While many of his former Golden State Warriors teammates will be remaining at home, Andre Iguodala and the Miami Heat are one of 22 squads bound for the NBA’s restart in Orlando.
Although he’s only played 14 games in South Beach, the 15-year NBA veteran is quickly earning respect from his new Miami Heat teammates. As the Heat prepare for the final stretch of the season, Erik Spoelstra credited Iguodala’s five-year championship run in the Bay Area for his veteran presence in Miami.
Via @YoungNBA on Twitter:
I mean, he has the ultimate respect. He had that from day one when he walked into our locker room because of everything that he’s been a part of for the last five years with Golden State. But he carries himself with great class, and exudes experience.
He has a great way about him. I love being around him, I love having him in our gym, in our team room, in our locker room. He’s a fun guy to be around, and he’s an interesting guy. I love that our young players see an example of what a winner looks like — the ultimate winner in this league. A professional, somebody who’s curious, somebody who’s continuing to grow even with the amount of years he’s had in this league.
I asked Erik Spoelstra on today's availability about Andre Iguodala's presence during all of this. Here was his answer: pic.twitter.com/kujpC4Qgog
— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) July 12, 2020
In 14 games with the Heat, Iguodala’s averaging 4.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.1 blocks in 18.5 minutes per game. The former Golden State sixth man will be especially valuable when Miami enters the postseason. In 104 playoff appearances for the Warriors, he tallied 9.3 points on 48.2% shooting from the field, with 4.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
During Golden State’s championship bid in 2015, Iguodala earned Finals MVP honors with 14.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
After having a significant layoff, Iguodala will link up with Jimmy Butler and Miami’s young duo of Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro for the Heat’s push to the playoffs in the Orlando bubble.
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