During last year’s NBA Finals, then-Warriors forward Andre Iguodala addressed the topic of his eventual retirement, suggesting that he had “a good idea” of how much longer he wanted to play. At the time, Iguodala claimed he could play four or five more years, but didn’t plan to do so.
Speaking this week to Mark Medina of USA Today, Iguodala – now a member of the Heat – revisited that topic and provided a more concrete timeline for the potential end of his career.
“I have about a year or two left,” the former Finals MVP told Medina. “I’m serious this time. I got two left.”
When the Heat acquired Iguodala from the Grizzlies at this year’s trade deadline, they agreed to a two-year contract extension that includes a guaranteed $15MM salary for 2020/21 and a $15MM team option for ’21/22. Presumably, the 36-year-old plans to play out that contract, though if Miami doesn’t pick up his option next year, perhaps he’ll consider retiring after just one more season.
According to Medina, one of the primary factors in Iguodala’s thinking is his desire to spend more time with his family, helping wife Christina raise their teenage son, Andre Jr.
“He lives a rich and soft life. So I have to prepare him to be self-sufficient,” Iguodala told Medina, half joking. “He’s smart enough, but he hasn’t dealt with any danger. Coming from where we come from, it helps us in terms of having street awareness. You have to scope the scene and know there is danger around. But he’s so comfortable that I have to reign him in.”
Iguodala no longer has the same kind of impact on the court that he did when he averaged nearly 20.0 PPG with the Sixers in 2008 or when he won his NBA Finals MVP award with Golden State in 2015. Still, he has established himself as a regular, reliable part of the Heat’s rotation since joining the club in February. In 20 games for Miami (20.2 MPG), he has averaged 4.8 PPG, 3.9 RPG, and 2.6 APG.
Is he sick?
Warriors trade two finals MVPs Iguodala and Durant for Wiggins
Probably only a year. There’s virtually no scenario in sight in which the Heat pick up his option. Unless he takes some magic youth potion and recaptures his Philly form, he’s not worth $15 million
Negative. If a Bradley Beal or Damian Lillard suddenly becomes available, that 15 million becomes valuable trade chip.
Yeah, but then he’d likely retire, as those trade suggestions imply he’d be shipped to a rebuilding squad and as demonstrated in Memphis, Iguodala only wants to play with contenders
Who is Miami going to trade for Lilliard?
Why would the Blazers trade away their best player since Drexler?
They traded Drexler lol.
Really? I had forgotten. But Clyde was already 32 when he came to Houston after playing 12 years in Portland. Dame is in his prime and just got his supermax extension last summer.
He won’t even be worth $15M next season, let alone in 2022.
Said every nba player who actually didnt…..
if Lakers lose to Rockets early round
Heat are able to sign free agent Davis
How good are Heat？
Blazers are in a crossroads to me. CJ is younger than Dame. He fits nicely with Heat n Butler. I can see Rylie going for him. They have young players Herro, Nunn, Leanord, Iguodala cap relieve. Plus two #1 picks. Even Jones Jr. Whiteside is leaving. Dame contract is 32 mill. Heat can still sign Gallinari. That a nice Heat team. Not too bad for both teams. Blazers can still be sixth seed. With a bigger future.
Bkazers need to trade CJ. I’m thinking that small backcourt has been a liability. However feel free to trade Lillard to NYK