre Iguodala

Iguodala with the Miami Heat in 2020
Personal information
Born	(1984-01-28) January 28, 1984 (age 41) Springfield, Illinois, U.S.
High school	Lanphier (Springfield, Illinois)
Listed height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight	215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
College	Arizona (2002–2004)
NBA Draft	2004 / Round: 1 / Pick: 9th overall
Selected by the Philadelphia 76ers
Pro career	2004–2023
Career history
2004–2012	Philadelphia 76ers
2012–2013	Denver Nuggets
2013–2019	Golden State Warriors
2020–2021	Miami Heat
2021–2023	Golden State Warriors
Career highlights and awards
4× NBA champion (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022) NBA Finals MVP (2015) NBA All-Star (2012) NBA All-Defensive First Team (2014) NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2011) NBA All-Rookie First Team (2005) First-team All-Pac-10 (2004) Pac-10 All-Freshman Team (2003) Second-team Parade All-American (2002)
Career statistics
Points	13,968 (11.3 ppg)
Rebounds	6,047 (4.9 rpg)
Assists	5,147 (4.2 apg)
Medals Men's basketball Representing  United States Olympic Games Gold 2012 London Team FIBA World Championship Gold 2010 Turkey Team

Andre Tyler Iguodala (born January 28, 1984) is a famous American former professional basketball player. He played for 19 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Andre was known as a "swingman," meaning he could play both small forward and shooting guard. He was an NBA All-Star in 2012 and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Team twice because of his great defense.

Iguodala won four NBA championships with the Golden State Warriors. He was even named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2015. This was a huge honor! He also played for the U.S. national team. With Team USA, he won gold medals at the 2010 FIBA World Championship and the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Andre played college basketball for the Arizona Wildcats. After college, the Philadelphia 76ers picked him ninth overall in the 2004 NBA draft. He played for the 76ers until 2012, then joined the Denver Nuggets. In 2013, he moved to the Golden State Warriors. With the Warriors, he became a key player, even coming off the bench as a "sixth man" for the first time in his career. He won the Finals MVP award after helping his team win the championship.

After winning three championships with the Warriors, Iguodala played for the Miami Heat for two years. He reached his sixth straight NBA Finals with the Heat in 2020. Then, he returned to Golden State in 2021 and won his fourth NBA championship that season. He played one more season with the Warriors before retiring in 2023.

Andre also served as a leader off the court. He was the first vice-president of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) and later became its Acting Executive Director.

Early Life and High School Basketball

Andre Iguodala was born in Springfield, Illinois. His older brother, Frank, also played college basketball. Andre's mother is African American, and his father is Nigerian. Growing up, Andre was a big fan of the Chicago Bulls. He especially looked up to basketball legend Michael Jordan.

Andre went to Lanphier High School in Springfield. He was a great student and athlete there. He earned academic honors and was named "Student-Athlete of the Week" many times. He also earned three letters in track for the high jump. In 2002, as a senior, Andre led his high school basketball team to a second-place finish in the state tournament. That season, he averaged 23.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. He was named "Player of the Year" by the Chicago Sun-Times. His Lanphier jersey number is now retired, which is a huge honor!

In the summer of 2000, Andre caught the eye of many college coaches. He hit a game-winning shot at the buzzer to help his team win the 17-and-under AAU national title. He was also named the tournament MVP. Andre played AAU basketball with the Illinois Warriors, a team that also featured future NBA stars like Dwyane Wade.

College Career at Arizona

Andre first planned to play college basketball at Arkansas. But when their coach was fired, he decided to go to Arizona instead. At Arizona, he played with other future NBA players like Channing Frye and Luke Walton.

As a freshman, Andre quickly became one of the best all-around players on the team. He was named to the Pac-10 All-Freshmen team in 2003. In his second year (sophomore season), he was named team MVP. He led his team in rebounds, assists, and steals. He also made the All-Pac-10 First Team. Andre even recorded three "triple-doubles" that season. A triple-double means getting at least 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in one game. Only one other player in Pac-10 history had done that twice in a season!

During his time at Arizona, the Wildcats made it to the NCAA Tournament both years. After two successful seasons, Andre decided to leave college early to enter the NBA draft.

Professional Career

Philadelphia 76ers (2004–2012)

Iguodala warming up prior to a game for the 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers picked Andre Iguodala as the 9th overall player in the 2004 NBA draft. Some experts doubted this choice, but Andre used that as motivation. He started every game in his rookie season and played in all 82 games. He quickly showed how versatile he was. Andre was the only rookie that season to record a triple-double. He averaged 9.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3 assists per game. He was named to the All-Rookie First Team.

Slam Dunk Contest and Leadership

Iguodala competed in the 2006 Slam Dunk Contest.

In his second season, Andre continued to start every game for the 76ers. In 2006, he won MVP honors at the Rookie Challenge during the NBA All-Star Weekend. He also took part in the exciting Slam Dunk Contest. He performed amazing dunks, including one where he received a pass from Allen Iverson and reverse dunked it.

After star player Allen Iverson was traded, Andre became a main leader for the 76ers. He helped the team improve their record significantly. He finished the season averaging 18.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.7 assists. Only a few other top players in the league matched these numbers.

Career High and Playoff Runs

In the 2007–08 season, Andre averaged a career-high 19.9 points per game. He led Philadelphia to the playoffs. They faced the Detroit Pistons and lost in six games. In 2008, Andre signed a new contract with the 76ers. He continued to be a key player, helping the team reach the playoffs again in 2009. He even hit a game-winning shot in Game 1 against the Orlando Magic.

