FILE – Andre Iguodala of the Golden State Warriors celebrates a basket late in the game against the Toronto Raptors during Game Two of the 2019 NBA Finals at Scotiabank Arena on June 02, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images/AFP
Veteran forward Andre Iguodala confirmed Friday he is rejoining the Golden State Warriors.
Iguodala, 37, told the New York Times he intends to sign a one-year deal to return to the Bay Area to finish out his career.
He won three NBA championships during a four-year span with the Warriors and was the Most Valuable Player of the 2015 NBA Finals, the franchise’s first title since 1975.
“Who would have thought I’d have the opportunity to go back to the place where I was able to have, whatever you want to call it, legacy years, in terms of the accomplishments, winning multiple championships, the relationships that I was able to build with some of my closest friends and teammates?” Iguodala told the Times.
“The relationship with the fans, the relationship with the Bay, the opportunity to end it here, was just something special.”
The Miami Heat declined their $15 million option last week for Iguodala, who also considered the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers.
He averaged 4.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 21.3 minutes in 63 games (five starts) in 2020-21, his second season with Miami and his 17th in the NBA.
Iguodala was an All-Star with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2011-12 and helped the Warriors win it all in 2014-15, 2016-17 and 2017-18. He is a two-time All-Defensive Team selection.
Philadelphia’s first-round pick (ninth overall) in 2004, Iguodala has averaged 11.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.5 steals in 1,192 games (784 starts) with the 76ers (2004-12), Denver Nuggets (2012-13), Warriors (2013-19) and Heat.