The Golden State Warriors couldn’t have done it without him.
Most fans associate the Warriors’ dynasty era with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green — their Big 3. Though it was a bit controversial, in the time that Kevin Durant was with Golden State, he became a two-time NBA Finals MVP. However, Andre Iguodala was there for the entire ride.
In 2013, Iguodala signed a four-year contract, $48 million with the Warriors, officially landing in the Bay with a three-team sign-and-trade. At the time, he was coming off of a solid season with the Denver Nuggets, though it was far from his best.
Warriors Set To Retire Andre Iguodala’s Jersey
The ninth overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft, Iguodala’s best individual stretch came with the Philadelphia 76ers. While entering the league as an explosive two-way playmaker, he quickly evolved into one of the better slashers. From 2006-07 –his third career season –to 2009-10, he averaged 18.5 points, 5.4 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. However, being the No. 1 scoring option didn’t seem to be his ambition. Because the Sixers had traded away Allen Iverson, who’s now a Hall of Famer, they simply needed someone to step up.
That may have played a role in the way that Iguodala approached the 2012-13 season.
The Nuggets didn’t have an elite scorer on their roster. However, Danilo Gallinari and Ty Lawson were younger players averaging over 16 points per game. Denver, who led the league in scoring, didn’t need another bucket-getter. Iguodala’s athleticism added a different dynamic to their offense but they needed a lockdown perimeter defender.
They ended up liking him so much that they offered him a five-year, $60 million contract extension in the offseason. He declined, believing he was worth at least $80 million (h/t Samantha Dorisca of Yahoo Sports). The rest is history.
Golden Era
Golden State offered Iguodala a less lucrative contract. Yet, he didn’t mind much because he felt the difference in guaranteed money –$52 million from the Nuggets and $48 million from the Warriors –was negligible, per Christopher Dempsey (formerly of The Denver Post). He also believed that the Warriors’ style suited him better.
Little did he know that he was on the path to glory.
Iguoadala’s first season with the franchise was Mark Jackson’s last as their head coach. By all accounts, the switch from Jackson to Steve Kerr is what led to Golden State’s golden years. He designed an offense that was centered around Curry’s gravity but emphasized three-point shooting, ball-movement, and pace. They were especially formidable when they went small. Called their Death Lineup, this quintet led to Green playing point-center and Iguodala playing like a point-forward.
Eventually, teams realized that Curry wasn’t particularly fond of physical on-ball defense. As much as LeBron James and Kyrie Irving contributed to the Warriors’ takedown in 2016, this was one of the reasons why they were able to make the first 3-1 comeback in NBA Finals history. Golden State countered by signing Durant, who Iguodala considers to be the greatest scorer ever.
By the time Iguodala retired, he was a four-time NBA champion; a crucial piece in a dynasty team. In fact, he won the NBA Finals MVP award in 2015 due to the defense he played against James. In 2016 and 2017, he was runner-up for the Sixth Man of the Year award.
A lasting legacy.
Iguodala, number 9. Forever in the rafters. pic.twitter.com/QRQbRxkifS
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) January 28, 2025
Now, he’ll be honored for his contributions, his No. 9 jersey set to be lifted in the rafters on Feb. 23.
