When the Golden State Warriors last appeared in the NBA Finals, back in 2019, former first-overall draft pick Andrew Wiggins had to watch the series from his couch. At that time, he was a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves, which had made the playoffs only once since 2004, and his reputation in the league reached bust status. But a scenery change has rejuvenated Wiggins' career.
In three seasons with the Warriors, Wiggins has removed old labels, regained respect across the league, and transformed into an impact frontcourt starter. Entering this year's NBA Finals, the 27-year-old has averaged 15.8 points with 7.0 boards through 16 playoff games, and during the West Finals, he owned a plus-13.9 points per 100 possessions when playing -- the third-best mark on the team. When he wasn't on the court, Golden State was a pitiful minus-12.
"He's playing the best basketball of his career. And let me rephrase that: he's playing the most stress-free basketball of his career. And that's what playing with greatness does," SiriusXM NBA Radio host Antonio Daniels explained to The Zach Gelb Show on Thursday. "So, is it a secret why Andrew Wiggins has had his most efficient year? No, it's not -- he's playing with the best shooting backcourt... But I'll tell you something that hasn't been discussed enough.
"Think of the decision Wiggins made to get vaccinated. If he chooses to not get vaccinated, the Warriors aren't in the Finals -- any way you break it down, any way you look at it... Because he got vaccinated, he became the Warriors' primary defender... This league is all about opportunity... What a difference it makes when a guy gets to that right position. Wiggins gets an opportunity to play stress-free ball, because of the gravitation pull of Curry and Thompson."
The entire NBA conversation between Daniels and Gelb can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow The Zach Gelb Show on Twitter @ZachGelb and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.