SAN FRANCISCO — Andrew Wiggins is sidelined again with a non-COVID illness.
The Warriors wing has struggled since returning from a previous bout with illness and an adductor strain that caused him to miss 15 games from Dec. 5 to Jan. 4. Before Wednesday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Warriors coach Steve Kerr offered some details behind Wiggins’ latest ailment.
"I got word this morning that he was feeling sick,” Wiggins said. “He checked in with a doctor this afternoon and was ruled out."
Wiggins was admittedly rusty upon returning and hasn’t found a rhythm in his seven games back, averaging 12.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting just 34 percent from the floor and 22.7 percent from 3-point land. Wiggins’ defense is valuable, but he’s been a shell of the scorer and shooter he was to begin the year, as he averaged 19.1 points and shot 45 percent from beyond the arc in 22 games to start the season.
If Wiggins is unable to play for the near future, perhaps we could expect to see more minutes from 20-year-old Jonathan Kuminga, who has earned a rotation role over the past few weeks when healthy. Kuminga looks like he hasn’t missed a beat on either side of the floor after missing eight games with a foot injury.
Kerr doesn’t want Kuminga to change his role if his minutes increase.
“Just exactly what he’s been giving us, which is good defense and a lot of force, diving to the rim and sprinting in transition,” Kerr said. “I’m sure he’ll guard multiple guys out there today. He’s just gotta keep doing what he’s doing. He’s been playing really well.”
Kerr said he likes the dynamic when Kuminga and Draymond Green are sharing the front court.
“The fact that you get that lob threat on the backside if JK is at (power forward), you can play your pick-and-roll game with Draymond and kinda have the same threat Andre Iguodala has given us over the years. Coming out of the corner for the lob threat and shooters facing the floor, it’s tough to guard that. That’s one thing. I think he’s a post-up threat depending on how people match up. We can throw the ball into JK and he can score down there. He’s really versatile defensively, as is Draymond obviously.”
Rookie Patrick Baldwin Jr. could also see a bump in playing time, along with two-way forward Anthony Lamb and young forward Moses Moody.
