Wednesday, August 15th, 2012 at 9:31 am  |  87 responses

Andre Iguodala Is Very Excited to Be a Denver Nugget


by Eldon Khorshidi | @eldonadam

All-Star swingman Andre Iguodala can’t wait to join his new team, the Denver Nuggets. Prior to acquiring Iguodala, the Nuggets were already one of the most athletic and fastest teams in the NBA, and with AI on board, they will presumably be that much more dangerous. With a promising young core of Ty Lawson, Danilo Gallinari, Kenneth Faried and JaVale McGee in place, and with former teammate Andre Miller on the roster, the Olympic gold medalist is very optimistic about Denver’s future. After all, the Nuggets did take the Lakers to seven games last May.

More details, via NBA.com:

“I really like what they’re building in Denver and I look forward to being a part of it.” The Nuggets acquired Iguodala from the 76ers on Friday as part of a four-team, 12-player deal that also included the Los Angeles Lakers and the Orlando Magic. During one post-trade interview, Iguodala said he was thankful for the opportunity to play in the NBA and added that he would be happy playing basketball anywhere—even in Alaska. Some misconstrued the comments as ambivalence toward the Nuggets. “I like the roster that Josh and (executive vice president of basketball operations) Masai (Ujiri) have assembled,” Iguodala said. “It’s a high-energy group with a lot of athleticism. I’ve played with Andre Miller and know how valuable a player he is. Ty (Lawson) is one of the best young point guards in the league and Danilo (Gallinari) can really stretch the defense with his shooting and can do a lot of other good things offensively. The young bigs like JaVale (McGee), (Kenneth) Faried and (Timofey) Mozgov are all talented guys who will only continue to get better.” It also should be a good fit. Nuggets coach George Karl loves to run; Iguodala loves to run. Denver loves to create offense with its defense; Iguodala is a lockdown defender who can create turnovers. “I think my strengths as a player fit in very well with Coach Karl’s system and the way he likes to play,” Iguodala said. “I like a more up-tempo game, and I know this team gets up and down the floor being among the league leaders in scoring and possessions per game last year.”

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  • http://slam FLIGHT 9

    Great!!! good luck!!!

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    Going to be an even more exciting team to watch. They’ll have a guy who can guard the other team’s best perimeter player effectively. JaVale McGee protecting the basket. Ty Lawson at the point. George Karl has a lot to work with.

  • http://www.kb24.com The Seed

    AI, will average more points playing for the Nuggets this year. I hope it goes well for him, because he plays hard on defense and has improved his shooting where it is acceptable now. Good high energy team!!

  • http://www.slamonline.com AT

    I would say that Iggy might be the best defender in that conference now.Denver got somebody to replace afflalo that can get other players involved n gaurd the kobes, durants, and westbrooks.

  • Ctk

    DenverNuggets season will boil down to how well WilsonChandler can handle the four position ..Faried shouldnt be playin more mins than him..Chandler they most talented offenvise player EASILY

  • http://google J-Ro

    And the Nuggets open their season visiting Philly. That’ll be interesting.

  • James

    he should be on the SG spot

  • Buyout

    I’m very excited to see him play! This trade was good for everyone except ORL! @CTK: Faried was the second best rookie last year imo, he’s their future.

  • Ctk

    @Buyout Faried can play no doubt but he cant score..n the Nuggets need a mismatch on the court ..we both know the playoffs is bout matchups..Chandler they best chance to get a advantage

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    Chandler will back up Gallinari at the 3.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    The Nuggets would be pretty scary if Chandler could play the two. A starting five of Lawson, Chandler, Iggy, Gallo and McGee is actually a very scary unit. Particularly if Gallo or Lawson become better scorers in isolation. That lineup only has one poor defender, three good defenders and one great one. Karl needs to make it happen.

