Andre Iguodala knows how much longer he wants to play in the NBA.
The Warriors forward said Tuesday that he doesn’t have “four or five more years” left in the league.
“I have a good idea how much longer I want to play,” Iguodala told The New York Times. “I’m keeping it to myself, but it’s going to be soon. I can play four or five more years. But I won’t.”
The 2015 Finals MVP is 35-years-old and has been to five championship series in his six seasons with Golden State. The defensive specialist has hit his fair share of big shots for the two-time defending champions in that span, and some believe his contributions are worthy of a Hall of Fame induction when he calls it quits.
“He chose us more than we chose him,” Warriors president of basketball operations Bob Myers said of Iguodala. “We obviously met with him and wanted him, but they hung in there with us. Andre had a vision for what we could be maybe before we even did and how he could fit with us. I always credit Andre for being somebody that believed in us even before we believed in ourselves.”
This isn’t the first time Iguodala has hinted at his impending retirement. The 15-year pro said his “career is almost over” ahead of this year’s NBA Finals and was indecisive about what he’ll do when he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2020.
“I could sign a one-year deal if I want to,” Iguodala said. “That’s the beauty of sense of self.”
The 6-7 wing is averaging 9.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists in the 2019 playoffs. While his numbers don’t jump off the stat sheet, he’s continued to be clutch in critical possessions. His dagger 3-pointer at the end of regulation in Sunday’s Game 2 matchup against the Raptors helped his team tie the finals up at 1-1.
Iguodala has been an important part of Golden State’s success, and if he sticks to his word, he’ll be retired by 2022 at the latest.