Andre Iguodala became the first of the four-championship-winning Golden State Warriors to get his jersey retired when the team hosted the Dallas Mavericks. Congratulations came pouring in for the swingman from all over the world, including from Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and Jordan Poole.
Heartfelt Messages Pour in for Andre Iguodala as No.9 Raised to Warriors’ Rafters
Iguodala arrived in Golden State in 2013 and led the Warriors to the NBA Championship two years later with Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. He won two back-to-back titles in 2018 and 2019 before winning the fourth in his final two-year stint at Golden State.
#9 is in the rafters forever pic.twitter.com/WAh8qkIhR6
— Alex 👋 (@Dubs408) February 24, 2025
The 6’6″ swingman retired in 2023 and now becomes the first of the Golden Quartet to have his No. 9 jersey lifted to the rafters at the Chase Center. Iguodala’s jersey was retired after the Warriors routed the Mavericks 126-102, and while Curry and Thompson were in attendance, Durant and Poole’s touching messages were displayed on the big screen.
Poole, who is averaging 20.9 points this season for the Washington Wizards, said he was happy to see the jersey of his elder brother being raised to the rafters of one of the most prestigious organizations in the world.
“Congratulations on an amazing career, and congratulations on being able to get your jersey retired and hung up on the rafters of one of the most prestigious organizations in the world. So happy for you as a little brother, and congratulations, bro.”
Jordan Poole congratulates Iguodala for his jersey retirement pic.twitter.com/hMGfIGG3A3
— Alex 👋 (@Dubs408) February 23, 2025
Durant expressed gratitude for their time together from 2016 to 2019 when he led the Warriors to back-to-back NBA championships as back-to-back NBA Finals MVP.
“Dre, congrats, man, on No. 9 going up into the rafters. I am so grateful for all the moments we spent together, all the wins we got together, all the championships we won together, man. Much love. Congrats. Enjoy it.”
Kevin Durant congratulates Iguodala on his jersey retirement pic.twitter.com/UQS45hhBeg
— Alex 👋 (@Dubs408) February 23, 2025
Curry was fresh off a 30 points and seven assists performance but shared the most heartfelt words for Iguodala.
“I think we all can feel it, but this isn’t just about a number going into the rafters,” Curry said. “This is about a player who changed the course of our entire franchise. … You were the first one to choose us, and that meant the world. For a team that knew we were good but didn’t know how to get to that next level, you unlocked so much confidence, so much IQ, so much maturity to what we did.
“You sacrificed ego for excellence, which for us is the Warriors way.”
"You were the first one to choose us." pic.twitter.com/F45KmotFrg
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) February 24, 2025
Iguodala averaged 6.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 26.0 minutes in his eight seasons with the Warriors. He was the NBA Finals MVP in 2015 after leading Golden State to three straight wins against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the six-game series win, averaging 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists.
But he hasn’t got a chance to “properly reflect” on his accomplishments. What Iguodala properly did was appreciate the genius of Curry, Thompson, Durant, and Green.
“Steph, you made the world turn. That is not something you say lightly. You truly changed the game of basketball. It was beautiful. … I understood my role. I understood the genius of Draymond [Green], the genius of Klay, the genius of Kevin Durant. … Shaun Livingston and I … we had this unique team that understood, had this precious ultra-talented assassin. Steph, none of this happens without you.”
