SAN FRANCISCO — The Warriors started Andrew Wiggins at shooting guard in their last two preseason games, and while nothing is decided quite yet ahead of Wednesday’s regular-season opener, Wiggins appears headed to reprise that role.
In a starting-five with Steph Curry, Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Green and a center — likely Trayce Jackson-Davis — Wiggins’ ability to space the floor and to defend opposing teams’ best scorers will be paramount.
Coach Steve Kerr believes Wiggins, after missing two weeks of training camp and preseason because of illness, is up to the challenge.
“The conditioning is looking better and better every day,” Kerr said after Monday’s practice. “The rhythm. I trust Wiggs. It’s been a tough year and a half for him for a number of reasons. But he’s a guy who has won a championship and played an enormous role in that championship. Been a 20-point scorer in the league. We know what Wiggs can do, and I think we’re going to get a really good version of him this year.”
Over the past two seasons, Wiggins has missed 56 regular-season games, many of which because of personal reasons. He left the team for roughly two months in the spring of 2023 before returning for the postseason because of a personal matter. Then last season, he missed four games at the end of February — again excused for personal reasons.
The Warriors have supported Wiggins through his issues. This summer, his dad, Mitchell, died.
After Wiggins’ personal trauma, Kerr said he believes the veteran has a renewed sense of focus and engagement.
“I do. I think he feels it,” Kerr said. “He worked really hard in the offseason. There’s a little bit of closure with his dad’s passing. As difficult as everything has been over the last couple years, I just think that when you lose someone, especially after a struggle, there’s a little bit of feeling of relief because that person isn’t struggling anymore. That alone, I think, allows a person to free himself up. And I can speak to that from experience. I think that’s a factor.”
Wiggins never spoke in detail about what he was going through, and the team respected his wishes to keep things private.
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Last season, Wiggins averaged a career-low 13.2 points per game. He attempted just 11 field goals per game, also a career-low.
“I know Wiggs is a very private guy and …read more
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment
