Though Andre Iguodala’s time with the Grizzlies lasted about as long as Kim Kardashian’s marriage to Kris Humphries, the people in Memphis still have not forgotten.
The Golden State Warriors veteran Iguodala heard boos from the Memphis crowd during Monday’s game with the Grizzlies. Iguodala famously refused to play for Memphis when the Warriors traded him there in 2019, holding out for months until the Grizzlies finally traded him to the Miami Heat.
Memphis went on to flatten the Warriors, winning by the final of 123-95. After the game, Grizzlies swingman Dillon Brooks reacted to the boos for Iguodala and added in some shade of his own.
“We all had the vision. He didn’t, which is perfect,” said Brooks of Iguodala, per HoopsHype. “Send him back to the Warriors and let him do his thing over there.”
Iguodala’s holdout actually seemed like the right move at the time. The Grizzlies finished below .500 in the season that he was there, and Iguodala immediately made the Finals with the Heat just months after being traded there. But Memphis has risen meteorically over the last couple of seasons thanks to the development of young guys like Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane, and Brooks. To the shock and awe of everyone this year, the Grizzlies are now 53-23, a full five games ahead of Iguodala’s current team, the Warriors, in the standings.
You have to give credit to Brooks here. He had the same shade for Iguodala when Iguodala was still with the Grizzlies and refusing to suit up for them. Now that Memphis has successfully built a contender from the ground up, it makes Brooks and everyone else who believed in what they were doing look really good.
Photo: Feb 20, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Miami Heat forward Andre Iguodala (28) is all smiles during pregame warmups before the Heats game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
