Two years ago, the whole fan base and certain members of the Memphis Grizzlies like Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks developed a sour impression on Andre Iguodala. After he was shipped by the Golden State Warriors to the Grind City in 2019 offseason, the veteran refused to play and mentor the team’s talented young guns — as he was even reportedly prepared to sit down for the rest of the 2019-2020 season if he would not be released or traded in one of his preferred destinations.
Fast forward in 2022 wherein both sides have crossed paths, wherein Iguodala finds himself back in the resurging Bay Area while Memphis is now also title heavyweight, Brooks delivered once again a major shade against the 37-year-old swingman for refusing to be part of their grand program.
“We all had the vision,” Brooks told reporters following his team’s 123-95 Monday demolition game over the Dubs. “He didn’t, which is perfect. Send him back to the Warriors and let him do his thing over there.”
After the said complicated situation, the Grizz decided to trade Iguodala together with Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill to the Miami Heat for Justice Winslow, Dion Waiters and James Johnson. Eventually, the Heat team being joined by Iggy made it to the 2020 NBA Finals within the Disney Bubble, only to come up short against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. After his $30 million extension with Miami expired following last season, he decided to go back to Golden State in the offseason.
On the side of Memphis, their young nucleus have grown tremendously behind the inspiring leadership of Taylor Jenkins. They reached the playoffs last season and formed promising projections from people about their future.
The shocking rise of the promising Grizzlies has been a major storyline this 2022 season behind the brilliance of Morant, Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane. Certainly so, they are determined to make further noise as one of the favorites to come out of the West this postseason; seemingly this time, one of their clear goals also is to prove that the 2015 Finals MVP wasted his chances to carry them under his wings — a thing that they will carry on moving forward.
As such, a possible playoff showdown between the Grizzlies and the Warriors soon will be an ultimate one. Time can only tell what happens next in this narrative.
