The Warriors had put the small dishes in the big ones to celebrate one of the central stones of their dynasty, Andre Iguodala.
In the presence of Klay Thompson passing through the Mavericks, but also many former teammates (Festus Ezeli, Shaun Livingston, Mo Speights, Leandro Barbosa …), legends of Golden State (Rick Barry) and friends and family members of the family of The former player, the Warriors celebrated their man to do anything during a ceremony of thirty minutes Focusing around two main themes: Andre Iguodala's sacrifice to accept to become 6th man and Stephen Curry.
A fate linked to Stephen Curry
These two themes are inextricably linked. Without Stephen Curry, Iguodala would surely not have made this sacrifice that Steve Kerr had asked him when he arrived. It is by covering his former teammate of praise that Iggy finished his speech. Little amazing for those who defend and supports Stephen Curry as soon as he can.
“None of this could have happened without you. You have changed basketball forever, and I will continue to repeat it until my death, ” Said Andre Iguodala, under the ovation of the public. “Today marks the start of the tribute to Stephen Curry! »»
The former Warriors winger, quadruple champion, MVP of the 2015 finals, All-Star, and Olympic champion, is not wrong: Golden State built this success by betting on the wrist and the elastic ankles of Stephen Curry, and Andre Iguodala was one of the first to seize the vision of the Warriors.
The memory of this Game 6 in Denver
Because before arriving at Golden State, Andre Iguodala had been the privileged witness of what the whole world was going to see for years. During the 2013 playoffs, he had been the Warriors opponent with Nuggets, seeded number three. And Golden State had created the surprise by leaving Denver during Game 6 at the Oracle Arena.
“You have shaped from the other side of the field to find me,” Stephen Curry remembered. “I could understand that you had seen something in us. And a few months later, you were the first to choose us. It gave us so much confidence. »»
Bob Myers, former GM of the Warriors, held during his speech to give his version of the winger's recruitment that summer. “We wanted Dwight Howard but we could not convince him to join us, you were our second choice,” he laughs. “A few minutes after the start of our meeting, you stopped us to tell us: 'Stop, I come to your home, I have already made my decision, you just have to find a way to release enough money in your salary Cap '. »»
The warriors wanted their manu ginobili
The ultimate sacrifice did not happen immediately. It took a year and the arrival of Steve Kerr to see Andre Iguodala accept a role of sixth man. A daring demand for a rookie coach but who had a vision. “If we manage to transform Andre (Iguodala) into Manu Ginobili, it would be fantastic for our team. »»
Before the meeting, Steve Kerr explained however “That it is complicated to convince a star that the sacrifice requested for the good of the team can also benefit the player in question. »»
Iguodala was able to make this sacrifice because he shared the same vision as the leaders of Golden State. He knew that Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green had something special.
“When I arrived here after nine seasons in the league, I had the opportunity to become a mentor for them. And it is rare in high level sport to see a player at the top of his career decide to make way for promising young people. entrusted Andre Iguodala before the meeting against Dallas. “But it was not a difficult decision to make as Steph, Klay and Draymond made this situation unique. »»
Iguodala kissed this role of mentor, of “babysitter”, as Steve Kerr often described. Not only for the trio of future hall of famers but for all the young Warriors who followed, like Harrison Barnes, Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Kevon Looney…
For Stephen Curry, it was a question Sunday evening of honoring “A player who has changed a whole franchise, and who learned how to gain a whole generation of teammates. You sacrificed your ego to achieve excellence, and it has become the definition of our culture. »»
MVP of finals at the bench
This sacrifice arrived with the ultimate recognition, that of not only winning the title, but also receiving the 2015 MVP Trophy. “It was the ultimate validation of what we believe,” Steve Kerr launches.
“I knew that by making this sacrifice, I placed the team before my personal ambitions because it meant that we had a greater chance of winning,” confirms Andre Iguodala. “And today winning exceeds all the individual statistics and prices that you can receive. »»
Before speaking, Andre Iguodala was congratulated by the entire NBA community through a video editing. From Luke Walton, Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye, all out of the same university as him, passing by Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner whom he had taken under his wing in Philadelphia, but also Erik Spoelstra, Chris Paul, James Harden, and His former teammates in Golden State, Harrison Barnes, Kevin Durant and Jordan Poole.
Andre Iguodala decided to make a last sacrifice. He did not talk about him or his career, preferring to highlight six people, alongside Stephen Curry, who helps the Golden State franchise to be one of the most respected in the league. Eric Housen, the intendant, Raymond Ridder, who directs press relations, David Kelley, former lawyer for Golden State, Amanda Chin, Marketing Director, Nanea McGuigan, in connection with the players, and Rick Welts, former president of Golden State and Hall of Famer.
He compared each of them to a high -level athlete, who like him, like Stephen Curry and Consort, have only one objective: to help the Warriors to win.
“It is in the DNA of each person and it is something that has settled permanently in the franchise factory at all levels and in all departments,” he explains. “Whether Joe (Lacob, the owner), who is super competitive, Steve Kerr who won I don't know how many NBA titles in his career, Bob Myers, Rick Welts, who invented the concept of the All-Star Weekend and who helped the NBA become global. There were “winners” at all levels of the franchise and it is something that is contagious. »»
For all these reasons, Andre Iguodala joined the Warriors in the summer of 2013. He wanted to help Stephen Curry and Golden State to achieve their full potential. Twelve years and four titles later, Iggy has now been immortalized in the history of the Warriors. Very exactly 577 players wore this jersey, and only seven had the honor to see their number withdrawn.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxCSIJ49J3W
Interview in San Francisco.
