Nov 7, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Andre Iguodala (9) goes up for a layup against the Sacramento Kings during the second quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Iguodala becomes the team leader
After Allen Iverson was traded to the Denver Nuggets, there was a big hole left to be filled by someone on the Sixers. Someone would have to step up and be the leader. Andre Iguodala would be the clear candidate, and in his first season without Iverson, he proved that he could be that leader averaging 18 points per game and nearly leading the Sixers to the playoffs.
For the next several years, the Sixers dealt with playoff mediocricy, but Iguodala never gave up as the leader of the team.
In 2011, Iguodala finally pushed himself to a leadership level that was recognized throughout the league, and he was selected to his first ever All Star game. That same season, he was a huge factor in the eighth seed Sixers upsetting the top seeded Chicago Bulls. This team made history, as they were one of the only teams to ever pull off this upset, only the fifth team to do it at the time.
Although Iverson leaving seems as if it could only mean the end of an era, it opened the door for Iguodala to begin his era in the 76ers franchise. Today, he can say he was an NBA Finals MVP (in 2015 for the Golden State Warriors) and I don’t think he could be at that level without having spent some time as the leader of the Philadelphia 76ers. He didn’t ever lead the team to a championship, in fact he was far from it, but still, his name is forever remembered with this franchise.
Next: Iverson comes back to the court