Two years faraway from a career-best All-Star season, few consider Andrew Wiggins can totally return to that stage the place he was the second-best participant on a championship-winning Golden State Warriors group.
Wiggins is coming off the worst season of his profession, which noticed him common practically 4 fewer factors than every other yr since coming into the league in 2014. But regardless of that and a minor sickness that Having missed the primary three preseason video games, the speak of Golden State continues to be extremely constructive relating to the previous primary decide.
After a turbulent time over the previous two years, which included the passing of his father final month, it was comprehensible if the Warriors had been limiting expectations on Wiggins at the least to start out the season. As a substitute, they’re doing fairly the alternative, with head coach Steve Kerr outlining the principle expectations from his veteran striker.
Whereas many consider Jonathan Kuminga is the pure successor to turn out to be Golden State’s second-leading scorer following the departure of Klay Thompson, Kerr has repeatedly pushed Wiggins as the person to tackle that function.
“He seems actually comfy in all facets of the sport.” Kerr just lately informed NBC Sports activities Kerith Burke from the Bay Space. “And let’s face it, with Klay gone, we’d like him to step up and be our second scorer after Steph, and we all know he is completely able to that.”
However is religion actually justified? Is Wiggins actually able to being the second main scorer on a group that makes the playoffs? Even in his All-Star season in 2022, the Canadian completed fourth on the group in scoring behind Stephen Curry, Thompson and Jordan Poole. It was his protection that was arguably probably the most invaluable, to not point out he randomly reworked right into a rebounding beast in the course of the playoffs.
Kerr as soon as referred to as Wiggins a 20-point-per-game scorer, though he by no means reached that common throughout his time in Golden State. He additionally needs the 29-year-old to make six three-point makes an attempt in every recreation, which might be a major soar from the three.6 he averaged in 2023-24.
Kerr’s stage of optimism will definitely seep via the whole fan base, but it surely may additionally set Wiggins up for failure given the clear expectations set by the top coach. Wiggins may return in Sunday’s recreation towards the Detroit Pistons, however he’s extra more likely to seem within the ultimate two preseason video games towards the Los Angeles Lakers as soon as he performs with the group early subsequent week.
