Tag: Wiggins

Steve Kerr says Andrew Wiggins is in ‘fantastic shape’ for Warriors offseason minicamp

After the start of the Golden State Warriors voluntary offseason minicamp, Steve Kerr says Andrew Wiggins is in “fantastic shape.”

In a season littered with struggles and injuries for the Golden State Warriors, the arrival of Andrew Wiggins provided a moment of intrigue in the Bay Area. However, his Golden State debut was cut short when the season was put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In 12 games, the former Rookie of the Year averaged 19.4 points on 45.7% shooting from the field with 4.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.3 steals per contest. Although he was only limited to playing one game with Stephen Curry, Wiggins has yet to be in the lineup with Klay Thompson.

During Golden State’s extended offseason, Wiggins will have his first opportunity to lace up alongside the other Splash Brother. With the Warriors voluntary offseason minicamp underway, both Wiggins and a healthy edition of Thompson are roaming the floor at Chase Center.

After an extended layoff from official basketball activities, Steve Kerr was impressed with the shape Wiggins was in for Golden State’s voluntary camp. In a post-practice interview with members of the media, the Golden State Warriors coach said Wiggins is in “fantastic shape” form minicamp.

Via Warriors SoundCloud:

Andrew’s been great. He’s in fantastic shape. I think he’s one of those guys who it’s almost impossible to fall out of shape — just the way he’s built and the type of athlete he is. I went and saw him in LA a couple of months back with Rick and Seth Cooper, and we watched him train. He’s training really hard during the pandemic, so it’s no surprise that he’s come in the first few days and just looked like it’s midseason. I asked him yesterday if he was sore, and he looked at me like I was crazy.

With his time in the Bay Area still fresh, Wiggins’ performance in “The Dubble” will provide him with another opportunity to build off his solid first impression.

If the Warriors plan on making a return to the top of the Western Conference next season, they’ll need to count on Wiggins’ fitting in seamlessly alongside Curry and Thompson.

The offseason minicamp is a chance for Wiggins and Thompson to familiarize each other with their skills on the court before the Warriors set off into a crucial period of the offseason.

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Andrew Wiggins splashes a series of 3-pointers at latest offseason workout

Could Andrew Wiggins be the next Splash Brother?

While the second round of the postseason is underway inside the Orlando Bubble, the Golden State Warriors are stepping into their early offseason. After an extended layoff from games and practice, some members of the Warriors are returning to the court for offseason workouts.

On Wednesday, one of the newest members of the Warriors’ squad showed off his long-distance jumper. In a workout with hoops trainer Chris Johnson in Los Angeles, Andrew Wiggins did his best impersonation of the Splash Brothers. The former first overall selection drilled a series of 3-pointers in a fast-paced shooting drill.

Watch Wiggins’ shooting montage via @wigginsenterprise on Instagram:

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Stay Ready 🔥 @22wiggins

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His brother Nick Wiggins joined the Kansas Jayhawk product for the workout with Johnson.

In his short stint in the Bay Area, the former Rookie of the Year averaged 19.4 points on 45.7% shooting from the field with 4.6 boards, 3.6 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.3 steals per contest. In 12 games with the Warriors, Wiggins shot 33.9% from beyond the arc (20-of-39).

When the Warriors open their in-market group workouts for the offseason, Wiggins will be able to participate in shooting drills with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.

Along with only playing one game with Curry, Wiggins has yet to lace up next to Thompson. Golden State’s offseason workouts will allow the trio the chance to get up shots together.

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Steve Kerr says Andrew Wiggins ‘fits right in’ with what the Warriors are trying to do

In an interview on The Bill Simmons Podcast, Steve Kerr praised Andrew Wiggins’ fit with the Warriors, calling him “a damn good player.”

Following the trade deadline, the arrival of Andrew Wiggins in the Bay Area was a focal point in the Golden State Warriors’ stretch run of the 2019-20 season.

However, when the season was put on hold due to the coronavirus, Wiggins’ opening stint in Golden State was cut short. With the Warriors one of the eight teams on the outside of the Orlando Bubble, the former Minnesota Timberwolves wing was limited to 12 games, averaging 19.4 points on 45.7% shooting from the field with 4.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.

Although it was only a handful of games, Wiggins made a solid first impression on his new head coach. In a recent appearance on The Bill Simmons Podcast, Steve Kerr spoke about Golden State’s trade for the former first overall pick. Kerr had high praise for Wiggins fit with Golden State on the defensive end.

Via The Bill Simmons Podcast:

I wasn’t surprised at all about what we saw because I’ve coached against him [Wiggins] now for the last six years and he’s had big games against us.

The biggest thing for us was all about what you need today to win games. The game has changed so much. And it’s so hard to guard. I watched Houston – Dallas the other night, and it was, 151-148 — How do you guard anybody? There’s nobody in the paint; you got 10 guys who could shoot threes, penetrate and kick. So you got to have size and versatility on the wings.

And you think about our roster, losing Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston, those guys obviously for good. Two to retirement and one to free agency, then Klay Thompson for the year. That’s basically our main wing core defensively. Those guys represented, along with Draymond, everything that not only we’ve been about over the last five-six years, but what the league has turned into — multi-positional defenders who can complement one another and guard their position, but also guard two or three other positions.

