is andre iguodala nigerian
He was named Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year as well as a second-team Parade All-American and Nike All-American. Hard work, the way you have to handle your business, always working hard, trusting family, just respect, core values and stuff like that.. [10], Iguodala initially signed a National Letter of Intent to play at Arkansas. 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. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. DeAaron Fox showed Russell Westbrook nothing but respect after defeating the Clippers on Friday. Getty Images. [12], Iguodala also won a bronze medal with the U.S. at the FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship in 2002. Iguodala's mother is African American while his father is Nigerian. 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 had previously served as vice-president of the NBPA executive committee starting in 2013. Theyve been trying to get here for a long time now, Iguodala said. 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. Remember I wrote that it has an Igbo meaning but I'm not sure whether its an Igbo name. With a Game 7 victory, the Warriors moved on to the NBA Finals for the second straight year. 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 older brother, Frank, played for Lake Land College in Mattoon, Illinois, and Dayton. 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. Iguodala averaged 5.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists in the regular season. He can knock down mid-range jumpers, floaters and fadeaways to score in contests making him a lethal scorer. [16][17] He finished fourth in voting for NBA Rookie of the Year.[18]. This led to the firing of Nuggets coach George Karl, who just won the NBA Coach of the Year Award. 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). His arrival in Denver led to some league experts labeling Denver a contender. [13] However, on July 25, 2017, Iguodala re-signed with the Warriors[62] on a three-year, $48 million contract. 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 Lanphier jersey is now retired. Thats tough, but we didnt deserve to win. Andre Iguodala. Iguodala was second behind James for most triple-doubles during the 201011 season. Aside winning several laurels as an NBA star, Iguodala is also a tech-investor and a leading advocate for athletes in the NBA to invest in the technology industry. He was awarded the Finals MVP in 2015. And I wouldnt trade anything for my culture and me being from Nigeria.. As the owner, what is your level of accountability? 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. We want to be a good representation of what we believe in When you go out there, youre not just representing your country or the NBA, youre representing your beliefs. This year, a country has established its presence during the NBA drafts - Nigeria. In his rookie year, Ayton posted noteworthy numbers by averaging 16.3 points and 10.3 rebounds. And so, "Iguodala" could easily mean "Weed/wheat/hay which he/she threw (which fell)" Some Igbo names are in the context of . He had narrowed down his list of desired schools to two: Kansas or Arkansas. Your IP: Andre Iguodala, an 18-year veteran of the NBA, has made his mark as one of the league's premier players. [34] On November 14, Iguodala made the game-winning, buzzer-beating shot in the Warriors' 116115 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. What building a culture really means, and make sure we have a roster that can accommodate those priorities. In the FIBA World Championships Iguodala displayed his athleticism with an array of fastbreak dunks. The 76ers were eventually defeated in 5 games. Mr. 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. [99][100] Iguodala enjoys playing video games, particularly the NBA 2K series. Iguodala got off to a slow start to the season, even to a point where he was leading the league in turnovers. Iguodala is a huge figure who wields influence in both on and off the court of Basketball. His mother is African American, while his father is Nigerian. He played like a man possessed while under the paint. 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. Philadelphia was set to face the No. 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. 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. [3], Iguodala was born in Springfield, Illinois. Andre Iguodala found himself in recent months in discussions with his few N.B.A. Iguodala was born in Springfield, Illinois on January 28, 1984. For his defensive contributions to the Warriors, Iguodala was named to the 2014 All-NBA Defensive first team. From China to the United States and everywhere in between, basketball (and in turn the NBA) has grown immensely over the years. 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. BBC Sport Africa has been finding out about all eight of the players set to be the stars of the future. Im glad he played well, but Im glad we got the win. He has won three NBA championships with the Golden State Warriors and was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2015. "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. 