"We had grown a** men playing in the league" - Andre Igoudala believes NBA should stick to 82-game schedule, claims it separates men from boys

Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors warms up prior to Game Six of the 2022 NBA Finals \ahat TD Garden on June 16, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts.

The NBA recently released its schedule for the 2022-23 season. The Boston Celtics will take on the Philadelphia 76ers and the Golden State Warriors will lock horns with the LA Lakers on opening night.

The 2022-23 season will once again consist of 82 regular-season games, despite reports that the league is looking to shorten the campaign at some point in the future.

Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner appeared on the "Point Forward" podcast to discuss the issue. The Warriors forward said the league should stick to its current format, which he feels separates the men from the boys. He also referenced John Stockton, who is believed to have missed only 22 games in his 19-season career.

"We gonna keep playing 82 games until 3005," Iguodala said. "We can't change 82 games. Eighty-two games ... there's a mental side of it. That's why we talk about rookie wall... 82 games, I do think you know it separates the men from the boys.

"The bottom of our league is the bar for the bare minimum the NBA player has lowered. I think that needs to change and the part of this is the mental side of it. We're getting younger and younger, but we had grown a** men playing in the league. I mean, John Stockton miss what 15 games over 20 years."

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NBA includes new "rivals week" to its schedule

LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers react to a pass during a 119-115 Clippers win over Lakers at Staples Center on December 03, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.

The NBA made an interesting addition to its schedule, pegged as "rivals week." Rivals week, which will run from January 24-28, will feature franchises taking on their closest rivals.

The LA Lakers will take on the LA Clippers, the Boston Celtics will go head-to-head with the Miami Heat and the Brooklyn Nets will lock horns with the New York Knicks.

The Christmas Day schedule includes the Milwaukee Bucks taking on the Celtics, and the Memphis Grizzlies facing the Golden State Warriors. Other notable fixtures on December 25 include the Phoenix Suns hosting the Denver Nuggets and the LA Lakers battling the Dallas Mavericks.