Memphis Grizzlies fans showed they hadn’t forgotten about being scorned by Andre Iguodala when they booed him every time he touched the ball during his return to the court on Monday. Apparently the Grizzlies players didn’t forget either.
Memphis guard Dillon Brooks delivered a postgame shot at Iguodala after his team’s 123-95 destruction of the Warriors on Monday.
“We all had the vision and he didn’t,” Brooks said of Iguodala’s decision not to play for the Grizzlies after being traded to Memphis in 2019. “It’s perfect. Send him back to the Warriors and let him do his thing there.”
Iguodala made his return to the floor for the Warriors on Monday after 21 games away due to a myriad of injuries. It just so happened to be at the arena least amenable to his return.
Iguodala was traded by the Warriors along with a first-round pick in order to clear cap space following Kevin Durant’s departure, giving Golden State flexibility to execute a sign-and-trade for D’Angelo Russell. Coming off five straight Finals appearances, Iguodala had no interest in playing for the Grizzlies, and reached an agreement with the team that allowed him to stay in the Bay Area and train on his own.
Despite not even being in Memphis, Iguodala continued to earn the $17 million he was owed, as the Grizzlies looked for a trade partner. Iguodala reportedly was willing to sit out the entire season rather than play in Memphis. Andre’s decision not to join the Grizzlies drew the ire of both Brooks and then rookie Ja Morant, who felt he was being disrespectful.
“I cant wait til we find a way to trade him so we can play him and show him really what Memphis is about,” Brooks said in 2020, before Iguodala was traded to Miami.
He sure got that chance on Monday.