Andrew has the size and athleticism to do exactly that. And we knew that. And he was an excellent defender for us during the last stretch and played really well offensively. He may not be an MVP candidate, but he’s a damn good player, and he fits right in with what we’re trying to do. He gives us some of that defensive versatility that we lost with all those defections.

The Kansas Jayhawk product was active on the defensive side of the floor in Golden State, averaging 1.4 blocks and 1.3 steals per contest. In his first pair of games with the Warriors, Wiggins recorded new career highs in steals (5) and blocks (4).

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With Golden State’s extended offseason on deck, Wiggins will have time to get familiar with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson on the floor. Wiggins was in the lineup for Curry’s much-anticipated return from injury. In his only game alongside the two-time MVP, Wiggins tallied a double-double with 21 points and 10 boards.

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If Wiggins clicks with a healthy edition of the Splash Brothers in 2020-21, Golden State will have a steadier climb back to the Western Conference postseason.

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March Madness: How members of the Warriors performed in the NCAA Tournament

With no basketball on the schedule, take a look at how members of the Golden State Warriors fared in the NCAA Tournament.

For many basketball fans, March is considered the best month on the calendar. Selection Sunday marks the start of a four-week, drama-filled sensation known as March Madness. However, in 2020, things are a bit different.

There will be no “Cinderella story” or “bracket busters” in the 2020 edition of the NCAA Tournament due to the coronavirus pandemic. The NCAA has canceled its 68-team championship tournament in precaution to COVID-19.

With no games on the NBA or college basketball schedule, Warriors Wire looked back at how members of the 2019-20 edition of the Golden State Warriors fared in March Madness.

Before they were with Golden State, three different Dubs made trips to the final game, with others stamping spots in the Elite Eight. At the same time, one newly acquired Warrior was a victim of an upset in the opening weekend.

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Andrew Wiggins and rookies drive Warriors to comeback win in Denver, 116-100

Andrew Wiggins records a double-double in a 15-point comeback win against the Denver Nuggets.

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The Warriors road trip to Denver started as a typical game for Golden State in the 2019-20 season. Golden State battled the Nuggets early to keep it close, but eventually, Denver’s talent overwhelmed the young Warriors squad.

Golden State fell down by 15-points against the playoff-bound Denver Nuggets, but a strong ending to the third quarter sprung the Warriors back into the game. The Warriors have struggled throughout the season to close games, yet in Denver, things were different. The Warriors outscored the Nuggets 34-19 in the fourth quarter to seal their comeback win, 116-100.

Golden State has registered wins in two of their last three games. With the defending champion Toronto Raptors coming to town next, the Warriors could get some help in the return of Stephen Curry from injury.

Andrew Wiggins

In Denver, Andrew Wiggins played one of his best games as a member of the Golden State Warriors. The former member of the Minnesota Timberwolves recorded a double-double with 22 points and 10 assists — the second time in his career, he’s tallied 20 points and 10 assists in the same game. Wiggins added five rebounds, a steal and a block.

Rookie Run

Two picks from Golden State’s 2019 draft class made a significant impact in the Warriors comeback effort in Denver. Second-round pick Eric Paschall filled the stat sheet with 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting, with five rebounds, five assists and a steal against the Nuggets.

Golden State’s first-round pick Jordan Poole continues his impressive play at point guard recording 15 points, six assists and three rebounds. Poole added four 3-pointers on six attempts from long distance.

Beyond the arc

Since the All-Star break, the Warriors have struggled from 3-point range, shooting only 26.3 % from deep. However, against the Nuggets, Golden State performed their best “Splash Brothers” impression. The Warriors shot 18-of-41 from beyond the arc, with the Nuggets only hitting three 3-pointers on 20 attempts.

10-day contract turned starter, Mychal Mulder led the Warriors from long distance, adding five 3-pointers on 10 shots. Five other members of the Warriors added two or more makes from deep.

Injury Report: Dragan Bender to start with Andrew Wiggins out vs. Lakers

An upper-back spasm injury will force Andrew Wiggins to miss his first game as a member of the Golden State Warriors.

While the basketball world is waiting on a healthy recovery from Stephen Curry, the Golden State Warriors are dealing with other injuries on their roster.

Marquese Chriss missed the Warriors contest against the New Orleans Pelicans with a calf injury, yet was able to return against the Sacramento Kings. Draymond Green was absent for the past two games with a pelvic contusion, but is scheduled to play against the Los Angeles Lakers.

However, as Green and Chriss return, the Warriors will lose a different starter due to injury.

Andrew Wiggins will miss his first game as a member of the Warriors with upper back spasms.

Before the trade deadline with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Wiggins missed eight games this season due to a thumb injury and an illness.

However, the Kansas Jayhawk product hasn’t missed many games since being drafted first overall in 2014. Leading up to the 2019-20 season, Wiggins has played over 80 games four times in his career.

Without Wiggins, the Warriors will start Dragan Bender alongside Green, Chriss, Jordan Poole and Damion Lee.

In two games with Golden State, Bender has totaled six points, 10 rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block. The Croatian forward has shot 2-of-7 from beyond the arc with the Warriors.

The 22-year-old began the 2019-20 season with the Milwaukee Bucks and did not make a start. Bender hasn’t started a game since he was a member of the Phoenix Suns in 2019.

On a 10-day contract, an opportunity to start could have an impact on Bender’s future with the Warriors.