  • Ctk

    Chandler is a better player than Gallinari…Faried shouldnt be starting..if they care bout winnin n the playoffs

  • http://thahiphopcorner.com Kevin

    I might have to buy League Pass just to see the Nuggets on a nightly basis. Lawson, Iggy, Gallo, Chandler, McGee, Brewer, Faried that’s a squad bound to have plenty of highlights

  • Brad09

    great fit

  • Rik Smits Mullet

    must cosign Allenp and Kevin

    this team gonna be great. could be like the pistons a couple of years back. No real stars but still killing opponents.

  • steve

    I know it is a softer society nowadays, but you grown men have got to stop referring to another grown man as “Iggy”. Iggy? Really?? Iggy?

  • Rell

    My new Squad on 2k13

  • http://www.slamonline.com/ Corky

    ^Shutup steve

  • http://www.reverbnation.com/tray24 T-Ray

    Cosign Allen with that lineup they possibly could have beaten LA last year(glad they didn’t). That team would be hard to guard.

  • steve

    @Corky – your name is Corky, ’nuff said. Corky and Iggy went skipping through the forest

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    ^Haha, kinda funny.
    Anyway, IGGY should play the 2 spot…
    Why would you have Wilson Chandler playing the 2 spot when he’s better at playing the 3 and 4, and you have a player that is better at playing the 2 spot already there?
    Ty Lawson/Andre Miller
    Iggy
    Wilson Chandler/Danilo Gallinari
    Kenneth Faried
    Javale McGee/Timofey Mozgov
    That’s a solid team. They would give anyone a scare.

  • ChristianBulleN

    Gallinari is a beast, and should start.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Iggy tried playing the two guard in Philly, it went poorly. He’s better at the 3 where he’s not called upon to be a scoring option and can get different looks on the floor.
    Chandler is the better shooter, he should be the one spotting up more. Neither of them is best at the 2, which is why I said the plan is contingent upon Chandler figuring out how to play the position.

  • iknowmybasketball

    My guess for the nuggets starting lineup is: Lawson, AI, Danilo, Faried, McGee

  • http://www.slamonline.com/ The Promise

    Losing Nene hurts more than you people are realizing..

  • eZ

    Lawson can be a shooting guard, because mcgee is obviously a point center. He can go coast to coast and take of from the three point line.
    Seriously though chandler playedna lot at the two and later four spot in nyc, he did well. He will be their sixt man and should try to be as versatile as possible, playing 2,3,4.
    I think iknowmybasketball is right. Iggy can skip along as a Sg defensively. Gallo can step out for spot jumpshots on set halfcourt possesions. In other words he will switch positions on halfcourt O, but will be on the perimeter on D for breakouts.

  • http://slamonline BossTerry

    lol @ Steve…

  • riggs

    shut up steve.

  • Steve

    riggy and iggy dress like ms. piggy. hahaha come on guys! Grow up! IGGY? Just say that out loud one time. Like if he walked in the door and you said, “hey Iggy”. You know other people in the room would be like, “wonder what those 2 have going on?” and Andre would be like, “man you are going to have to stop calling me ‘Iggy’”. Grown man. Iggy. Damn. Lot of dudes born in the 70′s and 80′s wondering what happened to the male sex. And I think we all miss 2pac. I wish he would have heard you call another grown man Iggy! Clown @ss niggys

  • http://theillustrationboard.tumblr.com/ Stepfan

    Have Gallo come off the bench as 6th man. Wilson Chandler at the 2.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Slick Ric

    I think they should start Gallo and Faried, gives them more versatility with Gallo and more toughness with Faried.

  • T-Money

    allen – you don’t have to shoot or even be a scorer to play 2-guard anymore. since most of the big-time scorers nowadays play the 1 and the 3, there’s a lot of 2-guards like thabo, stevenson, bogans who just defend. of course, iggy is way better than that but his lack of shooting won’t be exposed in denver at the 2 because there’s lawson and gallo at the 1 and 3. in philly, he was playing with wings that couldn’t shoot like turner and thad young so he had to force things. he’ll be just fine at the 2 defending the top perimeter player on the other side.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    You could be right.

