Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins was arguably the second-best player on their 2022 title-winning squad, Wiggins has dealt with personal issues that led to his father’s passing earlier this summer. After missing the start of the Warriors’ preseason due to illness, Wiggins is ready to jump back in and contribute to winning basketball as he told the team’s media members.
“We’ve still got some time before the regular season starts and I’m back in practice now and going through everything. We’ve got a great coaching staff who are great teachers who understand I’m trying to learn and figure stuff out.”
“I was watching from the sidelines a lot in Hawaii so it wasn’t like I was getting left behind or anything like that. Obviously, it’s easier when you’re in the drills and in the mix doing it rather than watching from the sidelines, but I had a good view.”
Wiggins averaged 13.2 points last season, down from the 17.1 points he averaged in 2022-23 and down from the 17.2 points he averaged in 2021-22, the year he was named an All-Star and won an NBA Championship.
The former No. 1 overall pick has clearly been burdened by the non-basketball issues in his personal life but fans will hope he has the clarity to be a contributor this season. Golden State needs players like Wiggins to step up, especially with Klay Thompson leaving the franchise this summer.
The Warriors expected starting forward pair will be Wiggins alongside Jonathan Kuminga as both 3-and-D contributors will hope to make the Warriors an elite defensive team with Draymond Green in the middle and Brandin Podziemski as the two-guard next to Stephen Curry.
Curry can’t handle the entire offensive load of the franchise, so Wiggins will be expected to contribute as one of the top three or four scorers for the franchise while also being a top-tier defender.
Draymond Green Expects The Warriors To Win More Titles
Many around the NBA have already declared the death of the Warriors dynasty after their poor performances in the last two seasons culminated with Klay Thompson’s departure from the franchise this summer. But the Warriors aren’t happy to hear something like that, with Draymond Green braggadocios telling The Athletic that they intend on winning more titles.
“I know I ain’t done. I know he ain’t done. So it ain’t like, ‘All right, I feel like I’m at the end. I’m cashing it in.’ Nah. We can do that s— again. I know we can do it again. I’m not a part of the consortium that don’t think we can get it done. But in doing it again, you’ve got to acknowledge that it’s not going to look like it did before. I’d struggle if we were just cashing it in. That ain’t for me. But I don’t feel like anyone around here is doing that. We’re actively trying to put the pieces together to build.”
The Warriors have championship DNA like no other franchise in the NBA right now. With intriguing offseason additions and the hopeful development of young stars Kuminga, Podziemski, Moses Moody, and Trayce Jackson-Davis, the Warriors might have enough to compete for a top-six seed in the West.
Competing for a playoff spot isn’t the same as competing for a title, but in my opinion, the Warriors lack a true co-star for Curry who could boost their chances of winning a title.
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