“After 19 Years of Professional Play, Andre Iguodala Bids Farewell to the NBA with 4 Championships”

Veteran Andre Iguodala, a four-time NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors, has officially announced his retirement from professional basketball after a remarkable 19-season career. Throughout his career, Iguodala earned a spot in the 2012 NBA All-Star team, accumulated nearly 14,000 points, and was twice named to the NBA All-Defensive Team.

Iguodala, who won the NBA Finals MVP in 2015, expressed that this is the right time to step away from the game. In a four-hour phone conversation with AndScape, the 39-year-old player shared, “Time is limited for me, and I don’t want to hold anything back. Family is much more important. My son is 16 years old, followed by two daughters. I want to witness their growth during these crucial years.”

Selected as the 9th overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft, the former Arizona Wildcats star averaged 19.9 points per game during the 2007-08 season. Iguodala, a defensive specialist, also represented the United States national team, winning a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics and a world championship in 2010. He ranks 39th in NBA history for total games played.

While Iguodala played for the Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, and Miami Heat, it was with the Golden State Warriors that he achieved his greatest success. Warriors owner Joe Lacob stated in 2019 that he plans to retire Iguodala’s number 9 jersey.

In a remarkable turn of events in July 2013, Iguodala declined a five-year contract with the Nuggets to join the Warriors via a sign-and-trade deal, signing a four-year, $48 million contract. It proved to be a career-defining move.

During his time in Golden State, Iguodala won NBA championships in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022. After his stint with the Miami Heat, he played his final two seasons with the Warriors, including 8 games in the previous season. Despite interest from Golden State and other teams this season, Iguodala declined all contract offers.

Iguodala’s most significant career highlight was being named the Finals MVP in 2015. His ability to limit the influence of LeBron James played a crucial role in achieving this accolade, despite initially entering the series as a sixth man.