Andre Iguodala believes he deserved 2015 Finals MVP
Drill down on the series for me and tell me objectively, basketball-wise, do you feel like you were the guy? Andre Iguodala: As I said, I think it was well deserved. I just made the most of the opportunity. The scheme was set up for me to beat (LeBron James). And that doesn’t happen too often in the finals. Normally it’s the guy who’s the favorite, (who has) the odds, those are the guys who always get the NBA Finals MVP. And I think that I just made the most of the opportunity. Knowing the (defensive) attention that Stephen Curry has, knowing the attention that Klay Thompson has, a guy like Draymond Green, Shaun Livingston made sure that I was always just ready and available. Those guys just said, ‘Here, this is what the game says so give him the ball right here and just be ready for it.’ So I think more than anything, it’s just being ready for those moments. If you go back and watch, when the game said ‘shoot’ I shot and I made it. And when it said ‘pass,’ I made it. And then I had to go defend the guy. I didn’t stop him. I didn’t shut him down but just tried to make life hard for him so, in turn, he had to react in other ways. He had to think twice about (decisions).
Source: Sam Amick @ The Athletic
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Sam Amick @sam_amick
All this talk about Steph Curry’s lack of a Finals MVP trophy got me wondering: Does Andre Iguodala think we made a mistake when we voted for him in 2015?
Our convo about the controversial pick, and why he agrees that we got it right, at @TheAthletic
theathletic.com/3349592/2022/0… – 1:00 PM
Sirius XM NBA @SiriusXMNBA
“You could be overconfident thinking ‘we’ll get it back next game’…you really gotta go take it”
Andre Iguodala knows the Warriors have their work cut out for them tonight in Game 2 #NBAFinals
@termineradio | @Eddie Johnson | @Andre Iguodala pic.twitter.com/X4SjISJfBR – 11:02 AM
Dalton Johnson @DaltonJ_Johnson
“He’s watching a lot of film. He’s trying to learn as much as he can. You love to see that from a young guy.”
Wrote about Andre Iguodala’s mentorship of Jordan Poole, with exclusive quotes from Kenny Atkinson nbcsports.com/bayarea/warrio… – 7:21 PM
Anthony Slater @anthonyVslater
The Warriors are keeping the questionable tags on Andre Iguodala, Otto Porter Jr. and Gary Payton II for the Game 2 injury report. – 7:07 PM
Kerith Burke @KerithBurke
Andre Iguodala on mentorship: “Part of being a great player is not how you play, but how you help others play to the best ability.” – 3:55 PM
Jay King @ByJayKing
Andre Iguodala said he’s enjoying this matchup because the series has two high-level teams that play the right way with a lot of skill. – 3:53 PM
Dalton Johnson @DaltonJ_Johnson
The best thing for Jordan Poole: He’s with Andre Iguodala always during Warriors practice – 3:31 PM
Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Sunday notes on a Saturday: It is time for Tyler Herro to spread his Heat wings? The butterfly effect could be significant with a Herro move into starting lineup. sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-h… Plus: Draymond on Strus; Burr on The Fix; Andre Iguodala; Tyler Johnson; Chris Silva; more. – 9:02 AM
Andre Iguodala @andre
#pointForwardFriday – 12:05 AM
Todd Whitehead @CrumpledJumper
Last night – for the first time this postseason – 11 different players had 3 or more assists: Tatum (13), Brown (5), Curry (5), Green (5), Looney (5), Smart (4), Horford (3), Iguodala (3), Thompson (3), White (3), and Williams (3). pic.twitter.com/VqFpF0xHD3 – 7:49 PM
Dalton Johnson @DaltonJ_Johnson
The good and bad of Otto Porter Jr. and Andre Iguodala’s returns in the Warriors’ Game 1 loss to the Celtics nbcsports.com/bayarea/warrio… – 2:47 PM
Chris Biderman @TheWarriorsWire
After each player missed time during the playoffs due to injury, Gary Payton II, Andre Iguodala and Otto Porter Jr. were full participants in a light practice on Tuesday before the NBA Finals. warriorswire.usatoday.com/2022/05/31/gar… – 1:11 AM
Rick Noland @RickNoland
If I’m @Golden State Warriors , I don’t change much. I stress, when up 12-15 late in 3rd, not to rely on offense and to continue to play D. When ahead that way, I also don’t put Draymond at C and Iguodala at PF. That’s all. Still win in 6! – 12:39 AM
Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
