Iguodala: LeBron Considering Warriors Shows Curry's Influence, Just Like Yao Ming Made 2 Billion People Love Basketball

On July 12, Beijing time, a decade ago, Kevin Durant's move to the Warriors sparked heated debates; now LeBron James is also weighing whether to join this Bay Area team. Andre Iguodala, who won Finals MVP with the Warriors, stated that James' willingness to consider joining Golden State precisely highlights how extraordinary Curry's impact is.

"I've been saying since 2013 that no one truly understands how great Curry is," Iguodala said in a recent interview with ESPN.

Iguodala is about to step down as executive director of the players' union. He revealed that a recent text exchange with a friend made him acutely aware of how much attention the outside world is paying to James' interest in the Warriors.

"My friend said, 'Even a generational superstar like LeBron wants to come play alongside Curry—that alone shows what kind of player Curry is,'" Iguodala recounted.

Durant's situation in 2016 was completely different from James' current one. Durant was 27 at the time and had not yet won a championship. James, on the other hand, is 41. The last time he faced the Warriors in the playoffs was in 2023, when he led the Lakers to a 4-2 victory over Curry's Warriors. This past season, the Warriors managed only a 37-45 record and failed to even make it out of the play-in tournament.

Only Curry remained consistently reliable: last season he averaged 26.6 points, 4.7 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game, earning a well-deserved All-Star selection.

Speaking of his former teammate, Iguodala reflected, "Years from now, everyone will be amazed. Three or four decades later, we'll still see the profound impact he's had on the game of basketball. Countless young people who never thought about playing in the NBA have taken up the sport because of Curry. LeBron is one of a kind, but a benchmark like Curry can inspire a whole generation of basketball players. It's like when Yao Ming appeared and directly made 2 billion people fall in love with basketball—now everywhere you look, there are kids inspired by Curry. Some of Curry's talents are naturally unique, but the spirit he conveys is something ordinary people can relate to."

Having once faced James in intense Finals matchups, Iguodala also praised James' composure in navigating free agency, as he prepares to embark on a record-breaking 24th NBA season.

Regarding the current media frenzy surrounding James' free agency, Iguodala said, "He fully deserves that attention. Just the mere possibility is enough to get fans excited. In my years serving on the players' union and working alongside league commissioner Adam Silver, I've learned one thing: we need to promote positive stories, and the best positive story right now is that a 41-year-old is still dominating the court. Even if he just switches from a red Gatorade to a blue one, it sparks controversy—but there's no denying that this is a great moment for basketball."

"The fact that the best athlete of our generation, at this age, still commands so much attention, respect, and discussion proves the global appeal of the sport. With all these factors combined, if this partnership actually happens, it will be incredibly震撼. Whether people like it or not, everyone will be glued to their screens watching."

However, Iguodala also admitted that the prevailing narrative—"LeBron joining would only add to Curry's legendary legacy"—might make the four-time MVP hesitate before taking that step.

"The core of competitive sports is competition, and media narratives can also influence people's decisions," Iguodala said. "If this kind of rhetoric continues to build before LeBron makes his decision, it could very well change his final choice."

Putting the media aside, Iguodala is genuinely excited about the prospect of this dream partnership. "Considering where both of them are in their careers right now, and thinking back to their collaboration at the Paris Olympics," Iguodala referred to the trio (along with Durant) winning an Olympic gold medal in 2024, "In my view, LeBron James is the highest basketball IQ player I've ever seen... If he and Curry can team up... Just imagining it ignites everyone's passion for basketball. Fans love this sport because they crave the ultimate clash of superstars. So I'll definitely be watching every single game of theirs."

He added one last comment: "But even without LeBron, I would have watched every Curry game anyway."