Programming note: Watch Friday night's Warriors-Kings game streaming live at 7 p.m. PT on the MyTeams app.
Andre Iguodala did not practice Thursday, and is officially listed as questionable for Friday's game at the Kings.
The 2015 NBA Finals MVP did not play Monday against the Minnesota Timberwolves or Wednesday again the Toronto Raptors because of left hip soreness.
"This was just something the other night during warmups -- his hip kind of locked up on him a little bit -- and he came back in the training room, and trainers looked at him and said it's not worth it," coach Steve Kerr told reporters prior to the Warriors' loss to the Raptors. "Same thing tonight. It's just a day-to-day thing, but we're gonna do the wise thing and keep him out."
At this point, it probably would be wise to just keep Iguodala in street clothes when Golden State takes the floor in Sacramento.
After Friday's game in the state capitol, the Warriors get Saturday and Sunday off before they host the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night. This would give the 34-year-old nine full days off between appearances -- a welcome period of rest for somebody with his mileage.
Iguodala appeared in 10 of the Warriors' first 12 games this season, logging 18.7 minutes per contest. But with Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Alfonzo McKinnie sidelined for extended stretches, Iguodala was thrust into a bigger role.
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From Nov. 10 to Dec. 7, the 2012 All-Star suited up for all 15 games (making 11 starts) and averaged 26.5 minutes over that stretch. That's too much playing time at this point of the season for Iguodala.
There's a solid number of Warriors fans who get frustrated with Iguodala's production (or lack thereof at times) and/or perceived passive demeanor throughout the regular season. Many of those people cite his $16 million salary and believe he shouldn't coast through certain games.
But that mindset is short-sided because Iguodala is incredibly valuable and important to everything the Warriors do. It's as if people forget what happened when he went down last season during the Western Conference finals against the Houston Rockets.
Last Friday in Milwaukee, Iguodala delivered his best performance of the regular season -- 15 points (6-for-10 overall, 3-for-6 from deep), 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block and 0 turnovers -- and reminded everybody of the bigger picture:
Andre Iguodala to @KerithBurke: "This wasn't my best game. I've had some really good games. Toronto game I was really good with a lot of passing and I've been playing 4 or 5 positions this year ... May/June - that's what I like." pic.twitter.com/1IFnhX8iQF— Drew Shiller (@DrewShiller) December 8, 2018
You gotta love how he doesn't even include April anymore -- when the playoffs actually begin. Speaking of playoffs, he averaged 7.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.4 steals over Golden State's first 13 games last year (12 starts), while shooting 48 percent overall and nearly 36 percent from deep.
Late in Game 3 of the NBA Finals in Cleveland, he did this ...
The play before KD hit his iconic 3 in Game 3 of the Finals, a lot of fans don't remember Iguodala destroying Tristan pic.twitter.com/1iJU06SYkG— Grant Liffmann (@GrantLiffmann) July 17, 2018
... and in Game 4, he hit 3 3-pointers and racked up 2 steals and 2 blocks.
The point is, Golden State needs to be patient with Iguodala during the regular season and pace him so he's in peak form when it matters most. Rushing him back to play on Dec. 14 makes no sense, and the Warriors know this.
Take the night off, Andre, and go record another entertaining podcast or something ...
Drew Shiller is the co-host of Warriors Outsiders. Follow him on Twitter @DrewShiller