Draymond Green asked why he is relaxed in this situation down 1-0: “It’s nothing to panic about. It’s the first team to win four games… I think that is where the confidence comes from.” Draymond adds it’s on him to play better after Iguodala and Porter did their part. – 12:00 AM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Boston will live with Iguodala shooting turnarounds on Pritchard. Gladly. – 11:00 PM
Tas Melas @TasMelas
Andre Iguodala coming for that Steph Finals MVP. – 10:57 PM
Brad Townsend @townbrad
Warriors finishing off Mavs in 5, giving Porter and Iguodala and maybe Payton extra time to heal before the Finals, is paying dividends. Porter has 12 points, Iguodala 5 — on a combined 6-of-7 shooting. – 10:57 PM
Tommy Beer @TommyBeer
Iggy hit a 3PT and Steph has only made 10… that MVP race tightening up – 10:54 PM
Carl Steward @stewardsfolly
Iguodala pulls up, everybody cringes. But he somehow makes the big ones. – 10:54 PM
Chuck Cooperstein @coopmavs
If Iguodala is making 3s GS is NOT losing – 10:54 PM
Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
Andre Iguodala, 206 years old, still a legend. – 10:53 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
If Iguodala is making that, it might not be your night. – 10:53 PM
Vivek Jacob @vivekmjacob
that iggy triple is a gut punch right before the end of the q – 10:53 PM
Monte Poole @MontePooleNBCS
Iguodala a 3 – 10:53 PM
Amin Elhassan @DarthAmin
Nice ovation for my Meadowlark Media coworker Andre Iguodala – 10:52 PM
Dalton Johnson @DaltonJ_Johnson
Bench plus-minus in the first half
Warriors
Iguodala: +3
Porter: -4
Poole: -6
Celtics
White: +1
Williams: -1
Pritchard: -3
Theis: -3 – 10:21 PM
Michael Pina @MichaelVPina
we saw some andre iguodala and daniel theis (?) but no gary payton II – 10:12 PM
Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
Andre Iguodala is about to be the NBA’s Undertaker in that at the end of his career he only shows up to Wrestlemania. – 9:43 PM
Dalton Johnson @DaltonJ_Johnson
Iguodala to Porter for 3 points
Nice to have them back – 9:39 PM
Tas Melas @TasMelas
Andre Iguodala comes back from injury and immediately takes a knee to the groin. If that ain’t 2020 turning into 2022, I don’t know what is. – 9:37 PM
Tim MacMahon @espn_macmahon
Andre Iguodala on pace for another Finals MVP. – 9:35 PM
Jorge Sierra @hoopshype
Andre Iguodala has just become the first non-Celtic/Laker to play in seven NBA Finals. – 9:34 PM
Dalton Johnson @DaltonJ_Johnson
I think Andre Iguodala got hit where … yeah, ya know – 9:33 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
Andre Iguodala has played in 7 NBA Finals.
That’s the most by a player in NBA history who never played for the Lakers or Celtics. pic.twitter.com/tlIAIA3dfD – 9:31 PM
Sean Cunningham @SeanCunningham
Andre Iguodala makes the anticipated return for Golden Statein the opening quarter of game one. – 9:30 PM
Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
Andre Iguodala checks in at 2:36 mark of 1st Q after missing the past 12 playoff games. My piece earlier on Andre keeping options open on his future after this season on.nba.com/3PY0yor – 9:30 PM
CJ Holmes @CjHolmes22
With 2:36 left in the first quarter, Andre Iguodala checks in for the first time in… well… forever. – 9:30 PM
Dalton Johnson @DaltonJ_Johnson
Andre Iguodala is back – 9:30 PM
Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
Andre Iguodala gets a massive ovation as he checks into the game. – 9:30 PM
Marcus Thompson @ThompsonScribe
Standing ovation for Andre Iguodala – 9:30 PM
Sam Amick @sam_amick
Looks like an Andre Iguodala sighting… – 9:29 PM
CJ Holmes @CjHolmes22
Warriors’ Gary Payton II, Otto Porter Jr. and Andre Iguodala available for Game 1
https://t.co/5omi3Exe5T pic.twitter.com/jv50m6sD64 – 9:07 PM
Adam Lauridsen @GSWFastBreak
We get to watch Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala in another Finals. Savor every second. – 8:14 PM
Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Warriors’ Payton, Porter, Iguodala all available for Game 1 nba.nbcsports.com/2022/06/02/war… – 8:05 PM
Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
Warriors’ Iguodala, Porter, Payton available for G1 espn.com/nba/story/_/id… – 7:54 PM
Dalton Johnson @DaltonJ_Johnson
Andre Iguodala has missed the Warriors’ last 12 games to a neck injury. Tonight, he returns for Game 1 of the NBA Finals pic.twitter.com/Rip9lTV6UP – 7:43 PM
Ric Bucher @RicBucher
Andre Iguodala warming up and looking spry pic.twitter.com/eZnYXEHcFA – 7:35 PM
Dalton Johnson @DaltonJ_Johnson
“I think all three can contribute, for sure.”
