The Warriors could be at full-squad strength for the first time all season, just as the playoffs are about to start.
According to a report Monday morning by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Wiggins could return to Golden State early this week. The Warriors’ starting small forward hasn’t appeared in a game since Feb. 13 while dealing with a personal family matter, as the organization has observed his privacy throughout the nearly two-month long absence. The Warriors are 12-10 in the 22 games he's missed since.
You hope everything is OK for Wiggins and his family, and it’s encouraging to see the beloved teammate reportedly nearing a comeback. The Warriors will host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday before playing at Sacramento on Friday and wrapping up the regular season Sunday in Portland.
The Athletic's Shams Charania also added some more context to the situation, reporting that Wiggins is expected to attend Tuesday's game and that he was helping care for his father.
What’s separated this year’s squad from the winners of years past is the defense – especially on the road. Wiggins is known for his two-way abilities and can be a force defensively. With the rise of Jonathan Kuminga and recent return of Gary Payton II, Golden State could be able to tighten up defensively for the stretch run.
Wiggins was also shooting at 45 percent from 3-point land through his first 22 games of the season before an adductor strain and two separate illnesses initially derailed his season. In all, Wiggins has played in 37 of the team’s 79 games this campaign.
While Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Wiggins has been working out individually during his absence from the team, you have to assume the Warriors would like him to practice and perhaps get a scrimmage in before stepping back into a game situation. KRON4’s Jason Dumas reported that Wiggins had returned to the Bay Area last week, but The Athletic is reporting that Wiggins is expected to fly back by Tuesday.
Perhaps Wiggins can return by Friday to get in some much-needed game reps before the postseason. The Warriors entered play Monday gripping onto the No. 6 seed in the West by mere percentage points, as the No. 5 through No. 10 seeds are still just separated by three games heading into the final week of the season.
