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  6. article_body => "<p>Andre Iguodala has made a respectful name for himself in the NBA.<\/p>\n<p>Across eight seasons, he\u2019s helped lead the Warriors to three NBA championships and earned Finals MVP honors during the 2014-15 championship over the Cavaliers.<\/p>\n<p>But was this always his dream? To be a well-known name in a professional sport?&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Not necessarily.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Believe it or not, Iguodala&nbsp;figured he would be a teacher when he grew up.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI come from a small town [Springfield, Illinois], and no one knew who I was,\u201d Iguodala told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/90396820\/basketball-player-and-tech-investor-andre-iguodala-takes-our-career-questionnaire\" target=\"_blank\">Fast Company\u2019s Claire Miller<\/a>. \u201cI thought I would go to college and become a math teacher. I remember joking around in practice and my coach was like, \u201cYou know there are NBA scouts here,\u201d and I said, \u201cWhat does that have to do with me?\u201d He said, \u201cWell, who do you think they\u2019re here to see?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That humbleness remained throughout his career. He mentioned he received advice at one point from a coach who said to take more shots than pass,&nbsp;but as a team player, he\u2019s happy to be more of a distributor.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/bayarea\/warriors\/nba-rumors-warriors-trading-andre-iguodala-draft-pick-grizzlies\" target=\"_blank\">The Warriors traded Iguodala<\/a> to the Grizzlies in July in order to clear enough cap space to sign D'Angelo Russell via sign-and-trade, but Warriors owner Joe Lacob has maintained that Iguodala's No. 9 will hang from the rafters someday at Chase Center.<\/p>\n<p>[<strong>RELATED<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/bayarea\/warriors\/warriors-reveal-six-jersey-designs-ahead-first-chase-center-season\" target=\"_blank\">Warriors reveal jerseys ahead of 2019-20 season<\/a>]<\/p>\n<p>But just imagine \u2026 Andre Iguodala, the math teacher. Crazy. Err, Mr. Iguodala. Perhaps Professor Iguodala?&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>It appears the journey he chose is working for him just fine, however.<\/p>\n"
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Warriors

Warriors

Andre Iguodala has made a respectful name for himself in the NBA.

Across eight seasons, he’s helped lead the Warriors to three NBA championships and earned Finals MVP honors during the 2014-15 championship over the Cavaliers.

But was this always his dream? To be a well-known name in a professional sport? 

Not necessarily. 

Believe it or not, Iguodala figured he would be a teacher when he grew up.

“I come from a small town [Springfield, Illinois], and no one knew who I was,” Iguodala told Fast Company’s Claire Miller. “I thought I would go to college and become a math teacher. I remember joking around in practice and my coach was like, “You know there are NBA scouts here,” and I said, “What does that have to do with me?” He said, “Well, who do you think they’re here to see?”

That humbleness remained throughout his career. He mentioned he received advice at one point from a coach who said to take more shots than pass, but as a team player, he’s happy to be more of a distributor.

The Warriors traded Iguodala to the Grizzlies in July in order to clear enough cap space to sign D'Angelo Russell via sign-and-trade, but Warriors owner Joe Lacob has maintained that Iguodala's No. 9 will hang from the rafters someday at Chase Center.

 

[RELATED: Warriors reveal jerseys ahead of 2019-20 season]

But just imagine … Andre Iguodala, the math teacher. Crazy. Err, Mr. Iguodala. Perhaps Professor Iguodala? 

It appears the journey he chose is working for him just fine, however.