Newser on Gary Payton II, Otto Porter Jr. and Andre Iguodala being available to the Warriors for Game 1 of the NBA Finals nbcsports.com/bayarea/warrio… – 7:32 PM
Brian Lewis @NYPost_Lewis
Otto Porter Jr., Andre Iguodala and Gary Payton II will all be available for tonight’s #NBA Finals Game 1 vs. the #Celtics, according to #Warriors coach Steve Kerr. – 7:27 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Andre Iguodala, Gary Payton II and Otto Porter Jr. are all available to player, per Steve Kerr. – 7:27 PM
Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
Andre Iguodala, Otto Porter Jr. and Gary Payton II are available to play tonight. – 7:17 PM
Mark Murphy @Murf56
Per Steve Kerr: Iguodala, Payton and Porter are all available. – 7:16 PM
Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Kerr says Gary Payton , Otto Porter Jr. and Andre Iguodala will be available. – 7:16 PM
Anthony Slater @anthonyVslater
Steve Kerr confirms that Gary Payton II, Andre Iguodala and Otto Porter Jr. are all available for the Warriors tonight. Wouldn’t commit to them in rotation, but “all three can contribute.” – 7:16 PM
CJ Holmes @CjHolmes22
Gary Payton II, Otto Porter Jr. and Andre Iguodala are all available tonight for the Warriors in Game 1 of the Finals.
Golden State is whole. – 7:16 PM
Connor Letourneau @Con_Chron
GPII, Porter and Iguodala will all be available tonight. – 7:16 PM
Joe Vardon @joevardon
Gary Payton II, Andre Iguodala, and Otto Porter Jr. will all be available for the Warriors tonight in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. They were on GSW’s injury report as ‘questionable’ and none of them played in at least the last two games. – 7:15 PM
Monte Poole @MontePooleNBCS
Steve Kerr on Andre Iguodala, Gary Payton II and Otto Porter Jr: ‘They’re all available – 7:15 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
Payton II, Iguodala and Porter Jr. all available for #Warriors. #Celtics #NBAFinals2022 – 7:15 PM
Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Steve Kerr said Otto Porter, Andre Iguodala and Gary Payton II will dress for tonight’s game. – 7:15 PM
Dalton Johnson @DaltonJ_Johnson
Big news: Gary Payton II, Otto Porter Jr. and Andre Iguodala are all available for Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Steve Kerr says – 7:15 PM
Melissa Rohlin @melissarohlin
Andre Iguodala, Gary Payton II and Otto Porter will all be available, per Steve Kerr – 7:15 PM
Marc J. Spears @MarcJSpears
Iguodala, Payton and Porter available tonight, Kerr says. – 7:15 PM
Kerith Burke @KerithBurke
Steve Kerr says Otto Porter Jr, GP2, and Andre Iguodala are all available for game one. – 7:15 PM
Kendra Andrews @kendra__andrews
Gary Payton II, Otto Porter Jr. and Andre Iguodala are all available tonight for Game 1, Steve Kerr says. – 7:14 PM
Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Andre Iguodala, Otto Porter Jr. and Gary Payton II will be available for Game 1 – 7:14 PM
More on this storyline
I’ve heard you say that Steph should have received an NBA Finals MVP trophy. But as you know, because of the stage here, folks are talking again about how he doesn’t have one. And I’ll be honest, I voted for you because I still believe it was the right move. Andre Iguodala: Yeah, I think (the discussion) does a disservice to the game. I’ve never said it was the wrong decision. Yeah, I think (Curry) should have won (at some point). But that’s not to say that you guys made the wrong decision. -via The Athletic / June 5, 2022
Tell me your basketball opinion. After three games in 2015, it felt like you guys were in serious trouble. LeBron needed to be slowed down, even if it was just a little bit. You know the story. How do you reflect on it? Andre Iguodala: I don’t reflect on it. It just bothers me that you’ve got a guy of this caliber (in Curry) and they continue to take shots at him. There’s no reason to take a shot at him. Great athletes, that doesn’t happen as often. People tend to appreciate our great athletes more but now that you’re so close to them, you’re just looking for ways to take shots. Like in football, anybody can win MVP of the Super Bowl. You can be a kick returner. Desmond Howard won it, right? (He did indeed, becoming the first and only kick returner to win the award for the Packers in 1997). -via The Athletic / June 5, 2022
Andre Iguodala: But no one takes anything away from (then-Packers quarterback) Brett Favre (who won one Super Bowl and lost another but was never MVP). I just don’t like the way they try to take shots at (Curry). They don’t understand. It’s hard to go to the NBA Finals six times. It’s not normal, and it’s almost as if there’s so much money in sports that people just say outlandish things for the sake of saying outlandish things just to have a conversation about it. And so for me, it’s not even about protecting him. I still think he deserves one. But I don’t know (which one). Pick one. And if I have to be the one that they take, I’m cool with that. But that’s not me saying I don’t deserve it, and that’s not me saying that I don’t think I deserved it. -via The Athletic / June 5, 2022
