The Golden State Warriors will retire the No. 9 jersey of Andre Iguodala on Feb. 23 when the team hosts the Dallas Mavericks. Iguodala will be the seventh jersey number retired by the Warriors, joining Alvin Attles (No. 16), Rick Barry (No. 24), Wilt Chamberlain (No. 16), Tom Meschery (No. 14), Chris Mullin (No. 17) and Nate Thurmond (No. 42).
“I’m just the oldest,” Iguodala said. “Mark Jackson’s favorite line was: ‘Father Time is undefeated.’ It worked to my benefit this time in terms of being the first one.”
The Warriors almost certainly will also retire the numbers of Stephen Curry (No. 30), Klay Thompson (No. 11), Draymond Green (No. 23) and Kevin Durant (No. 35) in the coming years when each retires.
The Warriors acquired Iguodala in 2013 in a risky sign-and-trade with the Denver Nuggets. Iguodala was 30 at the time and already entering his 10th NBA seasons. Iguodala played the next six seasons for the Warriors where they would reach The Finals five straight times and win it three times. Iguodala was traded by the Warriors in 2019 and returned for his final two NBA seasons as they won one more title.
“He was the perfect player and person at the perfect time for our team,” controlling owner Joe Lacob said in a statement. “The sacrifice he made in coming off the bench in 2014, sent a message that he came here to help us do one thing: win. The proof is in the rafters and his number belongs alongside the banners he helped us raise.”