  • http://thahiphopcorner.com Kevin

    Didnt Andre shoot 39% from 3 last season? I think that’s good enough for him to play the 2. I think he’d be fine playing that spot. I say start Chandler at the 3, Gallo at the 4. I would keep Faried on the bench and bring his energy with the second unit

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    He took 3 three pointers and made one. Well, 3.1 and 1.2

  • Nope

    I’m sure Karl will experiment with a variety of lineups. He’s already said he’s not afraid to have three SFs on the floor at once. I guarantee the starting lineup on opening night will not be the starting lineup after the all-star break. These are all excellent players, but some will have better seasons than others. Entertaining as hell, though, that’s for sure.

  • LA Huey

    co-sign T-Money. The 2 & 3 are pretty much interchangeable these days if you have the requisite size and quickness.

  • http://www.nba.com/knicks danpowers

    he is excited and he will have some nice time in denver. id just love to see him on a contending team. iggy is a good guy and deserves it to get a ring b4 he retires

  • LA Huey

    Who’ll be more exciting to watch: Denver or Minnesota?

  • http://thahiphopcorner.com Kevin

    I say Denver. McGee, Iggy, Faried, Chandler, and Brewer with Miller and Lawson they could be the next Lob City

  • KC

    Us sixers fans are also excited that he is a denver nugget

  • http://Slamonline.com 1982

    Tom: Hey Steve, What’s Up?
    Steve: What are you, gay?
    Joe: Hey guys, let’s go get some food.
    Steve: What are you, gay?
    Kevin: Hey guys, sorry I’m late.
    Steve: What are you, gay?
    Mom: Hey boys, haven’t seen you guys in a while.
    Steve: What are you, gay?

  • http://www.mensa.org/workout.php shutup

    @steve grow some b@lls and quit trying to live up to a standard that never existed. IGGY IGGY IGGY IGGY IGGY IGGY IGGY IGGY IGGY IGGY IGGY IGGY IGGY IGGY IGGY IGGY IGGY IGGY IGGY IGGY IGGY IGGY IGGY IGGY IGGY IGGY IGGY IGGY IGGY IGGY IGGY IGGY and some more IGGY

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    LOL^^
    Last two comments FTW.
    Sorry a dudes moniker is Iggy… LMAO

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    Huey, personally I’m going to love watching the T-Wolves next year.
    Rubio(at some point will start here)Alexey Shved/Ridinour/Barea
    Roy(if healthy will start, if not gaping hole here)
    Kirilenko/Chase Budinger
    Love/D-Williams
    Pek/Steimsma
    .
    To me that is an exciting team. Not “lob city” exciting and they don’t have the speed of Denver’s exciting pace, but just a mesh of interesting talents will make them interesting. AK-47 immediately makes them a better defensive team than last year.

  • LA Huey

    I’m guessing that 1982 and shutup listen to drake and weezy. But honestly speaking, when did people start calling him that?

  • justin

    It is a wack-@$$ name no doubt, but that’s how these cats roll nowadays. Regardless, when did people start calling him that? I can only recently remember hearing people refer to him as Iggy. And I am a huge ‘zona fan, for what its worth..

  • LA Huey

    7:22 comment was not me.

    Lake, Nuggets will make Sportscenter more but the Timberwhites will have the kind of highlights true hoopheads love but not sexy enough for the casual fan.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    Glad you agree.
    T-Wolves could/should be a playoff team to watch out for.
    Sacramento will be fun to watch if they do, well ya know, what they should do. T-Robb is going to be an exciting rookie. DMC showing he’s 3rd best center in the L. Hopefully Tyreke returns to rookie form(what??!!??)..
    Really though, Golden State is totally a dark horse also.
    West is exciting overall.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Gdub

    This comment is not me ha. @LA Huey and Justin – no clue, only recently I guess as I live right outside of Philly and never heard anyone call him that. We call him AI or Dre. I can promise you that dudes from Philly aren’t calling nobody “Iggy”

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