The Golden State Warriors will take on the Houston Rockets on Monday night in Game 1 of the 2018 Western Conference Finals. The Warriors will look to make a fourth straight trip to the Finals and win their third title in the last four years.
A big reason why the Warriors have been able to sustain their success is the play of Andre Iguodala.
The 34-year-old was selected in the first round (eighth overall) by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2004. He played nine seasons in the City of Brotherly Love before being traded to Denver in August of 2012.
After one season with the Nuggets, Iguodala signed a four-year deal with the Golden State Warriors and reached the pinnacle of pro basketball, winning the title in 2015. For his play against LeBron James, Iguodala was awarded the NBA Finals MVP, becoming the first player to win Finals MVP after not starting a game during the regular season.
Transforming his role from starter to two-way glue guy off the bench, Iguodala once again helped Golden State win a second championship in 2017, scoring 20 points in the Game 5 clincher over Cleveland.
In the summer of 2017, Iguodala signed a three-year, $48 million contract to remain in Oakland, and once again he has his team on the verge of another NBA Finals appearance.
Iguodala is also a follower of Jesus Christ and frequently attends chapel before games. In 2012, when he was a member of Team USA, Andre talked with AIA about the importance of being a proper representative of God.
“I think the biggest thing is about being salt. Talking about how dependent everyone was on salt. How they kept their food from spoiling. And we need to be salt for God. We’re just trying to be flavorful salt. When people see us, when we’re on the court, we want them to see God’s word. We want to be a good representation of what we believe in,” he said.
After winning the 2015 NBA Finals, Iguodala stood at the podium and used his platform to point people back to Jesus.
“We got a team full of believers,” Iguodala said. “We all go to chapel before every game. We all believe and we all say God has a way for you — a purpose for you. This is my purpose.”
Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals between the Warriors and Rockets tips off in Houston at 9 p.m. ET Monday.
From Tulsa to Mizzou, hooping'is fun again. I Off the court, l've got a few hidden talents -Rubik's cubes included. And if I'm turning on a movie? Interstellar is the go-to every time. & Check out my interview!@MizzouAthletics@MizzouHoops#MIZ#ETTBpic.twitter.com/pFPpIB708V
Philadelphia 76ers draft pick VJ Edgecombe, June 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
From the shores of Bimini in the Bahamas to the bright lights of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Wednesday, the journey to the NBA has always been about more than basketball for VJ Edgecombe.
He was selected No. 3 overall by the Philadelphia 76ers, making him the highest-drafted player to come from Baylor University. Like many players on draft night, Edgecombe was overcome with emotion while shaking hands with Commissioner Adam Silver, and again when joined by his mother and brother while being interviewed by ESPN.
In fact, he first spoke for his mother, who was asked about her emotions but couldn’t find the words.
“Super excited. We came from nothing. We’re truly blessed just to be in this position,” Edgecombe said. “I know the emotions are high right now … but we came from nothing. So that’s why the emotions are so high right now. … I’m blessed to be the third pick. This is a dream come true.”
Later, in an interview with NBA TV, Edgecomebe said that his family lived off a generator for seven years, and he was brought to tears recalling how hard his mom worked to feed him and his siblings. He was then asked what advice he’d give to young kids who might be in similar situations and want to accomplish a dream like he had.
“Don’t stop working. Don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t,” he said. “I heard that a lot growing up; me and my cousins, we all heard that a lot, that ‘you can’t do it, you can’t do it.’ Man, I’m telling you, if you have confidence in yourself, if you have faith in yourself and in the Lord, I promise you, you’re going to be just fine.”
Edgecombe, who says he’s a “Christ Follower” in his Instagram bio, isn’t shy about how his faith in Jesus has been central to his story from the beginning, shaping not just his identity, but the way he approaches the game of basketball.
Born and raised in Bimini, Edgecombe grew up with little but learned early on that with faith and hard work, anything was possible. He came to the U.S. in ninth grade to pursue basketball, playing at Victory International Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida, and Long Island Lutheran in Brookville, New York, where he was named a McDonald’s High School All-American in 2024.
He then spent his lone season of college basketball at Baylor, where he averaged 15.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.1 steals per game. He finished with 68 total steals — the most ever by a Baylor freshman — and was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year.
“You’re going to grow spiritually here. I feel like that’s what drew me to Baylor — to grow as a man,” Edgecombe said following Baylor’s loss to Duke in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. “I promise you, basketball is going to stop. How I’m going to approach life after that, I just want to be the best man I can be. I just want to stay connected to God, and if you want to stay connected to God, come to Baylor.”
VJ Edgecombe recaps his season at Baylor👇
"I wouldn't trade the experience for nothing in the world … I promise you, basketball gonna stop … I just want to be the best man I can be. I want to stay connected to God, and if you want to stay connected to God, come to Baylor." pic.twitter.com/TGS5qfSVZr
From a basketball perspective, he joins a Sixers team with a crop of young talent, including guards Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain, to go with veterans Joel Embiid and Paul George. The Sixers missed the playoffs this past season after seven consecutive appearances (including five trips to the Eastern Conference Finals), and are hoping Edgecombe’s athleticism and skillset can move the needle back in a positive direction.
During his pre-draft workout with the team, Edgecombe was excited about the idea of him landing in Philadelphia.
“I feel like I fit in,” he said. “They’re great players. Embiid’s an MVP of the league. Paul George was the front-runner before, so I just feel like I fit in well with them. Even Coach (Nick) Nurse, he’s a defensive-minded coach, and I feel like I play a lot of defense.”
President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey shared similar excitement after the pick was official.
“We’re super excited about VJ and what he can bring to the team,” Morey said. “He brings a dynamic athlete. Potential All-Star two-way player. Really helped his team. He’s got all these winning qualities that we think really fit. Great teammate.
“His story and what he’s done to get to this point is really unbelievable, and we think he’s on a great trajectory to take where he’s come from and continue to improve through Baylor and a very long and promising NBA career, and we’re excited it’s here with the 76ers.”
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST WITH MATT FORTE & JASON ROMANO, FEATURING JACIE HOYT
Jacie Hoyt is the women’s basketball head coach at Oklahoma State University, a role she took over in March 2022 after serving as the head coach at the University of Missouri-Kansas City from 2017 to 2022. In 2024-25, Hoyt led the Cowgirls to 25 wins and their second NCAA Tournament berth in three seasons.
Today on the podcast, Jacie Hoyt returns to the show to share about her experiences of leading a team with a strong sense of community and faith, her personal struggles with infertility, and the joy of returning to coaching shortly after giving birth. The discussion also touches on the evolving landscape of college basketball, including the impact of NIL and the transfer portal, and how she navigates these changes while maintaining her commitment to her players and their development.
Grateful for an administration who believes in me, and thankful for the players and coaching staff who bought into the vision and put in the work to make it all possible! Being a part of @OSUAthletics and this community is an honor! Loyal & True…let’s keep climbing 🧡🤠 https://t.co/v07nWfDJ8z
Michigan's Alyssa Crockett, left, and Jordan Hobbs, right. (Photo courtesy of Instagram/@umichwbball)
THIS IS SPORTS SPECTRUM’S WHAT’S UP PODCAST
WITH ANNABELLE HASSELBECK
On today’s episode of Sports Spectrum’s “What’s Up” podcast, we have Michigan women’s basketball players Alyssa Crockett and Jordan Hobbs.
Alyssa and Jordan share about their time as campers and interns at Athletes in Action’s Ultimate Training Camp, their experience playing for Michigan women’s basketball, and how the Lord is working in their lives.
