Andre Iguodala’s jersey will forever catch on the rafters of Chase Center.
The Golden State Warriors officially withdrew the No. 9 of Iguodala on Sunday afternoon after the victory of the 126-102 team against the Dallas Mavericks in San Francisco. Former teammate Klay Thompson, who signed with the Mavericks Last intersaison, was also able to attend the ceremony.
Iguodala spent the back half of his career with the Warriors and was a key element of their four championship points. Iguodala made his debut with the Philadelphia 76ers, who selected it with the overall choice n ° 9 in 2004. After eight seasons there, Iguodala spent a season with the Denver Nuggets before landing with Golden State in 2013 .
Apart from a brief passage of two years with the Miami Heat in the middle there, Iguodala closed his player career with the Warriors. He retired after the 2022-23 campaign, which was a season after winning his fourth and last title in the eight years. In total, Iguodala collected an average of 11.3 points and 4.9 rebounds in 1,231 games during his career.
Iguodala was appointed MVP of the NBA final in 2015 when the Warriors beat Lebron James and the Cleveland horsemen to get what was their first of the three championships in the next four seasons. It was the first season of Steve Kerr as a team coach after taking over for Mark Jackson. Iguodala collected an average of 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists throughout the final this season, and he was the first to win the award without starting in each match in this series.
“When we won the first, it was almost as if we had to do it again to prove that it was not a stroke of luck,” said Iguodala, Via the Associated Press. “And then, once you have won the second, you say to yourself:” Okay, we have to start again because no one can touch us. ” And we have to start again because we are supposed to start again. »»
“These are only the unique characteristics of the great athletes, those who are never satisfied. It was in the DNA of each individual, and he has just integrated into the fabric of the organization. »»
Iguodala is now the seventh player to withdraw his jersey by the Warriors, joining Rick Barry, Wilt Chamberlain, Nate Thurmond, Al Attles, Chris Mullen and Tom Meschery. While other players from this Warriors dynasty will not follow in the coming years, Iguodala has passed first. Like the franchise glue, As Kerr described itIt only seems appropriate.
