On Wednesday Night, Golden State Warriors’ forward Andrew Wiggins turned in his best game of the season thus far against Trae Young and the Hawks.
Wiggins finished with 27 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. At times during the game, Wiggins resembled the player he looked to be in 2022 when the former first-overall pick helped Steph Curry and company secure another NBA title. Through the Warriors’ first 14 games of the season, Wiggins has been a key piece for the squad on both ends of the floor, showing clear improvement from last season.
Though it’s a small sample size, Wiggins is having a bounce-back season for a Golden State Warriors squad battling for a top position in the NBA’s hyper-competitive Western Conference.
Trending in the Right Direction
Last season, Wiggins dealt with several off-the-court personal matters that made it difficult for the veteran to get into a consistent rhythm.
While turning in career lows in several statistical categories, Wiggins also missed some on-court time last season dealing with these personal matters. This season has been quite different. At times last season, Wiggins’s role in the Warriors’ offense seemed a bit uncertain. In this campaign, however, Wiggins has often found himself as a focal point in the team’s offensive strategy, even seeing the offense being run specifically through him at times.
Wiggins looks to be comfortable and confident out there on the floor, which is something that’s been echoed by his coaches and teammates since training camp. Overall, Wiggins looks to be in a better place both physically and mentally to start the 2024-25 season.
Stepping into an expanded role
With Stephen Curry entering his age-36 season and Klay Thompson joining the Dallas Mavericks this past offseason, many analysts questioned who would fill the role of Golden State’s second scoring option.
So far, Wiggins has shouldered some of the team’s offensive workload. With Jonathan Kuminga now coming off the bench, Wiggins’ offensive opportunities have only expanded recently. Wiggins has also demonstrated his impressive defensive abilities this season, often being tasked with guarding the opposing team’s first option. While he may not get the praise of other Warriors’ superstars, Wiggins improved play on both sides of the ball has been a big reason why the Warriors’ have enjoyed much success early on this season.
Wiggins’ Season By The Numbers
Andrew Wiggins’ play took a noticeable dip during his time on the court last season, and the box score reflected that.
In addition to putting up a career-low in points per game, Wiggins’ shooting splits were also somewhat lackluster. This season, the 11-year NBA veteran has turned things around, putting up more points on better efficiency. Wiggins has also seen improvement in several other statistical categories, such as rebounds, blocks, and assists.
During the Warriors’ title run in 2022, Wiggins shot the ball with fairly high efficiency from behind the arc. This season, the former All-Star looks to have his long-range shot dialed in once again. So far this season, Wiggins is shooting the three-ball at a high clip, 39.3 percent. That’s certainly an improvement from last season, which saw Wiggins shoot 35.8% from long range. While his stats may not pop off the page at first glance, Wiggins is putting together a sneaky solid season on the offensive side of the ball.
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What Wiggins’ Impressive Play Means for Golden State Long-Term
Wiggins’s upward trajectory is exactly what the Warriors had hoped for coming into the year.
Early on in the offseason, Dubs’ Head Coach Steve Kerr expressed to the media that Wiggins would “be relied on heavily” in the offense this season. So far, that’s been the case. With Steph Curry having another All-NBA year and Draymond Green playing some of his best basketball, adding in Wiggins’ high-level play makes the Golden State Warriors one of the most dangerous teams in the West.
If the 28-year-old veteran can sustain this level of play through the remainder of the season, the sky is truly the limit for this Warriors’ roster.
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