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. In the second round, Iguodala helped the Warriors defeat the Portland Trail Blazers in five games to qualify for the Western Conference Finals. It was a grind, to be honest. He rested on one end of every back-to-back the . Performance & security by Cloudflare. [13] On March 6, 2017, he set a new season high with 24 points in a 119111 win over the Atlanta Hawks. I made some investment in startups with my E-Trade account. The most noteworthy performance of his career came last season when the Phoenix Suns reached the NBA finals, a first for Ayton. Previously with the 3-time NBA Champions Golden State Warriors, Iguodala was drafted into the NBA in 2004. [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. During the 2011 NBA lockout, Iguodala had a week-long internship with Merrill Lynch.[28]. Antony Ressler on Trae Young: 'I don't open the door or close the door to any personnel'. The NBA is home to talent from all over the world. Iguodala has played in six NBA finals, out of which five were with the Golden State Warriors and one with the Miami Heat. Thats something that theyve talked about, having a Team Nigeria in Miami, and I think its cool, Erik Spoelstra said. For other guys like Vincent and Achiuwa, it was a bit different. A lot of companies were in this area. Iguodala is a huge figure who wields influence in both on and off the court of Basketball. Though he made the team after sinking a game-winning three against Poland in the 2019 Peak Tournament, it wasnt all smooth sailing. Per the Philly Inquirer: Iguodalas father is Nigerian. [103], Together with partner Rudy Cline-Thomas, Iguodala has been able to invest in companies like Facebook, Twitter, and Tesla. [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. Giannis is often double-teamed in defense and yet he spins, pivots, or just drives past. He began his career as the first overall NBA draft pick in 2018. "I've added 20 pounds of muscle. And at around the age of 16, Adebayo felt compelled to delve more into his Nigerian roots. [101], In March 2015, Twice, an online secondhand apparel outlet, named Iguodala its Menswear Style Director. Born to Nigerian immigrants, Giannis is from Greece. [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. In 2017, he partnered with Bloomberg on the creation of The Players Technology Summit which convenes top executives and leaders in the technology, venture capital, and sports communities to exchange ideas and share expertise in an educational and empowering forum. During his career at Arizona, the Wildcats made it to the NCAA Tournament both seasons. During the summer of 2000, Iguodala captured the attention of coaches around the nation as he was named the AAU national tournament Most Valuable Player after hitting the game-winning shot at the final buzzer to give his team the 17-and-under national title. 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. On defense, Giannis swats the ball away with ease. He was born to Nigerian parents who are pentecostal ministers in Minnesota, with his father Francis a former table tennis player for Nigeria. 2 seed Detroit. He also made the All-Pac-10 First Team and was named Honorable Mention All-America by The Associated Press. Free shipping for many products! 9 jersey. On defense, Oladipo can guard all around his court. Nerlens Noel is signing a deal with the Brooklyn Nets, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. American Basketball star Andre Iguodala , a notable tech investor and board member of Jumia Group, recently visited Nigeria his country of descent to engage . He plays like a typical center, his strong fundamentals help him score. "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.". It keeps me focused When people see us on the court, we want them to see God's work. He had been making those shots all game, man. [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. American Basketball star. Previously with the 3-time NBA Champions Golden State Warriors, Iguodala was drafted into the NBA in 2004. 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. Iguodalas father is Nigerian. 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! 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. That season, he averaged 23.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. Im proud of where Im from. Precious Achiuwa is the third Nigerian-born player to be drafted in the first round since 2000, while soon after Udoka Azubuike was the 4th. 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). 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.. [53] The Warriors would again play the Cleveland Cavaliers for the championship. [105], Iguodala appeared as a fictionalized version of himself in the second season of Abbott Elementary (2022).[106]. [48] The Warriors' NBA-record start ended after 24 wins when they lost to the Milwaukee Bucks 10895 on December 12. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. 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. Eight of the draft picks are players with Nigerian heritage. In the playoffs, Iguodala had the assignment of guarding James and Dwyane Wade in the first round. 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. National Basketball Association, NBA star, Andre Tyler Iguodala is on his way to Africa. Be the first one to comment on this story. His partnership with entrepreneurs in San Franciscos Silicon Valley has led to an annual event tagged Players Technology Summit. 