“I’m expecting a big year from Wiggs,” Steve Kerr laid the expectation. Andrew Wiggins, now entering his make-or-break year, is the key as the Warriors dig deep into their available talent in an attempt to make a difference this year. With the gaping hole left by Klay Thompson and no notable free-agency moves, the Dubs are not in the best place. But not for long, it seems, as Steve Kerr intends to make the best use of this key piece of their 2022 championship run.
The 29-year-old arrived in the Golden State after falling short of the lofty expectations of being the No. 1 pick in his time at Minnesota. However, with the Warriors, he thrived as a complementary player, producing a more consistent result, particularly on the defensive end. That was, until lengthy absences in the last two seasons, coupled with poor performance, Wiggs came under some major heat.
However, in the press conference at Chase Center, Coach Kerr provided a positive update on how Andrew Wiggins has been getting back to his shape, physically and mentally. “I’ve only seen him the last couple of days since he got back in town, but no 1. He looks physically really fit. He also looks, just speaking with him, He sounds very motivated. Very much at peace. I think he’s in a place where he knows the last couple years have been tough for a lot of reasons, and I think he’s primed to get back to where he was a couple of years ago.”
The 2023-24 season was undeniably the worst of his career. Scoring a career-low 13.2 points, Andrew Wiggins looked nothing like the player we saw during the Dubs’ title run. In fact, against the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals, the Kansas alum averaged 18.3 points and 8.8 rebounds with a 105.0 defensive rating. He was truly a menace.
Addressing the “void” after Klay’s exit, Kerr also weighed in on the loss in scoring. “We have to rethink how we’re doing things and Wiggs will be featured for sure. He’s a guy who’s proven. He’s a 20-point-a-night guy. We’re going to be relying on him heavily,” the head coach concluded.
That said, while the last few years have been tough for the 2015 ROTY for many reasons, the major one was attending to his family.
Andrew Wiggins locks in for the season after a terrible personal loss
It wasn’t the long-time Warriors coach who noticed the difference in their 6’7 forward. GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. was also excited about the promising change in Wiggs. “Been in the gym all summer. Can just sense a little bit of a different vibe from him this time of year. His body looks great. He’s in good shape, ready to go,” Dunleavy added during the press conference.
It was with shock that the basketball community heard that Mitchell Wiggins had passed away. Despite the GSW respecting Andrew’s wish to keep personal matters private, we were aware that Wiggins Sr.’s health was declining.
In fact, he recently canceled an off-season China trip to take care of his family. Although the man of the hour has yet to say anything of it, both his brother and sister took to social media to express their grief at the loss of their father.
It was the Andrew Wiggins Enterprise that confirmed the former Rockets guard was no more. “RIP Mitchell Wiggins. A beloved father, grandfather, brother, son, uncle, cousin and friend. May his soul rest in peace. His legacy and impact will live on forever!”
It wouldn’t be a stretch to assume that Wiggs is going to take this sorrow to fuel him for the season. And considering everything the Warriors coach and GM said of Andrew Wiggins’ conditioning, we are probably looking at the reawakening of a beast!
Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.
