It’s almost unbelievable that Golden State is atop the Western Conference standings. How are they sitting in first place? There are several reasons, but one sure-fire reason is the play of the Warriors ’22 championship finals standout Andrew Wiggins. He is playing his best basketball since that finals run, and it’s evident in Golden State’s surprising start to this season.
Warriors ’22 Championship Catalyst Back to Playing His Game
Andrew Wiggins Is Playing Like He Did in the Warriors ’22 Championship Run
In that epic finals run, aside from Steph Curry, Wiggins was integral to the Warriors defeating the Boston Celtics to capture the Larry O’Brien trophy. It was Wiggins’s first taste of championship glory on a team that had achieved those heights three times before. Wiggins was widely viewed as the catalyst for the Warriors ’22 finals run. Things took a turn, though, after that banner year. While he put up solid numbers in the 2022-23 season, the Warriors could not make it past the semi-finals, getting bounced by the Los Angeles Lakers. Wiggins also dealt with injuries and personal matters that year that sidelined him for more than half the season. Last year, off-court challenges continued as his family matters continued. His numbers and play dive-bombed, and he was not the same player he had been for the Warriors.
However, as we stand today, after two challenging seasons, the Canadian is back to playing excellent basketball and resembles the player Golden State relied on in 2022. Wiggins is averaging 16.2 PPG and shooting 39.3% from three. His three-point percentage mirrors exactly what he shot in ’22, and his PPG is just below that season’s average: 17.2. There’s no doubt that this resurgent season has been critical to the Warriors surprising 11-3 record. There weren’t many, if any at all, that predicted this same team who lost Klay Thompson to free agency over the summer would be sitting at the top of the West. The fact that they were unable to cash in on a big-name trade or free agent signing left many to expect a down season in The Bay.
Nevertheless, here they are. Curry is still playing excellent basketball, and Wiggins is looking like he did three seasons ago.
Offseason Work Paying Off
Remember that Wiggins’ name was also mentioned in trade rumors over the summer. That didn’t stop him from getting back into form, though. During a postgame interview after a win over the Atlanta Hawks earlier this week, Wiggins briefly talked about his season and offseason.
“I had a great summer of work. Got a lot of work in. Had a lot of time to myself, and getting motivated this year and just gonna stay like that.”
Whatever workouts, drills, or however many shots Wiggins got up this past summer, it’s paying huge dividends for his team. The Warriors continue to exceed expectations with every win they get. One could argue that GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. did right by not landing a star in the offseason. Instead, he went out and picked up solid rotation pieces like Buddy Hield, Kyle Anderson, and De’Anthony Melton. Of course, now that Melton is out for the season, expect Dunleavy to address that backcourt position as the February trade deadline approaches. Nevertheless, the Warriors are not to be slept on.
