Andre Iguodala is a Golden State Warriors legend, winning four championships and the 2015 Finals MVP for the franchise. He also spent a couple of years with the Miami Heat late in his career, playing a part in their run to the 2020 NBA Finals. While he retired with the Warriors, Iguodala had plenty of time spent with both franchise’s long-time coaches – Steve Kerr and Erik Spoelstra.
Iguodala opened up on the coaching styles of both champions on Udonis Haslem’s ‘The OG Podcast,’ remarking on the difference in intensity in both locker rooms.
“A lot of the things I do post-career are rooted in Heat culture. It’s like, end of the day, if you work harder than your opponent, most likely you’re going to win. Now, there’s some residuals you gotta watch out for.”
“Steve was more carefree, come in and listen to some music, great vibes. Steve was like, ‘Man, I want you to come in happy every single day. This is your escape.’”
“Heat culture is like, ‘Nah, we gonna make this the hardest possible situation. The game going to be easy.’ We couldn’t wait for the game. The game is so much easier than practice. But one thing about Spo is, he’s probably the most prepared coach I’ve ever seen.”
Iguodala isn’t necessarily saying the Warriors’ culture is worse but highlighting the strengths of Heat culture. The different intensity of both franchises is immaterial when you consider the much greater success the Warriors have had with Kerr’s carefree style.
Although, the Heat have achieved a better baseline of success as a consistent Playoff team over the last five years. They’ve made two NBA Finals appearances in the last five years when nobody expected them to, primarily because they outworked their Playoff opponents. Their formula is a success but so is the Warriors.
Iguodala will probably see his jersey hanging in the rafters of the Chase Center one day. While he is a Warriors legend, they wound up trading him in 2019 to the Memphis Grizzlies after Kevin Durant‘s departure.
It was a salary-driven move that the team didn’t consult Iguodala on, leading to the star forward sitting out half a season and refusing to play with a young Grizzlies core with rookie Ja Morant and sophomore Jaren Jackson Jr. Him sitting out eventually led to a trade to the Miami Heat, where he spent two seasons, averaging 4.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists.
He would return to the Warriors for two more seasons, playing a small role in the team’s 2022 NBA Championship triumph. He averaged 6.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists over 452 games with the Warriors, etching his name into the team’s record books.
The Warriors are 21-21 this season, with coach Kerr feeling the pressure of returning this team to the Playoffs after missing out last season. It doesn’t seem like the team will make any major trades before the deadline, so Kerr will have to maximize all the results he can without the talent.
The Heat are 21-21 in a season marred with controversy. Franchise star Jimmy Butler has disrupted the team with a very public trade request and multiple off-court battles which have hurt the team’s focus on the court. While they’re still contending for the Playoffs, it seems like coach Spoelstra will have to work his magic to keep the team competitive.
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