As the Golden State Warriors gathered for an offseason workout at the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, a reinvigorated Andrew Wiggins seized the moment to make a statement. In a series of explosive drives and dunks, the 27-year-old forward showcased the fruits of his summer training, leaving coaches and teammates in awe. “It was like, ‘Oh, s—,'” Warriors assistant coach Jacob Rubin recalled. “That was the moment this summer a lot of other people were able to see that he was on a different level.”
Wiggins, the former No. 1 overall pick, is determined to bounce back from two of the most challenging years of his career. He missed 56 games over the past two seasons while caring for his ailing father, Mitchell, who passed away in July. On the court, he struggled to find his rhythm, posting some of the lowest numbers of his career. But now, with a renewed sense of purpose and peace, Wiggins is ready to prove he’s still the All-Star caliber player who helped lead the Warriors to a championship in 2022.
A Summer of Dedication
To prepare for the upcoming season, Wiggins split his time between Houston and San Francisco, working tirelessly with a personal trainer and Coach Rubin. They focused on ballhandling, shooting, finishing at the rim, and overall skill development. Wiggins was determined to polish every aspect of his game, often logging seven-day weeks with multiple hours of training each day.
“It was really just about polishing up everything I know I can already do,” Wiggins explained. “I want to do right by [the Warriors]. It feels so good when they have that confidence in you, when they have that high praise. You want to show up for them.”
Despite missing the Warriors’ preseason trip to Hawaii due to illness, Wiggins arrived at training camp in peak physical condition. Head coach Steve Kerr believes Wiggins is primed for a tremendous season, saying, “It looks like he’s primed to have a hell of a season.”
Stepping into a Larger Role
With the departure of Klay Thompson to the Dallas Mavericks, the Warriors are counting on Wiggins to help fill the void. As the team’s new starting shooting guard, he’ll be tasked with providing scoring punch and tenacious defense against the league’s top perimeter threats. It’s a challenge Wiggins is eager to embrace.
Teammate Draymond Green believes Wiggins has the right mindset to excel, even amidst personal adversity. “Life doesn’t stop just because the game is going on,” Green noted. “For most of us, basketball is a safe place. So when things are going on, you try to dive into the game. But sometimes when you do that, it doesn’t work and it just feels worse. You have to find that balance.”
Honoring His Father’s Legacy
As Wiggins takes the court this season, he’ll be playing in honor of his late father, Mitchell, who was a three-time All-Star in Greece following his own six-year NBA career. While Andrew prefers to keep his cherished memories private, there’s no doubt that his father’s influence will be felt with every dribble, shot, and defensive stop.
With a renewed sense of purpose and the support of his Warriors family, Andrew Wiggins is ready to silence the doubters and reclaim his place among the NBA’s elite. As Coach Kerr put it, “He’s at the age where he’s right in his physical prime, and we’ve seen him do it. He helped us win a championship. I’m expecting a big year from Wiggs.”
The stage is set for Wiggins’ resurgence. Now, it’s time for him to step into the spotlight and prove that the best is yet to come.
