Before this season, Andrew Wiggins only appeared in one playoff series and had one postseason victory under his belt. Now he’s chasing a championship with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.
NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole joined 95.7 The Game’s “Steiny & Guru” Tuesday to preview Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals between the Warriors and Grizzlies. Poole also discussed how Wiggins has performed so far in the playoffs. Check out the full interview below:
Wiggins and the Warriors have been through a lot in their two years together since he joined in a midseason 2020 trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves. So far Wiggins has led the Warriors with seven rebounds per game in the postseason. Throughout the playoffs, Wiggins has often been flying through the lane for timely offensive rebounds and doing other dirty work to keep possessions alive.
“I think the Wiggins you’re seeing now is the Wiggins you need right now,” Poole said. “That’s a guy who is willing to take a shot, willing to crash the glass, who is willing to mix it up in the paint. That guy wasn’t always around in the regular season.”
Offensively, Wiggins has taken a backseat to Curry, Thompson and Jordan Poole. In six games this postseason, Wiggins is averaging 14.5 points per game while shooting 50.8 percent from the floor and 44.4 percent from 3-point land. Defensively, he has manned up as a smallball center on opposing bigs. Wiggins also hit a clutch 3-pointer in the Game 3 victory over the Nuggets.
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It’s been a solid postseason so far, but Poole cited conversations with people within the Warriors organization and the franchise feels like Wiggins has another level. Usually, the Warriors have implored Wiggins to be more aggressive and utilize his athleticism on the offensive end.
“When you talk to people on the Warriors, players and coaches, and you talk about Wiggins, you kind of get a mix,” Poole said. “There’s a respect for him and he’s a teammate, so no one’s gonna denigrate him, but at the same time, they realize that he can be better than he is. That’s something that you sense from everyone. He can be better. To see him adjust his game – Wiggins is not a physical guy, but in this postseason, he’s become more physical. He’s rebounding more than before.”
The 27-year-old Wiggins remains a key part of the team’s title chances, but his future with the team will be a hot topic in the offseason. His name recently popped up in trade rumors for Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert. Wiggins is due to make $33.6 million next season before hitting free agency again, when he figures to get a big multiyear payday.
“Let’s also understand, too, he knows that there’s one year left on his contract,” Poole said. “What he does in the postseason, could have some influence on his future, whether it’s the Warriors or elsewhere. He knows this is showtime for him and he’s excelling in that way.”
