Last season, ESPN NBA analyst Brian Windhorst raised some eyebrows in The Bay when he said the Warriors got a “checkbook win” with a big effort from Andrew Wiggins in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
Windorst was making note of ownership’s willingness to take on Wiggins’ max contract in a trade when they already had big money-makers in Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. So when Wiggins signed a four-year, $109 million extension last week, Windhorst was pleasantly surprised.
Windy joined 95.7 The Game’s “The Morning Roast” Tuesday ahead of the Warriors’ opener against the Los Angeles Lakers to discuss the upcoming season and Wiggins’ extension.
“Andrew Wiggins took a paycut,” Windhorst said. “It was one of the more remarkable contracts I have seen in the last decade. Very rarely will you see a player in his prime, coming off a season like he did, take a paycut.”
Wiggins, the former No. 1 overall pick who was dogged by concerns about his focus early in his career, elevated his game with every round of the playoffs. He averaged 18.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game in the Finals and wants to keep rebounding his main focus this season.
Windhorst clarified his comments on 95.7 The Game during the Finals last year and insisted they were a compliment, as the Warriors went on to win their fourth title in eight years.
“Raising a banner means you never have to say you’re sorry,” Windhorst said. “So raise that banner and tell everyone that is upset about it to kiss off and go try to do it again. That's the Warriors way."
Wiggins is due to make $24.3 million in 2023-24, about $14 million less than the max contract he might have secured as a free agent. When you consider the luxury tax relief, Wiggins saved the Warriors somewhere in the neighborhood of $50 million for next season.
We figure the reigning champ Warriors will be contenders in the West this season, but what about the Lakers?
“No,” Windhorst said.
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