When fans, media, and even other players think about who the most respected veterans are in the NBA today, few come to mind faster than Andre Iguodala of the Golden State Warriors. In addition to his decorated resume, which includes an All-Star game appearance, and four NBA championships, Iguodala’s willingness to do whatever it takes to help his team win transcends statistics in his game logs.
He’s a glue guy that makes sure processes work properly, both at the offensive and defensive ends of the court. At 38 years old, he may not have much time left in his NBA career, so this is as good a time as any to reflect on the fascinating career of the jack of all trades wing player.
Andre Iguodala – Childhood
Andre Tyler Iguodala was born in Springfield, Illinois in January 1984. He was raised by a single mother, Linda Shanklin, as well as his grandmother. Andre Iguodala goes into his childhood experiences in his book titled “The Sixth Man,” released in the summer of 2019. Shanklin wanted the best for her son and did not want Iguodala to be living in their hometown forever.
She encouraged him to aspire to bigger and better things, which he gives her credit for later in life. Iguodala found that it was not that difficult to find an organized sport to play as a kid, thanks to the presence of the Boys and Girls Club in the neighborhood. The ability to play sports all year round, and make friends on the court or on the field is something that was instrumental in Iguodala’s childhood.
Andre Iguodala – High School
While elite athletes usually like to make their mark on offense growing up, Andre Iguodala was a unique prospect in the sense that he understood the value of being a force on the defensive end of the floor. He would say that his arms weren’t all that long growing up, but that they would seem a lot more disruptive because he would constantly move them to get in his man’s line of sight. Iguodala initially used to feel like he would have trouble playing against some of the elite high school players in the country. However, once he started to realize that his skill set was just as developed as theirs, his confidence started to grow.
The Springfield native starred at Lanphier High School, averaging 23.5 points per game, 7.8 rebounds per game, and 4.1 assists per game as a senior there. Iguodala’s numbers did not leave much to be desired, but he was also cognizant of helping his teammates get easy opportunities even if his shot wasn’t falling. It was that type of attitude that led recruiters around the nation, and opponents at the high school level to realize that Iguodala was mature well beyond his years.
Andre Iguodala – College
There was an interesting development that took place for Andre Iguodala during his college decision process. He had committed to the University of Arkansas to play for head coach Mike Nolan. However, the Razorbacks’ head coach was bought out of his contract, and Iguodala did not want to walk into an uncertain situation.
He then shifted his attention to the University of Arizona, which was led by longtime head coach Lute Olsen. Iguodala officially signed with the Wildcats, and it would be the beginning of a wonderful start to the next stage of his basketball career.
As a freshman, he played an important complementary role on one of the best teams in the country, which featured older players like Channing Frye and Luke Walton. Arizona made a deep run into the NCAA Tournament but would end up losing to Kansas in the Elite 8.
While they didn’t have as much team success in Iguodala’s sophomore year, Arizona made him one of their go-to players. Iguodala played and started in all 30 of the Wildcats’ games, and his production rose across the board. It was expected that his rebounding and assist numbers would go up considering how talented he was in those areas.
However, his efficiency from a scoring perspective improved as well, increasing his three-point field goal and free throw percentage. Coming into college, the Lanphier swingman was quoted as saying that he wanted to catch ESPN commentator Dick Vitale’s attention with his versatile arsenal, and it’s safe to say that he captured the eyeballs of many college basketball fans during his time with Arizona.
Andre Iguodala – Philadelphia 76ers
Heading into the 2004 NBA Draft, the Philadelphia 76ers had a few different options to go with their first-round draft pick, which was ninth overall. They had a win-now type of roster, with Allen Iverson and Aaron McKie just a few years removed from their NBA Finals appearance. Chris Webber and Corliss Williamson were also contributing veterans on the roster. For that reason, it made sense for Philadelphia to take a player who was ready to step in and play meaningful minutes right away. Andre Iguodala fit that need perfectly.
While the 76ers never quite did reach the same heights again with that core of their team, Iguodala and Kyle Korver helped usher in a new era of Philadelphia basketball. In his first six seasons, he played in all 82 regular season games five times, epitomizing the toughness that fans appreciate in the city of Brotherly Love. In the 2008-2009 campaign, he led the league in minutes played with a hefty 39.9 average. Iguodala was named a 2012 NBA All-Star and went on to enjoy the most prominent offensive success in his career during his first eight seasons with the 76ers.
