The Golden State Warriors are finally back in the NBA Finals, their first Finals appearance since the 2019 season. There’s no doubt that this is a great team achievement for them, and if they are able to win, that will mark their fourth championship in the Stephen Curry era.
Stephen Curry is obviously the driving force of this Warriors team, but a player that has also stepped up is All-Star Andrew Wiggins. His defense and rebounding have been elite thus far.
Coach Steve Kerr has recently lauded Andrew Wiggins, claiming that the forward has “taken a leap” on the defensive end during this playoff run, notably mentioning his 16 rebounds in Game 4. (0:25):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPOMg-WYpfY
“He’s a very mild-mannered guy, but he’s taken a leap in these playoffs in terms of his impact on the game defensively. On the glass, you saw it the other night. 16 rebounds. Because the games are obviously so meaningful, there’s more emotion from him and from everybody. The biggest thing is he’s a two-way player. You gotta have two-way guys to make it this far and to succeed. He has just grown by leaps and bounds over the last couple year, it’s really fun to watch that growth.”
There’s no doubt that Steve Kerr is a big Andrew Wiggins supporter, and this isn’t the first time he has spoken highly about the Golden State Warriors forward. He previously claimed that the Golden State Warriors wouldn’t be in the Finals without Andrew Wiggins.
A lot of talent and a lot of ability and needed to figure out his role with this team. We’re so lucky to have Steph, Klay, Draymond, Andre, who are basketball players. They understand the game, they understand a guy like Wiggs has so much value… We would not be here without Wiggs. His defense throughout the playoffs has been amazing, the threat that he provides offensively gives us another dynamic.
It remains to be seen if the Golden State Warriors are able to win this series. The Boston Celtics are still a good team, and they won’t simply roll over and let the Warriors win. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are an elite duo, and there is no doubt that they are talented enough to lead the Celtics to the championship.
Andrew Wiggins will be crucial for the Golden State Warriors, as he is the Warriors’ best wing defender. Hopefully, he can continue to bother the Celtics’ stars when guarding them, and his two-way play has been the x-factor for the Warriors thus far.
