Andrew Wiggins has cleared NBA’s health and safety protocols after missing the past four games. The news was first reported by The Athletic's Anthony Slater Monday afternoon and confirmed by Warriors coach Steve Kerr.
Kerr told reporters Wiggins is probable for Tuesday's game against the Denver Nuggets.
"He took part in practice today," Kerr said Monday. "He’s getting an extra workout now. He'll come in tomorrow, go through pregame routine and I would expect him to play."
Wiggins said his biggest concern is getting back up to game speed.
Asked if he expects to play Tuesday, Wiggins said, "We'll see how it goes. I felt good but a game is way more intense. ... But I got good work in, I feel great getting back on the court."
Kerr said Jordan Poole -- who also cleared protocols Monday -- isn't expected to return Tuesday after being holed up in a Boston hotel room the past 10 days. As of Monday evening, Poole wasn't in the Bay Area yet.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the NBA reduced quarantines from 10 days to six days in the NBA’s health and safety protocols, meaning Wiggins was immediately eligible to return after initially having to wait until Dec. 30.
Damion Lee, Moses Moody and Draymond Green are the three remaining Warriors in health and safety protocols. Assistant coaches Mike Brown and Chris DeMarco are also cleared from health and safety protocols, according to Kerr.
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Wiggins said he felt a sore throat and had a headache for a day, but said his symptoms were mild. He waited until the final days before the regular season to get vaccinated earlier this year. More than 160 players are currently in the NBA's health and safety protocols.
"COVID's going to be around," Wiggins said Monday. "Everyone's going to get it eventually. Hopefully everyone's just prepared, take the right steps towards it."
Wiggins is Golden State’s second-leading scorer behind Steph Curry this season and continues to improve as a 3-point shooter. Golden State has helped simplify Wiggins’ approach and he’s proving to be more effective as a catch-and-shoot player, while he doesn’t overdribble as much as he used to earlier in his career.
Wiggins is averaging 18.7 points and 2.2 3-pointers made per game this season, while shooting a career high 42.2 percent from 3-point land, which is tops on Golden State. He also often takes on the team’s toughest perimeter defensive assignment with his rangy 6-foot-7 frame and has shown some explosiveness this season with big dunks. He started out slow with a knee issue but has been solid since his breakout 35-point game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, averaging 20.3 points and 2.5 threes per game while shooting 46.6 percent from long distance.
The Warriors have gone 4-1 since Poole entered protocols before the Dec. 17 contest against the Boston Celtics, but will surely welcome some talented sidekicks for Curry.
