Ex-Warriors star Andre Iguodala recently appeared on the Old Man and the three podcast where he credited LeBron James for changing the way of play in the NBA. Andre and the crew talked about how the tactics and playstyles have evolved over time and how the players adjusted to changing pace and rules in the league.
At one point the focus of the conversation turned towards Lebron James and Miami Heat during their start of four consecutive NBA finals run. Iguodala went on to emphasize how the Maimi team came up with a new style of play which forced the rest of the league to adapt and design a counter measure of their own.
Andre lguodala hails LeBron’s Heat for transforming the game
Andre talked about how the Miami Heat changed the game forever and a young Lebron James was at the center of it all. After their finals setback against the Dallas Mavericks in 2011, the Miami Heat applied a strategic change. They brought a new number 5 for the team, Chris Bosh, and started to play a new style of basketball called small-ball.
The small-ball style erupted across the league and the Miami Heat were unstoppable. Small-ball includes a fast, agile and three-point shooting type of basketball where the team does not rely on traditional positions and uses a more skillful center or a false center. This tactic made the Heat reach the NBA Finals 4 times in a row making them the third only franchise to do so.
LeBron James was the key factor in the tactic where his moves might not have looked much radical given his big structure, but the impact reverberated through the entire league. Iguodala then next commented on how after the Heat, his team (Golden State Warriors) applied the same tactics and made it to the Finals.
When did LeBron James play for Miami Heat?
James arrived as a free agent at the Heat’s camp in 2010 and stayed with them for four years in his first run. He formed a formidable trio known as the “Big Three” with Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade where the Heat reached finals in all the four seasons LeBron played there.
The time King James spent at the Miami Heat was one of his most successful in his career. He won two NBA championships and four NBA MVP and two NBA finals MVP awards. He elevated the Miami Heat into becoming one of the most popular and successful franchises in the entire league. LeBron James is widely regarded as one of the best players of all time and his time with the Miami Heat surely helped him cement that legacy in the NBA.
What do you think of Iguodala’s statements on LeBron James and the Miami Heat? Do you think we can see LeBron play for Heat ever again? We are eager to know your thoughts, so drop down in the comments and share with us.
