Following Andre Iguodala’s triumph as the 2015 NBA Finals MVP, he has faced a consistent stream of criticism contending that his teammate Stephen Curry was more deserving of the accolade. Throughout the championship showdown against the Cavaliers, Iguodala’s veteran presence garnered acclaim for his defensive prowess against forward LeBron James.
Meanwhile, the Warriors’ offensive charge was spearheaded by their star guard, Curry, who averaged nearly 10 points per game. Unfortunately for Curry, the Finals MVP recognition evaded him in both 2017 and 2018, until he finally clinched the honor during the latest championship conquest.
In a recent episode of the “Gil’s Arena” podcast, Iguodala revealed that he, too, believes Curry was a more fitting recipient of the award. He expressed, “I’ve always maintained that Steph should’ve earned one before he did. I genuinely felt he deserved it. So, had it been up to me, that would’ve been great.”
Despite this sentiment, the 39-year-old underscored that he doesn’t require the Finals MVP award to comprehend the influence he wielded throughout his 19-year career. Iguodala shared, “I’m fully cognizant of the impact I had on the game. I don’t seek validation from anyone for that, as my entire career was predicated on it.”
This discussion traversed various subjects beyond the Finals MVP debate, with all participants on the show concurring that the Golden State athlete had been underrated for a substantial portion of his career.
Iguodala reflected, “I believe I secured a solitary First Team All-Defensive selection. It happened during the 2013-14 season with Golden State. The sole reason I made the 2012 Olympic team was Kobe Bryant’s endorsement of me as the league’s premier defender. Yet, I never secured a berth in the All-Defensive First Team.”
Reiterating his standpoint concerning the 2015 NBA Finals, Iguodala reaffirmed his perspective on conceding recognition to Curry. “Given all this,” he iterated, “I have no qualms. Steph deserved that acknowledgment. In my view, Steph should’ve received it.”
While Iguodala maintained averages of 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.3 steals, and 2.3 three-pointers per game on 52.1% shooting during the six-game final series eight years ago, Curry posted averages of 26.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.8 steals per game on 44.3% shooting during the same Finals.
Iguodala ultimately divulged that several NBA luminaries did indeed recognize his rightful impact. Later in the podcast appearance, he shared that even though the league might not have bestowed upon him the recognition he deserved, fellow NBA players acknowledged his influence throughout his career.
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