Golden State Warriors miss Iggy nearly as much as Klay

Following the Golden State Warriors 116-109 loss to Miami, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra had an interesting take on former Warrior Andre Iguodala and the currently injured Klay Thompson.

“They definitely miss Klay. But you can make the argument they miss Andre just as much.”

Whilst Thompson is recovering from a second consecutive season-ending injury, Iguodala is averaging just over 21 minutes a game for the Heat.

The Golden State Warriors are missing Andre Iguodala more than most fans realize and even Klay Thompson won’t replace Iggy. 

The three-time NBA champion is averaging 4.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists across the 2020-21 season. But with Iguodala, the 2015 Finals MVP, it’s always been about the little things he can provide on the court, rather than simply the numbers that show up in the box score.

But at 37 years of age, how much value could Iguodala provide on a Warriors team currently tenth in the Western Conference? If he were still on the roster, where could the Warriors be sitting at this point of the season?

Sure, his IQ and experience would provide serious value to a team lacking in those departments, outside of Iguodala’s championship-winning teammates in Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. Perhaps the Warriors may have won a couple of hard-fought close contests thanks to Iguodala’s leadership and championship experience.

But despite the value that Iguodala would bring, he wouldn’t turn this roster into a strong playoff team. Nor would he be expected to given his age and current standing within the league.

He’s a good role player for a title-contending team, not a major difference-maker for those around the eighth seed or below. There’s a reason he refused to play for the Memphis Grizzlies last season, before finding a trade to the eventual finalist Heat.

Thompson will increase title chances

On the other hand, with Thompson’s return, the Warriors will look to catapult back into title contention next season. Time will tell if that happens but regardless, as solid as Iguodala still is, he’s not providing the combination of offense and defense that a fully fit Thompson can. After all, the latter will start next season in the third of a five-year, $190 million contract.

Could the Warriors do with Andre Iguodala on this current roster? They could certainly do with his type of player that’s for sure. But would he be of greater value to the team than Thompson? No.

It made for a perplexing comment from Spoelstra, who could have simply stated that the Warriors are missing both players. Instead, he perhaps inadvertently made a comparison between the value of both, one that’s ultimately unfair given the different stages of their careers.