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Iguodala’s No. 9 Warriors jersey retirement a richly deserved honor originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The day will come, surely it must, when a multipart documentary provides comprehensive details behind the rise of the Golden State Warriors. Part I will spotlight the drafting of Stephen Curry, Part II will focus on the vision of resourceful new ownership and Part III will feature the 2012 NBA draft.
Part IV will be devoted to the first player who gave the franchise prestige, something it had not known in a half-century of California history.
When Andre Iguodala agreed to join the Warriors, sacrificing millions he was offered to play elsewhere – this is notable because Iguodala treats every dollar with profound reverence – it marked a new day in the Bay.
The Warriors were a destination.
That was the first of many significant contributions from Iguodala as the Warriors soared to dynastic heights, and it is among the reasons his No. 9 Golden State jersey is deserving of being retired and raised toward the rafters at Chase Center in a ceremony scheduled for Feb. 23, the Warriors announced on Tuesday, which happened to be Iguodala’s 41st birthday.
“More than anything, if I’m being completely honest, the fans probably played the biggest role in this,” Iguodala says. “They’ve voiced their appreciation of me. The Bay Area is innovative. They understand that you need everything to be functioning at a high level be successful and to have longevity and be able to scale.”
It was after nine seasons with two NBA franchises that Iguodala visualized an extraordinary future with the Warriors and in the summer of 2013 made the calculated decision to hitch a ride.
It was fantasy come to life.
“I never want to gloat. I can properly assess my career, so I don’t need any validation,” Iguodala says. “But I’m taking this one. I think I was the first one to realize how I could extend my career playing with Steph Curry.”
Iguodala chuckles, aware that the statement is both breezy and credible. His decision to join the Warriors cleared a path for them to become champions. It allowed them to dream big enough…
[ad_2]Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/iguodalas-no-9-warriors-jersey-090703993.html
Author : NBC Sports BayArea
Publish date : 2025-01-28 09:07:00
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