Why Steph believes Iguodala ‘absolutely' is a Hall of Famer

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Steph Curry does not doubt that Andre Iguodala has a spot in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

The 34-year-old spoke with NBC Sports Bay Area's Kerith Burke at Warriors media day in September to explain his confidence in Iguodala's chances.

"Absolutely, I didn't know that was much of a debate," a laughing Curry said on the latest episode of "Dubs Talk." "Absolutely."

Curry continued to say that Iguodala essentially had two distinct careers wrapped into one: his early years with the Philadelphia 76ers and after he joined the Denver Nuggets and Warriors. 

In his first eight seasons with Philadelphia, Iguodala averaged 15.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.7 steals in 37.7 minutes per game. He played in 615 games, starting all of them, and earned an All-Star selection and an All-Defensive Second Team spot as a member of the 76ers, arguably becoming one of the top options on those squads.

After being traded to the Nuggets and spending one season in Denver, the Warriors acquired Iguodala, which started the next phase of his career. 

"... He's kind of the mature vet that's still putting up solid numbers but impacting winning at a level that is a difference maker," Curry said.

Iguodala's career took off with Golden State while his counting stats dipped. Despite averaging seven points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.1 steals in 26.2 minutes per game, Iguodala's resume was filled out, thanks partly to his role in helping the Warriors win numerous championships. 

Despite coming off the bench almost exclusively at this point in his career -- in 444 games with the Warriors, he's started 84 -- Iguodala's impact far outweighed what the stat sheet displayed.

His leadership and defensive prowess showed as the Warriors won four championships in eight years. Iguodala even nabbed the 2015 NBA Finals MVP due to his stellar defense against LeBron James.

Nevertheless, Curry hopes that Iguodala's impact beyond the stat sheet is taken into account when the latter's Basketball Hall of Fame odds are calculated because, as it stands, Iguodala has a 12.7 percent probability of making it, per Basketball Reference.

"I hope there's a keen eye part of just watching his career unfold and seeing the different iterations of himself that impact winning," Curry said. 

"That's what it should be about."

RELATED: What off-court things Iguodala wants to do in final season

As Iguodala enters the last season of his illustrious career, it is clear that the 38-year-old's presence is an invaluable piece of the Warriors' culture.

Regardless of what happens between now and the end of the season, Iguodala will be remembered as an integral part of the Warriors dynasty when he walks away at the end of Golden State's season.  

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