When it came time for Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers to pick his favorite moment of the season, it wasn’t Stephen Curry winning the Most Valuable Player award or Klay Thompson scoring 37 points in a quarter or even his own moment of glory when he was named NBA Executive of the Year. It came on the quickly assembled stage on the court at Quicken Loans Arena, when Bill Russell handed the trophy named after him to Andre Iguodala in recognition of the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player.
“That’s the one,” Myers said. “That he was up there getting it, it was perfect. Sometimes life works out like it should.”
If you have followed the Warriors, you know the reason Myers found Iguodala’s turn in the spotlight so fitting. Coach Steve Kerr told us of Iguodala’s importance all along. Well, maybe not at the moment Kerr lied about his intention to move Iguodala into the starting lineup in Game 4. But again and again, Kerr said the key to the Warriors’ season was Iguodala’s willingness to become a bench player for the first time in his career to open a spot in the starting lineup for Harrison Barnes. It was indicative of the type of unselfish attitude a team needs in order to win a championship. And Tuesday night it came to fruition.