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Iguodala, who helped Warriors to three NBA titles, visited Chase Center with Heat
SAN FRANCISCO >> Draymond Green joked that, when he saw Andre Iguodala Monday night, he would greet his former teammate with a flagrant foul.
“Soon as I get a chance,” Green deadpanned. “It’ll be worth it. I’ll get to talk about that for the rest of my life.”
Responded Iguodala, “I had a few of those in practice. The second team used to win a lot.”
Seven months after getting traded by the Warriors to the Grizzlies, Iguodala played his first game at Chase Center as a member of the Heat on Monday. Instead of with a hard foul, Iguodala was greeted by a photo of him celebrating with the Larry O’Brien trophy near Lake Merritt, a tribute video and a roar of cheers.
“We brought a certain type of spirit that’s really special,” Iguodala said. “So I’ll always try to embrace it.”
In six seasons with the Warriors, Iguodala made possible small-ball lineups with his versatility, helped win three championships and earned Finals MVP in 2015. Last summer, they traded him to the Grizzlies in order to get under the hard cap triggered after the Warriors sign-andtraded for D’Angelo Russell.
“I had a Romo moment,” Iguodala said, nodding to CBS NFL broadcaster Tony Romo, who often guesses teams’ plays before they happen. “I think I sniffed it out before it happened. I’ve been around the game for a while, and you see how things are playing and you see how a domino effect can happen.”
His understanding is a result of being involved in a sign-andtrade himself in 2013, when the Warriors executed a sign-and
trade with the Nuggets to acquire Iguodala.
Despite seeing a trade coming last July, Iguodala never put on a Grizzlies uniform. Though it was widely reported that he had preferred to play for one of the Los Angeles teams, he recently told The Athletic that he didn’t say he didn’t want to play in Memphis.
Rather, Iguodala and the Grizzlies’ front office decided that he would be a trade chip rather than a contributor, as Memphis sought to give its younger players more playing time.
“You got to know how you stand with the organization, try to work with them more than anything, and that’s what I was trying to do,” Iguodala said. “My intentions were never to try to keep from playing with a particular set of basketball players. I think that was miscommunicated throughout the process.
“But just having an agreement with the team, trying to figure out what was best move for both parties, and try to have an outcome where both parties are satisfied in the end.”
Last Thursday, he was dealt to the Heat, who believe he can help them compete for a championship like he did with the Warriors.
Iguodala signed a two-year extension, with Miami holding a team option for the 2021-22 season, but has a plan for when he retires that includes caddying for his 2-year-old son, Andre Jr.
Meanwhile, the Warriors are feeling his absence. They reached the playoffs in each of Iguodala’s six seasons, and coach Steve Kerr often references how much they miss the length and basketball IQ that helped start a dynasty.
“It’s strange to see him in another uniform,” Kerr said. “But I think he landed in a great spot.”