An NBA star forward has canceled his trip to China after another family emergency has unexpectedly surfaced. Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins will be unable to fulfill his commitment to China, according to his manager and best friend, Richard Clarke, who made the announcement on Wiggins’ Weibo account, a Chinese social media platform.
NBA Champion Cancels China Trip Due To Family Reasons
Unable To Attend Scheduled Visit To China
Wiggins’ Weibo post indicated that his family is currently facing a challenging period, leading to the postponement of his trip to China. The visit was scheduled to take place in the next few days. In the announcement video, Clarke mentioned that the trip would have meant a lot for the Canadian forward. Wiggins was looking forward to experiencing the culture, trying the food, and meeting his fans in the Asian country. Clarke also stated that Wiggins will continue his trip to China “in due time.”
The 29-year-old, who has an existing shoe deal with the Chinese sportswear brand PEAK, has released a signature sneaker with the company, various colorways of other models, and even a lifestyle shoe. The former first overall pick previously visited China around this time last year.
It’s been a rough summer for Wiggins, as he was unable to represent Canada in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris after reports suggested that the Warriors blocked his participation amid trade rumors and medical concerns about an ankle injury.
Andrew Wiggins Missed Several Warriors Games Due To Family Emergency
Wiggins has been experiencing family emergency situations for the past two seasons, which has even caused him to miss several Golden State Warriors games. The 6-foot-7 forward missed the final 25 games of their championship defense season in 2022-23. The team later revealed that this absence was due to his father, Mitchell Wiggins, experiencing a serious medical situation. The elder Wiggins is a former NBA shooting guard who played for the Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, and Philadelphia 76ers from 1983 to 1992. He spent the rest of his playing career overseas until 2003.
The former Minnesota Timberwolves star also missed four games in the recent 2023-24 NBA season, again due to a family matter. However, it was unclear if this was still related to his father’s medical situation.
Andrew Wiggins Has Not Been The Same Since Family Issues Emerged
Wiggins had the best season of his career in 2021-22, earning his first NBA All-Star selection and being voted in as a starter. He was also arguably the second-best player of the Warriors during their 2022 NBA Championship run, leading to a four-year, $109 million contract extension with the Bay Area franchise that summer.
However, since then, the Canadian’s on-court performance has declined due to personal issues, fitness concerns, and a drop in intensity. The 10-year NBA veteran averaged a career-low 13.2 points last season. His .453 field goal and .358 three-point percentage were also the lowest marks in his four full seasons with Golden State. Still not 30 years old, the team remains hopeful he can get back to his peak playing self in 2024-25.