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 annual draft sees NBA teams choose from the world's best young talent. The second edition saw other athletes from the NBA like Kevin Durant and Jaylen Brown make debuts. The inaugural edition of the event began in 2017 where Iguodala and teammate Stephen Curry played hosts. Antony Ressler: There should be clarity. Daniel Oturu was the third choice in the second round of the draft which made him the 33rd pick overall. After attending Lanphier High School in Springfield, Illinois, Iguodala enrolled at the University of Arizona. [58] The Warriors finished the season as the first seed in the West with a 6715 record. [5] He later established the Andre Iguodala Youth Foundation, whose stated mission is to use sports as a means to help youths. 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. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. [32][33] He officially joined the Warriors in a three-team sign-and-trade deal with the Nuggets and the Utah Jazz. 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. The swingman was an NBA All-Star in 2012 and has been named to the NBA All-Defensive Team twice. His partnership with entrepreneurs in San Francisco's Silicon Valley has led to an annual event tagged Players Technology Summit. That should be everyone's goal, to win a championship that everyone wants to win," Okongwu insisted. Andre Iguodala will return to play his 19th season in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors, the veteran announced on his "Point Forward" podcast Friday morning. [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. He was named to the Pac-10 All-Freshmen team for 200203. Thats where I grew up. Complete listing of all NBA Players and team rosters. [12][13], Iguodala was selected 9th overall in the 2004 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. Philadelphia 76ers Andre Iguodala #9 NBA SWINGMAN adidas Basketball Jersey XL | Sport, Weitere Ballsportarten, Basketball | eBay! Once he picks up momentum it is unstoppable to stop the Greek Freek. He reminds me a lot of Kevin Garnett with his package - his athleticism, his skill set," Underwood said. Rookie Of The Year", "Iguodala powers sophomores in Rookie Challenge", "Robinson, not Iguodala, wins dunkfest amid controversy", "Andre Iguodala Finally Speaks On Being Robbed of 2006 Dunk Contest By Nate Robinson (Because Of Manny Pacquiao)", "He Got (Nate) Robbed: The Oral History of the 2006 NBA Dunk Contest", "Sources: Iguodala agrees to six-year, $80 million deal with Sixers", "Iguodala signs reported six-year, $80 million deal with 76ers", "Denver Nuggets acquire All-Star, Olympian Andre Iguodala", "Warriors, not Grizzlies, are to blame for Andre Iguodala predicament", "Warriors Acquire Andre Iguodala from Denver Nuggets as Part of Three-Team Trade", "Warriors beat Thunder at buzzer, 116-115", "Andre Iguodala hits buzzer-beater 3 to extend Warriors winning streak to eight games (Video)", "Warriors Forward Andre Iguodala Earns NBA All-Defensive First Team Honors - Golden State Warriors", "Iguodala's Willingness to Come off Bench Helps Key Warriors", "Andre Iguodala named Finals MVP after coming off bench to begin series", "Andre Iguodala's defense on LeBron helps him win Finals MVP", "Andre Iguodala 2015-16 Game Log - Basketball-Reference.com", "Clippers' Crawford named Kia NBA Sixth Man of Year", "With Andre Iguodala back in the starting lineup, Warriors are back in the NBA Finals", "When LeBron swooped in and changed the course of Cavs' history", "Hawks vs. Warriors - Game Recap - November 28, 2016 - ESPN", "Warriors rout defending champion Cavaliers 126-91 in rematch", "Iguodala scores 24 to lead Warriors past Hawks, 119-111", "Warriors' Andre Iguodala fined, offers no apology for racial comments", "Warriors trounce Lakers, finish regular season with 67-15 record", "Warriors sweep Spurs, enter NBA Finals 12-0", "Steve Kerr went with his best closer again -- Andre Iguodala for the title", "Warriors Re-Sign Curry, Durant, Iguodala, Livingston, Pachulia and West to Contracts", "Andre Iguodala, Warriors agree to three-year, $48 million deal", "Durant leads short-handed Warriors past Portland 111-104", "Durant has 43, Warriors take 3-0 NBA Finals lead over Cavs", "Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala will play in Game 3 of The Finals", "Sources: Grizz explore trade market for Iguodala", "Warriors Start Hamptons Five, Showing Urgency in Win Over Rockets", "After Game 1, Steve Kerr says 'it's a series where we can play more people', "Warriors Sweep Blazers to Reach Their 5th Straight N.B.A. 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. Even though I wasn't born in Nigeria, I still got Nigerian blood. [4] His mother is African American, while his father is Nigerian. [103], Iguodala is a Venture Partner in the Catalyst Fund, which invests in underrepresented founders and entrepreneurs of tech companies. Iguodala will promote business development and technology in the U.S. on behalf of Lagos-based Jumia, the online marketplace founded in 2012 that sells 6 million products from more than 50,000 . [46] He finished the series averaging 16.3 points, 4 assists, and 5.8 rebounds. [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. 