Marc J. Spears4 Minute Read
Andre Iguodala, a four-time NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors, has announced his retirement nearly two decades after entering the league.
The retirement of Andre Iguodala, who won four NBA championships with the Golden State Warriors, has been confirmed. After playing 19 seasons in the league, Iguodala averaged 11.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 1,231 games. Despite receiving interest from the Warriors and other teams, the 2012 NBA All-Star decided to retire.
Explaining his decision, Iguodala, 39, stated, “It’s just the right time. Time started to get limited for me and I didn’t want to put anything in the back seat. I didn’t want to have to try to delegate time anymore. Especially with on the court, off the court with family. A lot. You want to play at a high level. But then family is a lot. My son is 16 and then two girls. So, [I’m] looking forward to seeing them grow up in those important years.”
The former University of Arizona star was selected as the ninth overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft. Standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 215 pounds, Iguodala made his only NBA All-Star appearance in 2012 with the Philadelphia 76ers, averaging a career-high 19.9 points during the 2007-08 season.
In addition to his offensive abilities, Iguodala was recognized for his strong defense and was named to the All-NBA defensive team three times, earning first-team honors twice. He achieved success on an international level as well, winning a gold medal in the 2012 London Games and becoming a World Champion with USA Basketball in 2010. Iguodala also ranks 39th in NBA history for total games played.
New Orleans Pelicans coach Willie Green, who previously played with Iguodala and coached him with the Warriors, expressed his admiration, stating, “He’s always been a mature young man, and I’m proud to see what he’s done in his career on the court. An Olympic gold medalist. A four-time NBA champion. But I’m even proud of him for who he is off the court, a devoted husband and father. He has formed many friendships within the NBA community, and he has nurtured young players and taught them how to be professionals.”
Iguodala played for the Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, and Miami Heat during his career, but his most notable contributions were with the Warriors. In July 2013, he declined a five-year contract with the Nuggets to join the Warriors on a four-year, $48 million contract through a sign-and-trade deal. This decision proved to be pivotal as Iguodala went on to win NBA championships with the Warriors in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022. In his final two seasons, Iguodala returned to the Warriors after a stint with the Miami Heat.
Warriors owner Joe Lacob had previously expressed his intention to retire Iguodala’s No. 9 jersey after his retirement.
Reflecting on his time with the Warriors, Iguodala said, “We won four championships; that’s kind of unheard of. There are only a handful of teams that can say that: the Bulls, the Lakers, the Celtics, us. No organization has been run like this. And I think it’s a testament to us believing in each other and playing the game the right way. It had perfect timing for me right there in my prime. It strengthens your faith when things happen the way they’re supposed to based on the work you put in.”
Iguodala’s most memorable career achievement came during the 2015 NBA Finals when he earned the MVP award for his exceptional defense against LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers. James shot 38.1% from the field when guarded by Iguodala, compared to 44% against other defenders. Iguodala also contributed 16.3 points, 4.0 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game during the six-game series.
Iguodala also made an impact off the court by serving on the National Basketball Players Association executive committee from 2015 to 2023. He played a pivotal role in supporting former NBPA president Chris Paul during the NBA bubble in 2020 amidst the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.
