You don't play a decade in the NBA without being talented. You don't start for nearly the entirety of those ten years without being really talented. Andre Iguodala has been a starter at every one of his NBA stops. However, this upcoming season, his 11th, will be different. New Golden State Warriors' head coach Steve Kerr plans to bring Iguodala off the bench as the Sixth-Man.
Several stars would voice displeasure with such a move, but not Iguodala.
"I've been in the league for a really long time, and there are a lot of stories about anything and little things," Iguodala said. "If my shoes are tied the wrong way, that can become a story. I'm trying not to make (coming off the bench) a story this year, and I'm trying to win a championship."
Kerr has said he'll put Harrison Barnes in the starting lineup over Iguodala.
Rusty Simmons explains why: "One huge reason that Kerr probably will bring Iguodala off the bench is how important the $12 million man is to the second unit. Without backup point guard Shaun Livingston, who is recovering from off-season toe surgery, Iguodala has acted as the reserves' point forward."
Iguodala had solid performances for the Warriors last season, averaging 9.3 points, 4.2 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game, while playing stellar defense. Barnes, meanwhile, struggled in his second season. Kerr believes starter minutes will help Barnes regain his solid rookie form. Moving Iguodala to a bench role will also help keep the 30-year-old fresh for the playoffs, as he missed 19 games due to injury last season.
