Longtime NBA guard/forward Andre Iguodala has confirmed that he intends to retire as a player, telling Michael de la Merced of DealBook in The New York Times that he’ll focus going forward on his work as a start-up investor.
When Iguodala announced last September that he was re-signing with the Warriors, he indicated it would be his last season. However, following the conclusion of the 2022/23 campaign, he didn’t officially confirm that he still planned to hang up his sneakers and remained noncommittal this offseason about his next steps.
Speaking to DealBook, Iguodala said it has been “a blessing” to play in the NBA as long as he has (19 years) and admitted that he’s not sure if the decision to retire has “actually hit me yet.” According to de la Merced, the 39-year-old is directing his attention now to Mosaic, the $200MM venture capital fund that he’ll run with business partner Rudy Cline-Thomas.
Iguodala is also interested in owning an NBA franchise someday and currently has stakes in a pair of soccer teams – Leeds United (EFL) and Bay Area FC (NWSL) – as well as the San Francisco branch of the TGL, a golf league created by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.
The ninth overall pick in the 2004 draft, Iguodala spent his first eight seasons with the Sixers, earning an All-Star nod during his final year in Philadelphia and recording the highest scoring averages of his career during that time (including 19.9 points per contest in 2007/08).
After being traded from the 76ers to the Nuggets and playing for one year in Denver, Iguodala headed to Golden State, where he spent eight of his final 10 years in the league, with two separate Warriors stints sandwiching a two-season run in Miami (2019-21). He won championships with the Warriors in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022 and earned NBA Finals MVP honors in ’15.
For his career, Iguodala averaged 11.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.4 steals in 32.1 minutes per game across 1,231 regular season appearances and played in another 177 postseason games. The former Arizona Wildcat also made the All-Defensive first team in 2014 and the second team in 2011.
Does he make the HoF?
If he does Udonis Haslem needs to go in first
I feel like no, because he was only on winning teams after he took more of a backseat bench role. He was a starter on four winning teams in his career, only two of which made it past the first round of the playoffs, and one of which some people (I don’t, but some do) believe he intentionally sabotaged (Denver in 2013).
Like yeah, he won a FMVP. But he’s also widely viewed as the most bs FMVP selection in history.
Like one of those players in baseball that had a few good years but played a long time. Most likely NO reminds me of Curt Schilling who only played a long time winning but not a great player every year.
Not really a great comparison, because Shilling would 100% have been voted in if he wasn’t such a dickbag. His personal choices are the only thing keeping him out of Cooperstown. He had like a seven-year run when he was one of the best pitchers in baseball.
I would say he’s more like former infielder Michael Young. Really solid player, had several good seasons and piled up the stats, but was never a superstar at any point.
Michael Young never won any championships. Solid player but not great. Look at Schilling stats take out the championship and he was a good pitcher but not great. Only 216 wins. Only 3 of those years he was great. Only rock and roll HOF put people in for a few years of being great.
Schilling was a six time All Star and led the league in strikeouts twice, innings pitched twice, Complete Games 4 times, Strikeout/Walk rate five times, finished top four in Cy Young four times, Top 10 in MVP twice, and managed to get to over 3000 innings and 3000 strikeouts in his career, which is really difficult for anyone in the 5 Starters era. And that’s after spending the first four seasons of his career as a bullpen guy and losing basically a full season to injuries. 3 championships, a LCS MVP and World Series MVP. He was one of the top ten pitchers in baseball for nine separate seasons.
Looking at only his wins and losses is weird and incorrect. It would be like looking only at a player’s ppg and not noticing that they shot 30% from the field to get there.
Young maybe isn’t the best comp, but Schilling is an outright bad one. He’s too good for that. And this is coming from someone who isn’t a fan of any of his teams and hates his guts.
A All star pitcher in baseball is no big deal when they take 12 or more. there are a lot of baseball pitcher with stats close to Schilling that are not in the HOF. Welch, Stewart, Steib, Kevin Brown, David Cone, Luis Tiant, orel Hershiser, and ect… All grea pitcher that never elected.
I thought Iguodala retired several years ago and if just being on a championship team gets you in the hall of fame,then he deserves it. Nothing else in his career says he is.
No
No
No. 100% no
One of those players that will go down as a winner in his career.
I was thinking the same. I feel he has a chance, based on legacy and noteriety but not counting stats. If i had a vote, he’s a no, but so many people get in. He has a chsnce.
for what he did when traded to Memphis. It’s a no through and through. don’t even put him on the ballot.
His leadership helped lead a young Heat team to an ECF title in the bubble… without injuries, possibly a title. Congrats on a great career Iggy
Here’s a guy who turned defense and athleticism into a 19-year career. He’s not even a 3 and D guy so that’s quite an accomplishment.
Smart player who knew his strengths and weaknesses and cashed in on it. He provided leadership, guidance, some scoring and buckets early in his career, but ultimately knew where his his value was.., a defensive stopper on the wing, which is the most important offensive area on the floor for aspiring championship teams.
Excellent roleplayer, yup. I view him much the same way I view guys like Andrei Kirelenko, Mike Miller, Kyle Korver, Steve Kerr, Kurt Thomas, A.C. Green, and Robert Horry.
I would love to see him as a coach. Dude’s smart without an ego.
Probably won’t coach …he’s got so many ventures and projects going on atm but who knows!
Kind of rude the author didnt wish him the best in retirement.
Kuminga gonna miss u big dawg.
It’s amazing to me. How we are always trying to give titles. To players and teams. Based on terminology of today.
It’s Basketball lols …….. show respect !!
Iguodala was one of best 2way players of his generation. He came to Warriors. And gave them what they needed most. To become winners. He gave up his points. To be the best team player he could be. And the guy who took on hardest assignment on D.
Solid player who could have gone for his numbers. But instead showed what true BALLERS are. Team Players …….
He was first MVP to not have started every game in the Finals. And still avg 37.1 mins in series. He finished the series averaging 16.3 points, 4 assists, and 5.8 rebounds. And he took on Bron on D ……
Solid career …
I’m sure it’s just coincidence that Kuminga is finally playing well now that Iguodala isn’t in his ear 24/7…
Iggy lost all respect when he was traded and refused to play. Not sure who he thinks he is. Good riddance, he hasn’t been a serviceable player in years.
We get it, he “agreed” to be the 6th man so he’s this amazing human being… ego filled roid junkie.
Yeah that’s great insight ???? Kuminga got it made now.
1. Exhibition season so temper Kuminga praise. 2. Poole had a ton to do with low kuminga Moody progression. 3. no Poole and Paul add will contribute to kuminga Moody progressing and already has but again it’s preseason. 4. stay off the highway
Iggy’s career aged like a fine wine.
He been retired for the last 4 to 5 years already. Hasn’t done s**t in that time. When he got traded he threw a temper tantrum and refused to play. So you really looking at 5-6 years. So not a 19 year career. Like a 13 year career maybe.
Always thought he was the #1 guy. But could t do anything g with any team unless there was multiple superstars around him.
He is 100% NOT a hall of famer. And should t even be on the first ballot
You couldn’t be more wrong Sir
Iggy played a big role with Miami and GSW
He’s one of the best locker room guys and provided a HQ spark off the bench when needed
By barely playing in games? Could’ve retired gave a sport to a younger player.
And when he got traded to Memphis he threw a huge temper tantrum and refused to play until he got traded again.
Either way. He’s not a hall of famer. Not even near. Just a role player at best.