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. Considered a four-star recruit by Scout.com, Iguodala was listed as the No. Bam Adebayo, simply put, has no regard for the basket. His return fill's the team's 14th . Of course I take responsibility. About Andre Iguodala. During the season, he averaged 9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 32.8 minutes per game. In July 2013, Iguodala declined a five-year deal with Denver and agreed to a four-year for a reported $48 million with the Golden State Warriors. Andre Iguodala, who was born on January 28, 1984, will be 38 years old in 2022. 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. In the playoffs, the Sixers lost in the first round to the Pistons in 6 games after leading the series 21. My body feels explosive. Copyright 2023 SLAM Media Inc. SLAM, SLAMTV, SLAM MEDIA and the SLAM logo are registered Jim, we did it baby! 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. Iguodala was born in Springfield, Illinois. [93], In August 2015, Iguodala married his childhood sweetheart, Christina Gutierrez, at One&Only Palmilla in Los Cabos, Mexico. With Golden State down 21 in the series, Iguodala made his first start of the season, replacing center Andrew Bogut in Game 4. 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! Whether it works out or not, its a learning experience. 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. [49] An ankle injury suffered in early March forced Iguodala to miss 13 straight games. The Warriors received a traded player exception in the deal. 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. 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. trademarks of Slam Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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". Theres a lot of talent in Africa, Achiuwa said. I make sure I stay in chapel and have a good relationship with our chaplain. As part of the trade, he agreed to a two-year, $30 million extension with Miami, with the last year being a team option. He showed his versatility during the season posting up a career-high in triple-doubles. [94] Iguodala has a daughter and a son. [97], The Sporting News named Iguodala one of "the good guys of 2006" for establishing the Andre Iguodala Disaster Relief Fund that raised money for tornado victims in his hometown of Springfield, Illinois. In acknowledgment of the players of Nigerian Origin's impact on the NBA, this list is a chronicle of the best such active players. We did not. Iguodala also expressed his observation that there are not enough black athletes involved in tech investments. He was raised in Springfield, Illinois, a city in the United States. A four-time NBA Champion with the Golden State Warriors and one of the leaders of the . He has an older. Antony Ressler: Landry and Kyle are trying to create strongly what it means to be a Hawk. In Game 7, Iguodala started in place of Harrison Barnes and again marked Kevin Durant. Per the Philly Inquirer: "Iguodala's father is. Antony Ressler: We just elevated Landry, elevated Kyle and we brought in a world-class coach (Quin Snyder). Latest on Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN After three championships and five trips to the Finals with the Warriors, Iguodala had a two-year stint with the Miami Heat, with whom he reached his sixth straight Finals in 2020. He went on to play for the Golden State Warriors and won. Per Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated, Adebayo had actually planned on going to that camp last summer before COVID hit. 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. Collins called him a "stat-sheet stuffer". There were like four or five companies total where we made some great success with the investments. ", "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. Iguodala was a member of the United States national team in the 2010 FIBA World Championship, winning the gold medal. 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. With Iguodala now averaging 40.3 minutes per game, he led the Sixers on a late-season run, finishing the rest of the season 2621 and almost clinching the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, although their late run came more as a result of other teams "tanking" to secure a higher draft pick. Giannis is a force of nature, an unstoppable force that mows down everything in its path. Iguodala was also a finalist for the Illinois Mr. Basketball award, which was awarded to Dee Brown. So it's just having that on my shoulders.". [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. I've come a long way since high school. Continuing, he said You see that it is not something that is trendy. [19] A day later, he participated in the Slam Dunk Contest. He went on to play for the Golden State Warriors and won three rings in 2015, 2017, and 2018. Free shipping for many products! His mother is African American, while his father is Nigerian. Then we invested in Apple. In Game 1, Orlando had an 18-point lead in the fourth quarter, but Philadelphia made an amazing comeback led by Iguodala, eventually scoring a step-back, fadeaway jumper in the face of Hedo Trkolu with 2.2 seconds remaining to give the Sixers the win. A 6' 4" shooting guard, he is agile and athletic with exceptional explosive strength. I never gave it any serious thought. [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. His mother is African American, while his father is Nigerian. [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.