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Happy birthday to Andre Iguodala, the man who helped the Golden State Warriors unlock a dynasty.
On his special day, with the Warriors scrambling to replace Jimmy Butler and contemplating trading Jonathan Kuminga possibly back to Miami for Andrew Wiggins, there’s no better moment to recognize what we lost when Iguodala retired. Because the truth is simple: the Warriors have been searching for another Iguodala since he retired, and they still haven’t found him.
Let’s remember what made him irreplaceable.
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In July 2013, Andre Iguodala turned down more money from Denver to join the Warriors on a four-year, $48 million deal. That single decision separated the Warriors from “cute story” to “championship contender.” His pedigree legitimized everything Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson were building. When an All-Star caliber player chooses your young, unproven team over a bigger payday, people pay attention.
Then he backed it up by winning Finals MVP in 2015, holding LeBron James to 38.1% shooting when guarding him compared to 44% against other defenders. That wasn’t just about defense. That was about identity. The role player who sacrificed his ego won the biggest individual award of the championship run. That was the Warriors Way crystallized. Here’s what made Iguodala special: he came off the bench for Harrison Barnes without destroying the locker room. An All-Star, a franchise centerpiece in Philadelphia, willingly accepted a reduced role because Coach Steve Kerr believed it gave the team the best chance to win.
Most players would have demanded a trade. Iguodala absorbed the tough situation privately, then went out and delivered when the Warriors needed him most. When Golden State fell behind 2-1 to Cleveland in the 2015 Finals, Kerr inserted him into the starting lineup and Iguodala kept LeBron from averaging 80 points, helping the Warriors win three straight games and capture their first championship.
That’s championship DNA. That’s what separates good players from dynasty builders.
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When Kevin Durant arrived, the Warriors added otherworldly talent and complicated emotional…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/happy-birthday-andre-iguodala-irreplacable-073457929.html
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Publish date : 2026-01-29 07:34:00
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