Andre Iguodala has every right to feel a bit testy after Matthew Dellavedova smacked him down under in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, but he’s not mad.
When asked about Dellavedova’s ill-aimed slap after the Golden State Warriors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, 104-89, Iguodala refused to take the media’s bait.
“I’m not going to judge or say anything negative about him,” Iguodala said. “He’s out there competing. There are a lot of emotions going on out there. I respect a lot of guys’ hustle in this league. You’ve got guys who’ve got to get a little dirty, got to be a little physical, to make a life and to feed their family, so I can only respect that. For me, it’s just keeping my composure and continue to try to do things for my team to help us win.”
It’s interesting that Iguodala did throw the “dirty” word into the mix there but wouldn’t condemn Delly for it. Speaking of dirty, it just so happens that Dellavedova has been singled out by his peers as the dirtiest player in the NBA recently (more on that here).
For those who may have missed the incident in question, here’s a look at what happened in Game 1 when Dellavedova landed a blow to Iguodala’s jewels.
https://twitter.com/CauldronICYMI/status/738565708175532032
Clearly, Iguodala was a bit heated in the aftermath of being pelted. But after the game he had cooled down considerably. Of course, it probably helps that the Warriors pulled off a big win to go up 1-0 over the Cavs.
Between Draymond Green’s wild kicks and Dellavedova’s recklessness, this series will likely feature a few more of these types of incidents. Are you not entertained?