<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">And the 23-year-old Iguodala, who is the same age as second-round draft pick Derrick Byars, is evolving into a true leader. His presence this week at the Las Vegas summer league, where he is not playing but is offering support to young teammates, is another step in the leadership process. "I want to be a successful NBA player, and now is the time for me to step up and show what I can do - and leadership comes with it," Iguodala said. "I don't think Coach [Maurice Cheeks] forces it upon me; I think it has just fallen in my lap, and I'm trying to take full advantage of it." Iguodala is offering instruction to the young players. "It's huge having him here, having him take time out of his summer and be supportive," said Sixers assistant coach Bernard Smith, who is guiding the summer league team in Las Vegas. "The players respect him so much." Iguodala remembers 2004, when he was a rookie and competing with the Sixers in the Minnesota summer league. He struggled mightily. The ninth pick in the 2004 draft, Iguodala pressed in the summer league. In one game, he shot just 4 for 16 from the field. Now he can look back and laugh, but it was not funny to him at the time. "I remember having a lot jitters going in there," Iguodala said. "You want to impress people, and you are kind of thinking too much out there instead of playing on instincts." Iguodala already has developed a special bond with Thaddeus Young, the Sixers' first-round pick. The similarities between the 6-foot-6, 207-pound Iguodala and the 6-8, 220-pound Young are striking. Iguodala entered the NBA after two seasons at the University of Arizona. The 19-year-old Young played just one year at Georgia Tech. Both are extremely athletic, although Young enters the NBA as a better shooter than Iguodala was coming out of college. "I hear a lot that Thaddeus and I are alike," Iguodala said. "The build, body-type, the way he gets up and down the floor, his athletic ability - I see that. "I hope he becomes a better player than me. I will help him out as much as I can, giving him pointers. He's a hard worker, and that is the biggest thing: A guy who works hard will get better." Iguodala and Young both work out in the Chicago area, and the two will spend plenty of time together this summer preparing for the season. </div> Link I'm glad to see Iguodala stepping up and acting like a leader. He mentions that he will work with Thaddeus Young to help him develop into a better player. Glad to see the two already bonding
