Reinvigorated Andre Iguodala joins LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony in
exclusive company
Warriors F Iguodala, 37, recently played in his 1,200th NBA game, only
the third active player to reach such a feat. But 10 games into his
second tenure with Golden State, he's proving he still has spring in his
shoes.
>SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. – OCT. 21: Golden State Warriors’ Andre
Iguodala (9) hi-fives teammate Stephen Curry (30) after making a
three-point basket in the first quarter of their NBA game at Chase
Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. (Jose
Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
>SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. – OCT. 21: Golden State Warriors’ Andre Iguodala
(9) hi-fives teammate Stephen Curry (30) after making a three-point
basket in the first quarter of their NBA game at Chase Center in San
Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay
Area News Group)
By EVAN WEBECK | ewebeck@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group
PUBLISHED: November 11, 2021 at 5:31 a.m. | UPDATED: November 11, 2021
at 7:27 a.m.
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2021/11/11/reinvigorated-andre-iguodala-joins-lebron-james-carmelo-anthony-in-exclusive-company/

SAN FRANCISCO — Draymond Green often makes use of an expletive to convey
the seniority of everybody’s favorite teammate. “Andre’s old as…” You
can fill in the blank.

Iguodala, 37, joined exclusive company this week as one of only three
active players to appear in 1,200 games — LeBron James and Carmelo
Anthony are the others — but 10 games into his second Warriors tenure,
he’s shown there is plenty of spring left in his sneakers. Sometimes
literally, such as his three-dunk night Monday against Atlanta.

“Did he really?” chuckled Steph Curry when informed Monday night of the
elder statesman’s high-flying performance. “He had a day off yesterday,
so it worked.”

The Warriors reunited with Iguodala on a veteran minimum deal this
offseason and are carefully monitoring his minutes to ensure he’s still
fresh come the postseason. It’s a story as old as time. A beloved
veteran signs a one-year deal to ride off into retirement where he won
three championships. Only in this tale, Iguodala’s value is proving more
than sentimental.

“We always talked about him it wasn’t just him coming back to do that,
it was what he could do on the court, as well,” Curry continued. “He’s
showing that when he’s out there. It’s huge having him back, for sure.”

After two seasons in Miami where, despite returning to the NBA Finals,
Iguodala turned in the least productive years of his career,
statistically, he told the New York Times that he planned to retire with
Golden State.

The Warriors banked on adding his mentorship to the development of young
players such as Jordan Poole, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody and James
Wiseman. What they didn’t count on was a reenergized Iguodala playing
like he just turned 30, or at least 35.

“I’m just here having fun,” Iguodala said this week. “I don’t really
have nothing to lose. I enjoy the atmosphere. I enjoy playing for Steve.
It’s like Tiger (Woods)’ quote, ‘Everything from here is gravy.’”

Of the Warriors’ five most effective floor pairings (measured by
plus-minus per 100 possessions), Iguodala is the only constant between
them all.

With a lightened load — two DNPs in 10 games, while averaging only 20.4
minutes — Iguodala’s 13.1 player efficiency rating (PER) matches his
last season with Golden State, and his output of rebounds and assists is
its highest since the last time he wore a Warriors uniform.

More importantly, and harder to quantify, Iguodala’s presence on the
court just makes the Warriors tick.

“The game just works when he’s on the floor,” coach Steve Kerr said
recently. “Everything flows. The ball goes to the right person. The
right cut is made. … Andre has always been the guy to tie it all
together, and he’s back to doing that for us these days, which makes our
job as a coaching staff way easier.”

Selected ninth overall in 2004, Iguodala has outlasted all but one other
player from his draft class.

Dwight Howard, the No. 1 overall pick that year, will soon join
Iguodala, James and Anthony in the 1,200-game club.

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So it happens, three of them teamed up with the Lakers this season.

Anthony is enjoying a late-career resurgence, but James — still the King
— has missed nearly as many games (5) as he’s played (6). Howard’s stats
have regressed in his age-36 season.

Iguodala has settled into his new role with the Warriors, not far from
his old one, and is just enjoying the journey.

“I enjoy playing. I’m still working hard,” he said, then took a pause
and smiled. “Probably harder than I should be. But I’m having fun. I’m
enjoying it. That’s something I’m trying to do all year. Make sure I’m
helping the young guys get better.”

--
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.

Allen wrote:

> Reinvigorated Andre Iguodala joins LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony in
> exclusive company

> Warriors F Iguodala, 37, recently played in his 1,200th NBA game, only
> the third active player to reach such a feat. But 10 games into his
> second tenure with Golden State, he's proving he still has spring in his
> shoes.
, on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay
> Area News Group)
> By EVAN WEBECK | ewebeck@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group
> PUBLISHED: November 11, 2021 at 5:31 a.m. | UPDATED: November 11, 2021
> at 7:27 a.m.
> https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2021/11/11/reinvigorated-andre-iguodala-joins-lebron-james-carmelo-anthony-in-exclusive-company/
>
>
>
> SAN FRANCISCO — Draymond Green often makes use of an expletive to convey
> the seniority of everybody’s favorite teammate. “Andre’s old as…” You
> can fill in the blank.
>
> Iguodala, 37, joined exclusive company this week as one of only three
> active players to appear in 1,200 games — LeBron James and Carmelo
> Anthony are the others — but 10 games into his second Warriors tenure,
> he’s shown there is plenty of spring left in his sneakers. Sometimes
> literally, such as his three-dunk night Monday against Atlanta.
>

Iguodala is one of several nice stories for the Warriors so far this
season. I didn't watch him at Miami the last two seasons, but everyone
says (as does this article) that he noticeably declined. It's wonderful
seeing him playing so well so far this season for the Warriors.

--Robin