Andre thinks two-eras plan 'disrespects' Steph, Warriors' core originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
The Warriors' plan to simultaneously contend for titles while building for the post-Steph Curry era is a brave experiment, one that could lead to another Joe Lacob "lightyears" statement or blow up in Golden State's face.
Andre Iguodala has appeared skeptical of the plan to win now while building for later, and he told The Athletic's Anthony Slater that he thinks it's the wrong way to go about it on both ends.
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“It’s just, you know, it kind of disrespects the former era,” Iguodala told Slater. “But I also don’t think you’re giving the new era the opportunity to grow and be kids, throwing that all on them and it’s not deserving. It’s just my perspective. Could be wrong.”
That doesn't mean Iguodala isn't a fan of the Warriors' young group.
Since returning, Iguodala has spent a lot of time mentoring Jordan Poole, James Wiseman, and Jonathan Kuminga, helping shape the future of Warriors basketball.
"The more I get to see him, obviously, the more I’m finding flaws," Iguodala said of his work with Wiseman on Feb. 3. "That’s the type of guy I am. Finding a flaw and trying to fix it. Even yesterday, he and I were working out together and I saw a few flaws and I’ll be sure to start keying in on that. You get to this level and there’s not as much emphasis on the small things because historically they assume you have it already instilled in your game coming from college, and you got two or three years of tutelage and you got the fundamentals.
"He’s only played three or four college games. Just a few things he’s got to clean up – small things, easy fixes. I saw him on the court today and he did something and he has that wow factor.”
The Warriors recently shut down Wiseman for the rest of the season after the young center had another setback in his meniscus rehab.
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While Iguodala has spent time mentoring Wiseman and Kuminga, he identified Poole as someone he has gotten close with early on in the season.
“He’s a great kid, tremendous talent, but he works,” Iguodala said in December. “Doing his thing for a long time, those young guys who put the work in and want to be great. What I want to do for him is identify the things that he has overcome as a player and it’s all about growth and progression, and then working through it.”
Poole has blossomed into one of the Warriors' best players this season and is in line for a big payday this offseason.
"He had a (future contract) number coming into the season in terms of his value," Iguodala told Slater of Poole. "He’s raised that price. Especially the last couple weeks. That’s exciting for me to see. Because you know that’s really what I’m here for, what I’m about."
While he might be skeptical of the Warriors' plan to win now and win later, Iguodala is pouring his sweat into developing Golden State's future. Doing so with the hope that the young Warriors can help him, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green add to their championship legacy while preparing for life without them.
