Andre Iguodala Officially Retires from NBA, Launches $200M Venture Capital Fund
After an illustrious 19-season career in the NBA, four-time champion Andre Iguodala has announced his retirement at the age of 39. The former Golden State Warriors star revealed to the New York Times that he will be shifting his focus to becoming an investor in startups.
Iguodala, along with his long-time business partner Rudy Klein-Thomas, recently raised $200 million for their new venture capital fund, Mosaic Fund. The fund will be managed by the basketball veteran, who aims to channel his strategic vision and investment expertise into nurturing promising startups.
Interestingly, Iguodala had initially intended to retire after the 2021-2022 season. However, a persuasive call from his former teammate Stephen Curry convinced him to return for another year. However, Iguodala maintained that the 2022-2023 season would be his swan song.
Unfortunately, injuries to his hip and wrist limited Iguodala’s playing time to just eight games in his final season. He bid farewell to the court following a 123-112 victory over the Phoenix Suns on March 14.
During the offseason, Warriors General Manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. kept the door open for Iguodala’s potential return. Although not expecting it, Dunleavy acknowledged Iguodala’s continued passion for the sport and expressed his readiness to facilitate a comeback.
Iguodala began his NBA journey when he was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers as the ninth overall pick in 2004. Spending eight fruitful years in Philadelphia, he showcased his talent, averaging 15.3 points, 4.9 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game.
Following a one-year stint with the Denver Nuggets, Iguodala joined the Golden State Warriors as a free agent. It was during his second season with the Warriors that the franchise began its dynastic reign. The team triumphed over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2015 NBA Finals to secure their first championship in four decades.
Iguodala’s contributions went beyond the stat sheet. Renowned for his defensive prowess, he became LeBron James’ primary opponent on the court. Consequently, Iguodala’s stellar performances earned him the distinction of being named the NBA Finals MVP. He would go on to win three more championships as a member of the Warriors.
Over the course of his career, Iguodala played 1,231 regular season games, averaging 11.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. His impressive scoring tally of 9,422 points places him tenth on the Philadelphia 76ers’ all-time leaderboard.
In his retirement, Iguodala now embarks on a new chapter as a venture capitalist, leveraging his extensive experience and business acumen to support entrepreneurial ventures.
On October 20th, Beijing time, after playing in the NBA for 19 seasons and winning 4 championships, the 39-year-old Iguodala was finally ready to end his career. He told the New York Times that he will officially retire from the NBA and enter the next phase of his life as an investor in startups.
The New York Times wrote: “Iguodala will manage Mosaic Fund, a $200 million venture capital fund he just raised with longtime business partner Rudy Klein-Thomas.
Iguodala strongly stated last season that the 2022-23 season will be his last game. The 39-year-old revealed on the Evan Turner Podcast in September 2022 that he was about to retire, but a call from Curry convinced him to come back for a 19th NBA season.
Iguodala said at the time: “(Steph) said, ‘No, you need to come back for one more season,’ and I said, ‘I’m going to let you know right now, Steph, this ‘the last season. .'”
Iguodala signed a one-year deal with the Warriors, but hip and wrist injuries limited him to eight games. His last appearance was a 123-112 win over the Suns on March 14.
At the end of last season, there was speculation that Iguodala might not be ready to leave basketball. Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. said in an interview in August that he would leave the door open if Iguodala wanted to return, but he did not expect that to happen.
“My feeling was that Andre probably had other things to do,” Dunleavy said, “but he had my number. The phone was always on.”
Iguodala was drafted by the 76ers with the ninth overall pick in 2004 and spent the first eight years of his career in Philadelphia. He averaged 15.3 points, 4.9 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game with the 76ers. In August 2012, Iguodala was traded to the Denver Nuggets. After a year in Denver, he signed with the Warriors as a free agent. In Iguodala’s second season with the Warriors, the Warriors began their dynasty journey. They defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2015 NBA Finals to win their first championship in 40 years.
Iguodala averaged 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game, became LeBron James’ top defender, and was named Finals MVP. As a member of the Warriors, he won three more championships.
Iguodala has played a total of 1,231 regular season games in his career. He averaged 11.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. He ranks 10th in Sixers history with 9,422 points. Return to Sohu to see more
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