Golden State Warriors Season Preview: Andre Iguodala
By Eric He
The Warriors’ signing of Andre Iguodala last offseason marked the official transition of the team going from a perennial laughingstock to a destination for premier free agents.
While Iguodala did not put up awe-striking numbers in his first year with Golden State, he has proven to be an integral part of the Warriors’ roster with his lockdown defense and versatility on offense.
What he does well
Essentially, everything.
On defense, Iguodala is a good as they come, making the All-NBA Defensive First Team last season. He can matchup against the best forwards in the game, from LeBron James to Kevin Durant.
Here he is defending Durant. Watch as Iguodala stays on him, bothers him just enough to force a miss, then collects the rebound:
With a wingspan of nearly seven feet, Iguodala can get those lanky arms in the passing lane, as he averaged 1.5 steals per game last season.
On offense, Iguodala is a Swiss army knife. He can score, pass the ball, and handle the ball well for a small forward. He can play any position from one through four, and Steve Kerr plans to use him as a “point-forward” because of his versatility. He is also clutch, hitting two game-winning shots last season against the Thunder and Hawks.
What he needs to improve on:
Iguodala’s offensive numbers took a dip last season.
For the first time since his rookie campaign, Iguodala averaged less than 10 points a game at 9.3 points. Part of it was due to coming to a new team and learning a new offensive system, and it’s probable that Mark Jackson‘s iso-heavy strategies kept him from reaching his potential. Part of it was due to injuries: Iguodala missed 19 games last season due to a knee problems.
But for Iguodala to become more of an offensive threat, he needs to improve his outside shooting and be more aggressive. He did shoot 35.4 percent from beyond the arc last season, but Iguodala is at his best when he is driving the rim, drawing fouls and creating havoc inside. Numerous times last year he would simply settle for an outside jumper. He may be talking about getting his teammates more points so they can get paid in contract years, but the Warriors probably want him to contribute up to par on offense with the $48 million contract he signed last offseason.
Iguodala may not have the same offensive weapons as when he was the No. 1 option with the 76ers, but he can do better than last season’s effort.
Best case scenario
Iguodala rekindles his offensive game. He improves his outside shooting and is a legitimate three-point threat, making the Warriors’ offensive attack even more lethal. Iguodala thrives in Kerr’s spread-out offense, creating lanes and throwing passes to Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson for wide-open threes or down low to David Lee and Andrew Bogut for dunks. He fills the point-forward role perfectly and truly is a jack of all trades, from superb defense to irreplaceable value on offense.
Worst case scenario
Iguodala’s offensive game continues to slide. He loses his jumper and is even more tentative in driving to the rim. Injuries affect his performance negatively once again. His defense also slips somewhat and the Warriors are left with little value for an albatross of a contract.
Predicted stat line (averages):
12.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.6 steals