Golden State Warriors

Luke Walton calls Andre Iguodala his 'safety blanket'

Published Nov. 12, 2015 2:36 a.m. ET

foxsports

Golden State Warriors interim head coach Luke Walton had high praise for swingman Andre Iguodala before the Warriors' 100-84 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, comparing the 2015 Finals MVP and sixth man to a "security blanket."

“I feel safer when he’s on the court,” Walton said when asked about Iguodala, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Iguodala is averaging 7.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals in 27.8 miniutes per game. Iguodala played 29 minutes or more just 34 times last season, but is already on pace to play at least 45 such games this season, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Walton says he has a staffer who charts the minutes of all the Dubs players and set the goal for Iguodala's stints at a maximum of nine consecutive minutes.

“That’s kind of the most I want to play him, but sometimes I haven’t listened to that,” Walton said. “I’ve just left him out there, because I felt like we needed him out there.”

Iguodala scored 20 points (6 of 9 shooting) in 27 minutes on Wednesday.