When the Warriors acquired Andrew Wiggins via trade in early February 2020, they completely changed the direction of the franchise. Golden State cut loose with D’Angelo Russell after the two parties didn’t fit well together and took a flier on Wiggins, who was surrounded by question marks about his effort and defense.
The Warriors also got their hands on the Minnesota Timberwolves’ No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, which they used to select Rising Star Jonathan Kuminga. On Sunday, Wiggins will line up as a starter for Team Durant opposing his teammate and Team LeBron starter Steph Curry in the 2022 NBA All-Star Game in Cleveland.
A lot has changed in the two years since Wiggins came to the Bay.
“The ultimate goal is to be an All-Star and to be a champion,” Wiggins said. “Hopefully it's one of many, and that championship is soon to come.”
Like the Warriors, Wiggins struggled to close out the pre-break portion of the regular season. Still he made his first career All-Star game after a huge push from Dub Nation, and is averaging 17.7 points and 4.2 rebounds while posting career bests in field-goal percentage (48.1) and 3-point field-goal percentage (41.4) and 3-pointers made per game (2.3). Wiggins’ perimeter defense is also a huge weapon for the Warriors. Effort has never been an issue with the Warriors.
The 26-year-old and No. 1 overall pick from the 2014 NBA Draft said he’s learned immensely from his All-Star teammates Curry and Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson as the two build on-court chemistry.
“It's been great,” Wiggins said. “I learned a lot from those guys, and those guys are -- they're legends, future Hall-of-Famers, so to be on the same team as them and learn from them and try and get better and follow what they're doing, it means a lot. I've learned a lot every day. … It's been a situation that's helped me in my career and helped me accomplish this goal of being an All-Star.”
At one point during Saturday’s All-Star practice, Philadelphia 76ers All-Star Joel Embiid joked with Wiggins that he had become the third Splash Brother.
Saturday evening, Juan Toscano-Anderson pulled Wiggins on to the floor and jumped over him during the Slam Dunk contest.
Wiggins is getting the full experience in Cleveland, but he was thinking about the Larry O'Brien trophy Saturday.
Considering Green could return soon along with second-year center James Wiseman, the Warriors could finally be at full strength for the first time all season come the playoffs. For Wiggins, it’s championship or bust.
“That's what we're going for,” Wiggins said. “We have the pieces to do it. That's the main goal. Second part of the season, that's what we have to really pay attention to and get better every day and strive for that one goal, and that's a championship.”
