#2 Andre Iguodala – Golden State Warriors
Reigning NBA Finals MVP Andre Iguodala showed this season why he is Warriors’ Dark Knight. All season he stayed away from the limelight and let the team’s All-Stars Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green bask in the glory and carry the team but when the team needed him the most, he responded.
With their backs against the wall and facing a long, athletic Thunder team, the Warriors needed the veteran’s calm leadership on the floor. Iguodala stepped up, made crucial plays on both ends of the floor in the team’s two most important games of the season – Games 6 & 7 of the West Finals against OKC.
''He's always kind of our unsung hero. He never has the numbers that jump out at you in the box score, so people don't write about him or show him much on the highlights,'' coach Steve Kerr said. ''But he's a phenomenal defensive player and he's an incredibly intelligent player. He settles us down on offense and takes the toughest assignment on defense.''
The Warriors didn’t need much of him in the first two rounds against the Houston Rockets and Portland Trailblazers, winning both series comfortably 4-1. However, when the time came the team looked to Iguodala and he answered the call.
From averaging 26 minutes in the regular season and 29 in the first two rounds of the Playoffs, Iguodala averaged 37 in the Warriors’ last three games. In Game 7 of the Conference Finals, he played 43 minutes, a season high for the 12-year veteran.
Heading into their second straight Finals, the Warriors will once again look to their veteran defender to carry the responsibility of blocking LeBron James.
Guess the Lakers players!