Andre Iguodala – Denver Nuggets
Philadelphia had a mini-revival under head coach Doug Collins in the early 2010s but it was clear that their roster was only good enough to take them so far. Iguodala was part of a blockbuster trade in the summer of 2012, where the former Arizona star was sent to the Denver Nuggets. He would only spend one season in Denver but was part of a 57-win regular season that featured performances from very solid players like Danilo Gallinari, Andre Miller, and Wilson Chandler.
Andre Iguodala – Golden State Warriors
Prior to the 2013-2014 season, Iguodala had carved out a very solid career for himself. However, little did he know, his resume and place in NBA history would completely change, starting with his age-30 season in Golden State. He landed there as part of a multi-player trade in the summer of 2013 and saw firsthand how special the Warriors could be when his Nuggets bowed out to them in the first round of the playoffs the prior season.
In his first season with the team, Iguodala did prove to be an important missing piece for the Warriors, as the ascension of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson continued to unfold. Unfortunately, they fell in a classic first-round series to the Los Angeles Clippers, so their chance to wrestle away Western Conference supremacy would have to wait another year.
Andre Iguodala – Coach Steve Kerr And His Impact
In perhaps one of the most underrated moves a first-year coach has ever made in NBA history, Steve Kerr set up a dynasty for the next few years. He took over as head coach for Mark Jackson ahead of the 2014-2015 season and immediately realized that one key to unlocking the franchise’s potential was to bring Andre Iguodala off the bench. It was an extremely bold move because, until that point, he had started every single regular-season game of his NBA career. There was no way to know how he would buy-in at age 31.
However, the results spoke for themselves. Golden State raced out to a 67-15 record during the regular season, proving that Kerr had indeed pressed the right button. In his newly assigned reserve role, Iguodala continued to stabilize the Warriors’ bench right throughout the playoffs, and into the 2015 NBA Finals. It was at that point that the rookie coach had one more brilliant stroke of genius.
In Game 4, he decided to insert the former Wildcat(Kerr also is a graduate of Arizona) back into the starting lineup. The move re-ignited Golden State’s small-ball advantage against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and he started three straight games that helped deliver the team a title. Iguodala was honored with the Finals MVP for his performance.
The rest of his first stint with the Warriors truly was history after he decided to play a role he had been suited for all along. He would only start 21 more regular-season games in his first stint with Golden State, but the team went on to win two more championships. Iguodala was a huge reason for their success, as his intangible contributions would loom large on a team that needed production in areas besides the scoring department. It made the job of his representation Landmark Sports Agency, very easy, considering his clutch play.
Andre Iguodala – Miami Heat
All good things must come to an end, and for Iguodala, his time with the Warriors came to a conclusion in the summer of 2019 when they traded him to the Memphis Grizzlies. However, the grizzled veteran would never suit up for the Grizzlies, since he was eyeing a title contender to play with.
The Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers were favorites to acquire him, but he was eventually dealt to the Miami Heat in February 2020. He played a few games before the shutdown but appeared in the team’s run in the NBA Bubble. It culminated in another NBA Finals appearance for the former Arizona star, but the Heat would fall to the Lakers.
Andre Iguodala – Return to Golden State Warriors
Iguodala would spend another season with Miami before rejoining Golden State prior to the current campaign. His team looked to recapture the magic he had with former teammates Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Steph Curry.
And, while Iguodala wasn’t exactly the most productive version of himself at this age, he was still a big leader who helped the development of young players like Jordan Poole and Jonathan Kuminga. Also, albeit in a limited capacity due to multiple injuries, he helped the Warriors win the 2022 NBA championship, taking his personal tally to four rings and continuing to cement his legacy as one of the greatest players in franchise history.
Andre Iguodala – NBA Future
Iguodala’s future this season and beyond is currently very much in doubt. He has not suited up for Golden State since mid-February due to a lingering back injury. There hasn’t been much of an update as to when, or if he might return. Considering his age, and the ailment he’s dealing with, there might be a chance we’ve seen the last of Iguodala on an NBA court. If he is able to return, it would appear as if his NBA career may only have another year or so left.
Why did Iguodala leave the Warriors?
Iguodala had to be let go by the Warriors in order for them to have more money and continue planning ahead.
What college did Andre Iguodala go to?
Andre Iguodala attended the University of Arizona, where he played for the Wildcats basketball team.
How many rings does Andre Iguodala have?
After playing with the Warriors for seven seasons, Iguodala has acquired a total of four NBA championship rings. The Springfield native was instrumental in all three of Golden State’s titles during this decade, being named Finals MVP in 2015.
