Andre Iguodala Announces Return for 19th season
With the preseason fast approaching, the Warriors have carved out who will be on their roster for this upcoming year. One of the only question marks remaining was whether or not Andre Iguodala would be returning or retiring after a long and successful career in the NBA. And after many months of consideration, he finally broke the silence on his Point Forward Podcast on Friday morning.
Iguodala opened saying, “I myself will be returning for my nineteenth season and Evan Turner and I will return to perform our Point Forward duties.” So not only is he returning to the Dubs, but fans also get more of an inside scoop on his thoughts about the game just as Draymond did last year with his podcast. That is what his role will be as the Warriors try to go back-to-back, is to instill wisdom into the younger guys like Moody and Kuminga. This Udonis Haslem type of role is needed now more than ever for the team as the younger guys should see more minutes after the loss of multiple key role players.
Speaking of roles, Iguodala has been a staple piece in the Warriors core championship teams over the past eight years and played his role at the highest level. So when he saw his guys needed him for one last run, he had to help them out. When asked what changed his mind on retirement his response was simple, “I’m going to blame a few people, Steph Curry is one of them, but as a group I’m blaming Steph, Klay, and Draymond, as well as Steve Kerr and Bob Myers.” All of these guys helped Iguodala better understand how valuable he is to the team’s success.
Not only that but he has a chance to help better not only his own legacy but the guys around him. The core trio of Steph, Klay and Draymond are proven to be winners when everyone is healthy. And the trio as well as Iguodala all have a chance to capture their fifth ring, a feat that not many have accomplished in the NBA. There are only twenty-five players with five championships or more and the list includes some all-time greats such as Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and the Warriors’ coach Steve Kerr.
That was a big part as to why Iguodala came back to the squad last year and he explained his reasoning saying, “I came back last year to make sure we didn’t waste Steph’s years and we won a chip.” Rightfully so as the Warriors won three straight games in a dominant showing to close out Boston in six games. Afterwards Iguodala said that Curry asked him to help him go get one more and his response was, “I’m letting you know now Steph, this the last one!”
Iguodala is 38 years old and said on his announcement video that he wants to take the time to really see certain places that he never really had the chance to experience in depth as a player. With all of that being said, the fans were eager to hear his announcement and will be even more emotional as Andre makes what appears to be his final lap in a highly successful career.
Listen to his full announcement or other episodes here.
(Photo credit: Stacy Bengs / Associated Press)