Warriors veteran Andre Iguodala discussed whether or not voting media made the proper decision in awarding him with the 2015 NBA Finals MVP Award over teammate Stephen Curry, writes Sam Amick of The Athletic. Iguodala won the award by a margin of 7-4 over then-Cavaliers small forward LeBron James. Curry, coming off a 2015 regular-season MVP award victory, did not receive a single vote. The Warriors won the series over Cleveland 4-2, with Iguodala’s two-way play while facing off against James proving a crucial component of Golden State’s win.
“Yeah, I think (the discussion) does a disservice to the game,” Iguodala said. “I’ve never said it was the wrong decision. Yeah, I think (Curry) should have won (at some point). But that’s not to say that you guys made the wrong decision.” The Warriors won two other titles with Curry and Iguodala, though then-teammate Kevin Durant won Finals MVP in both 2017 and 2018.
There’s more out of the West:
- After losing Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Finals in stunning fashion, the Warriors have their work cut out for them today. Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today opines that the club will need to improve its three-point defense, its offensive output, and the play from defensive anchor Draymond Green.
- Several of his former coaches have discussed the fit for ex-Auburn forward Jabari Smith, expected to be one of the top three candidates in the 2022 draft, for the Thunder, per Joe Mussatto of the Oklahoman. The Thunder have the No. 2 pick. The 6’10” power forward was a consensus second-team All-American while in school.
- Former Arizona guard Bennedict Mathurin is set to work out for the Trail Blazers today, per Aaron J. Fentress of the Oregonian (Twitter link). Mathurin is projected as the eighth pick in the draft, according to the latest ESPN big board. Portland possesses the seventh pick this year.