Why Andre Iguodala is out for the Warriors against the Kings
Golden State's 37-year-old veteran is nursing a sore hip from a hard
fall in his first day off of the season
>SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. – OCT. 21: Golden State Warriors’ Andre
Iguodala (9) tumbles to the court in the fourth quarter of their NBA
game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, Oct. 21,
2021. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Clippers
115-113. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
>SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. – OCT. 21: Golden State Warriors’ Andre Iguodala
(9) tumbles to the court in the fourth quarter of their NBA game at
Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. The
Golden State Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 115-113. (Jose
Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
By EVAN WEBECK | ewebeck@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group
PUBLISHED: October 24, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. | UPDATED: October 24, 2021 at
6:24 p.m.
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2021/10/24/why-andre-iguodala-is-out-for-the-warriors-against-the-kings/

SACRAMENTO — The Warriors have been very clear: Andre Iguodala isn’t
going to play all 82 games. His first night off came in the third game
of the season, Sunday against the Kings.

Iguodala, 37, continues to nurse a sore left hip that he bruised on a
hard fall in the fourth quarter of the Warriors’ win Thursday against
the Los Angeles Clippers. The ailment kept him out of practice Saturday
and prevented him from playing the following night, but coach Steve Kerr
said he expected Iguodala to be available again by Tuesday, when the
Warriors head to Oklahoma City.

“It’s precautionary more than anything,” Kerr said before tipoff Sunday.
“If he has an ache or a pain and it’s a good time to give him a night
off, then we’ll do that. We want him healthy and in a good place down
the stretch and into the playoffs.”

In Iguodala’s absence Sunday, Gary Payton II took his place as the
player first off the bench to spell Jordan Poole midway through the
opening period.

Iguodala landed hard on his hip coming down from a rebound attempt and
had to exit the game and head to the locker room. However, he returned
to the court for a key stretch as Golden State sealed its win in the
final 3 minutes.

Kerr noted after the game Iguodala’s impact in containing Clippers star
Paul George in the second half. He’s also shown a spring in his step
with two rim-rattling dunks, one of which was called off after he
stepped out of bounds.

Iguodala has played more minutes than any other player on the Warriors
bench through two games, contributing 8.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5
assists per game. Players say his presence on the court makes the game
easier.

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Despite Iguodala having more in the tank than expected for his 17th NBA
season, the plan all along has been for the Warriors to strategically
find rest for him to keep him fresh later in the season.

His first rest day of the season just came a little earlier than expected.

“A big part of this season will be pacing him,” Kerr said. “When you
understand the game like he does and you have that gift in terms of
athleticism and health, the way he takes care of himself, he’s just so
smart, he’s going to make an impact every night.”

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Evan Webeck | Reporter
Evan Webeck covers high-school sports on the field and beyond — and a
little bit of everything else — for the Bay Area News Group. A Pacific
Northwest native and graduate of Arizona State, Evan has previously
worked for The Seattle Times, MLB.com and Sports Illustrated.