Andre Iguodala is walking away from the game after 19 seasons in the NBA, and following the retirement announcement, his former teammate Stephen Curry sent out an emotional message.
“You already know what it is #9! You did your thing on & off the court & I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, the Dubs, the league…you carried a bright torch! and what is to come should be the best sequel in a while. Love bro! Save a tee time for me, Andre.”
Iguodala and Curry were teammates for eight seasons on the Golden State Warriors, during which they won four championships. The two have grown incredibly close over the years, and Curry was a big reason why he chose to return last season. After another injury-hit campaign, though, it was time to go, and while Curry would be sad to see him leave, he appreciates everything Iguodala has done.
He became a mentor for Curry and so many others on the team following his arrival in 2013 and has played a big role in their success. In the last two seasons, Iguodala hasn’t been much of a factor on the court, but his impact off of it was huge for Golden State.
Steve Kerr Called Andre Iguodala A Foundational Piece Of Their Dynasty
When Iguodala joined the Warriors in free agency in 2013, they weren’t really a team that was associated with winning. 10 years later, they are a model franchise that has gone one of the greatest runs in modern NBA history, and head coach Steve Kerr spoke about the role Iguodala played in it.
“He’s one of the main reasons we’ve got those four banners hanging up,” Kerr said. “He was a foundational piece of what has been one of the great runs in NBA history. In many ways, Andre set the tone for the whole thing by agreeing to come off the bench in 2014-15.”
Iguodala had been a starter for his whole career, but accepted a bench role, with Harrison Barnes taking his spot. He set the tone of unselfishness and a team-first mentality in Golden State.
“I mean as a coach, you dream of a team that embraces the group’s success over everything else,” Kerr continued. “And Andre, to me, was the guy who set the tone and told everybody on the roster, this is what it’s about.”
"He's one of the main reasons we've got those four banners hanging up."
Before tonight's game, Steve Kerr commented on Andre Iguodala's retirement. pic.twitter.com/L3kSVVS270
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) October 21, 2023
Iguodala certainly made Kerr’s life a lot easier. You can’t underestimate the kind of impact it had on the rest of the team when Iguodala did that. It set the tone for everything the Warriors stand on today and helped them have the success they have had.
Joe Lacob Revealed Iguodala’s Jersey Will Be Retired
Considering how much he has meant to the Warriors organization, you did expect that his jersey would be hanging up in the rafters someday. Team owner Joe Lacob did indeed confirm that it would happen at some point, after the retirement announcement.
“We look forward to raising #9 to the rafters in Chase Center at some point in the future, and we wish him well in what will assuredly be a very successful post-playing career venture into the business world.”
“Andre Iguodala was a huge part of four NBA championship teams with the Warriors and will forever be remembered for his many contributions to our franchise, both on and off the court. His team-first approach, which we witnessed immediately upon his arrival in Golden State, helped… pic.twitter.com/xzwFfjc90X
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) October 20, 2023
In his eight seasons with the Warriors, Iguodala averaged 6.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game. The numbers don’t seem great by any means, but we all know just how important he has been for Golden State.
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