OAKLAND, Calif. — Over the past four years, Andre Iguodala has been an Eastern Conference All-Star, a gold-medal-winning Olympian for the United States and the most valuable player of the N.B.A. finals.

So has LeBron James, his anticipated defensive matchup in the N.B.A. finals rematch between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

But here is the point:

That is a résumé befitting a superstar shoe-company pitchman, meaning James — not so much a player like Iguodala, who averaged 7 points a game this season, with 4 rebounds and 3.4 assists.

Iguodala, the Warriors’ redoubtable swingman, fits few basketball stereotypes and positional characterizations. He is the epitome of That Essential Intangible Guy.