Andre Iguodala is totally cool winning the NBA Finals MVP. And he should be, because he absolutely deserved the award after being arguably the Warriors’ best player in the first two games and defending LeBron James as well as he did. LeBron still got his numbers, and also had a deserving argument for Finals MVP, but think of how much more havoc he could have wreaked on the Warriors had Iggy not been guarding him.
One award Iguodala wants no part of? The Sixth Man Of The Year award, which is surprising, since Iguodala will be coming off the bench again this year, and will be one of the top candidates for the award. Most players would be elated to win any award, so why does Iguodala have such an adverse reaction to this? Here’s what he told Sam Amick of USA Today:
“You learn how to embrace (the role), and when you embrace things, things tend to work out in your favor,” said Iguodala, who is again expected to play behind starter Harrison Barnes while leading the second unit. “I’ve been through (playing sixth man) for a year, (I) understand it a trillion times more than last year. Definitely more comfortable. I’m actually looking forward to it.”
As for the notion of winning the Sixth Man of the Year award, Iguodala was quick to stop the conversation there. His view, as he so comically shared, is that the individual accolades should begin and end with the league’s MVP award.
“I’m not a fan of the award, actually,” he said. “It’s like affirmative action or something (like that) to me.”
Iguodala’s point is well taken, but should individual recognition really just start and stop with the MVP? Doing that disregards stellar defensive players, standout rookies and players who have put in the immense work to become miles better than they used to be. The Sixth Man Of The Year award may be a bit hokey, but it’s nonetheless important.
Iguodala may not be interested in winning it, but if he performs as well as he did in his reserve role last year, he may not have a choice but to accept it.
(Via USA Today)
