Microphone in hand, Warriors guard Klay Thompson looked at his former teammate, Andre Iguodala, and said, “We’re indebted for what you gave us.”
During his six seasons with Golden State, Iguodala was a driving force behind the franchise’s rise from playoff contender to dynasty. In the Warriors’ 113-101 loss to the Heat at Chase Center on Monday night, he saw just how much has changed since he was traded in July, coming off the bench as Miami wore down a young and inexperienced team down the stretch.
Long a mentor to younger teammates, Iguodala surely appreciated the tenacity the Warriors showed by cutting a 24-point, second-quarter deficit to four late in the third. But with Iguodala, Kevin Durant and Shaun Livingston gone, and Thompson and Stephen Curry injured, Golden State again struggled to hit shots when it mattered most and endured its 18th loss in 21 games.
“In the second half, the guys were great,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. “They competed, they played with pace, played with energy and climbed back in the game. ... In the end, we didn’t have enough.”
Nearly two-thirds of the way through the season, the Warriors own an NBA-worst record of 12-42. A savvy elder statesman like Iguodala would certainly be helpful. With Golden State State, he was a stabilizing force who made few mistakes, guarded the opponent’s best scorer and ratcheted up the tempo.
But as soon as Curry broke a bone in his left hand in late October, the Warriors recalibrated their expectations and went all-in on their youth movement. It is the type of rebuild that Iguodala was trying to avoid when he declined to join the Grizzlies this season. After getting traded to the Heat last week, he has what he wanted: a key role for a championship contender.
Iguodala’s greatness goes beyond box scores, which was again evident Monday. Though he posted just two points, two assists and five rebounds, his team outscored the Warriors by 25 in his 17 minutes on the court. Iguodala’s only bucket came on the kind of efficient dunk that he made routine in the Bay Area.
“Good things happen when he is on the floor,” Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said.
In addition to working out and meeting with Silicon Valley companies during his time off, Iguodala regularly watched Warriors games on TV. What he found was an injury-thinned team that played with relentless effort. As he told the Chase Center crowd after he took the microphone from Thompson pregame, “My brothers will be back in action next year to wreak havoc on the league for 80 games.”
Even amid another loss, the Warriors illustrated Monday why Iguodala — never one for false compliments — believes in his former team.
Andrew Wiggins, who was acquired last week in a blockbuster trade with Minnesota, scored 14 of his 18 points in the third quarter to help power a 23-5 run that got Golden State back within striking distance. Iguodala’s close friend, guard Damion Lee, scored 26 points on 7-for-12 shooting. Feasting on alley-oops and put-backs, center Marquese Chriss chipped in 17 points and nine rebounds.
Each of those players will be on a 2020-21 roster poised to return to contention. Though he’ll be with his family in Miami, Iguodala will be watching.
After more than a half-decade of shared memories, the Warriors have become an important part of his identity.
“I have a special relationship with the core of the group: Draymond (Green), Klay, Steph,” Iguodala said. “Klay is the quiet one, he doesn’t speak too much. So (the pregame speech) coming from him, it almost got me.”
Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cletourneau@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Con_Chron
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February 11, 2020 at 01:15PM
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Warriors show Andre Iguodala how much has changed in loss to Heat - San Francisco Chronicle
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