Andre Iguodala named 2015 NBA Finals MVP in a deserving, unlikely honor
Golden State Warriors wing Andre Iguodala did not enter the 2015 NBA Finals as a favorite, or even much of a figure of consideration, for the series’ MVP award. The 11-year vet did not start a single game prior to the Finals after moving to the bench to make way for Harrison Barnes this preseason and projected to impact the result primarily as a defender on LeBron James. The Vegas odds rated him as a 125-to-1 pick to bring home the trophy, essentially suggesting that he had no chance among titans like LeBron James and reigning NBA MVP Stephen Curry.
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However, there was no doubt which Warrior was most deserving of the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Award as they closed out their first title in 40 years in Tuesday’s Game 6 win at Quicken Loans Arena. Iguodala was the Warriors’ most consistent player of the series, averaging 16.3 points (52.1 percent from the field, 40.0 percent from deep), 5.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists over 36.8 minutes per game while serving as Golden State’s primary defender on LeBron James. Plus, Iguodala’s entry into the starting lineup in place of All-Defensive Second Team honoree Andrew Bogut helped turn the series to the Warriors’ favor. Golden State won all three games in which they went small, in large part because Iguodala and Draymond Green allowed them to push the tempo without sacrificing toughness and defensive pressure.
While there’s little doubt that LeBron was the most dominant player on either side over the course of the series, consistency and the Warriors’ ability to close things out in six games carried the widely respected Iguodala to the greatest individual honor of his career. It was a fairly tight margin — 7-4 to Iguodala over James, with no others receiving votes — and that result fits the narrative of the series.
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Eric Freeman is a writer for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