In the 2010–11 season, Andre was named to the NBA All-Defensive Team Second Team for his excellent defense. He also had a career-best season in assists. In 2012, Andre was chosen for his first All-Star Game. He helped the 76ers upset the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the playoffs. This was a big win for the team!

Denver Nuggets (2012–2013)

Iguodala as a member of the Denver Nuggets

In 2012, Andre was traded to the Denver Nuggets. Many experts thought his arrival would make Denver a top team. The Nuggets had a record-breaking season with 57 wins and 15 wins in a row. However, they were upset in the first round of the playoffs by the Golden State Warriors. Andre played well in that series, averaging 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists.

Golden State Warriors (2013–2019)

Joining the Warriors and First Championship

In 2013, Andre joined the Golden State Warriors. He signed a four-year contract. He quickly made an impact, hitting game-winning shots against the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Atlanta Hawks. For his strong defense, he was named to the 2014 All-NBA Defensive First Team.

Iguodala fighting for the ball

In the 2014–15 season, the Warriors' new coach, Steve Kerr, decided to have Andre come off the bench as a "sixth man" instead of starting. This was a new role for Andre, but he played a very important part for the team. The Warriors made it to the 2015 NBA Finals to play against the Cleveland Cavaliers. With the Warriors down 2-1 in the series, Andre started Game 4. He scored a season-high 22 points. The Warriors' smaller lineup, which became known as the "Death Lineup," helped them win the series in six games. Andre was named the Finals MVP! He was the first player to win this award without starting every game in the Finals.

Record-Breaking Season and More Championships

Iguodala in 2016

In the 2015–16 season, the Warriors had an amazing start, winning their first 24 games. They finished the regular season with a 73–9 record, which was the best in NBA history! Andre was a runner-up for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award. The Warriors reached the 2016 NBA Finals again, facing the Cavaliers. They took a 3–1 lead in the series but unfortunately lost in seven games. In the final game, Andre was involved in a famous play called "The Block" where LeBron James blocked his layup attempt.

In the 2016–17 season, the Warriors had another great year, finishing with a 67–15 record. They made it to their third straight NBA Finals, again against the Cavaliers. Andre was a key player off the bench, often guarding LeBron James. The Warriors won the championship in five games, finishing the playoffs with an incredible 16–1 record. This is the best postseason winning percentage in NBA history!

Andre re-signed with the Warriors in 2017. In December 2017, he played his 1,000th regular-season game, a big milestone. The Warriors won their third championship in four years in the 2018 NBA Finals, sweeping the Cavaliers. In the 2018–19 season, Andre helped the Warriors reach the 2019 NBA Finals for the fifth straight time. They lost to the Toronto Raptors in six games.

Miami Heat (2020–2021)

In 2019, Andre was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. He later joined the Miami Heat in February 2020. As part of the trade, he signed a new contract with Miami. The Heat reached the 2020 NBA Finals, but they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. This was Andre's sixth straight trip to the NBA Finals, making him one of only ten players in NBA history to achieve this! He continued to play for the Heat in the 2020–21 season.

Return to Golden State (2021–2023)

In August 2021, Andre Iguodala returned to the Golden State Warriors. Even with limited playing time due to an injury, he helped the Warriors win his fourth championship in the 2022 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics.

He re-signed with the Warriors for the 2022–23 season, announcing it would be his last. After missing many games due to a hip injury, he made his season debut in January 2023. However, he later fractured his left wrist, which required surgery.

Retirement

On October 20, 2023, Andre Iguodala officially announced his retirement after 19 seasons in the NBA.

National Team Career

Iguodala (left) strips the ball from Linas Kleiza as a member of Team USA.

Andre was a member of the U.S. national team. He won a gold medal at the 2010 FIBA World Championship. He showed off his amazing athleticism with many fastbreak dunks.

He was also chosen for the 2012 London Olympics team. He was picked because of his outstanding defensive skills. He helped Team USA win the gold medal against Spain. Coach Mike Krzyzewski even compared Andre's playing style to that of NBA legend Scottie Pippen. Andre also won a bronze medal with the U.S. team at the FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship in 2002.

Personal Life and Interests

In August 2015, Andre married his childhood sweetheart, Christina Gutierrez. They have two children. Andre is a Christian and believes his faith helps him stay balanced and focused.

He is known for his charity work. The Sporting News named him one of "the good guys of 2006" for starting a fund to help tornado victims in his hometown. He also created the Andre Iguodala Youth Foundation. This organization uses sports to help young people. They host basketball camps and give food baskets to families in need during Thanksgiving.

Andre is also a big fan of golf and video games, especially the NBA 2K series. He even played in a tournament against other NBA players at a game launch party.

Business and Media Interests

Andre Iguodala is a successful tech investor. He encourages other NBA athletes to invest in the technology industry. He and his partner, Rudy Cline-Thomas, have invested in many companies, including Facebook, Twitter, and Tesla. They have also invested in many different startup companies.

Andre is also a Venture Partner in the Catalyst Fund. This fund invests in founders and entrepreneurs from groups that are not often represented in tech. He is also an investor in Team SoloMid (TSM), an American gaming organization.

Since October 2023, Andre has served as the executive director of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA). In this role, he works to protect the rights of NBA players and ensure they are fairly compensated. He was a member of the NBPA's executive committee for 10 years before this role.

In May 2024, Andre was inducted into the Boys & Girls Clubs of America 2024 Alumni Hall of Fame.

Career Statistics

NBA

Regular season

Playoffs

College

See Also

In Spanish: Andre Iguodala para niños

• List of National Basketball Association career games played leaders
• List of National Basketball Association career steals leaders
• List of National Basketball Association seasons played leaders
• List of National Basketball Association annual minutes leaders