Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
In refusing to play for the team he’s technically a part of, Andre Iguodala is forcing players to take sides.
His own team is opposing him. Stephen Curry is beside him.
The Grizzlies and their ghost of a forward, who hasn’t reported to the team and does not plan to as he hopes for a trade-deadline deal, are now battling, after Memphis’ Dillon Brooks told reporters, “I can’t wait til we find a way to trade him so we can play him and show him really what Memphis is about.”
Ja Morant, with an emoji, amplified the message, suggesting Brooks was speaking for the whole team, which does not and will not include Iguodala. Iggy was sent to Memphis by Golden State this summer as the Warriors opened space for D’Angelo Russell, and because the Grizzlies were rebuilding, he chose to await a trade rather than be a 36-year-old grinding with a poor team. But led by Morant, the Grizzlies have surprised, 25-25 and in possession of the eight seed in the West.
As the Grizzlies group up on the Grizzly who won’t show up, Curry has his back. Perhaps doing some early recruiting for next season, the injured Warriors star posted on his Instagram story a photo of Iguodala holding the NBA title trophy, along with a “Shhh” emoji.
AND NOW STEPH CHIMING IN: pic.twitter.com/fhxnREa48u
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) February 4, 2020
His efforts at shutting up the disrespecting Grizzlies did not work. Instead, Morant fired back with the real player he apparently thinks won the Warriors a title:
??♂️? pic.twitter.com/lmhLZP1Pqn
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) February 4, 2020
“i was a fan & still a fan,” Morant wrote about Curry, “but iann scared of him.”