Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins, Stephen Curry dubbed All-Star starters

This is not a false alarm: Andrew Wiggins is an All-Star starter.

Stephen Curry was also announced as an All-Star starter, but that’s not too surprising as he’s also among the favorites for the league’s Most Valuable Player award. Curry has won two MVPs throughout his career and is the clear captain of this roster.

Andrew Wiggins and Stephen Curry, both key pieces in the Warriors’ second-best record, have been named All-Star Game starters.

However, Wiggins was once viewed as a cast-off player and a bust of a former No. 1 overall pick. Wiggins was traded from Minnesota to Golden State, and many didn’t understand the trade for the Warriors because of his contract and how it might cost them in the long run.

Wiggins signed a max-value deal with the Wolves, and he clearly wasn’t viewed as a staple of their roster. The Wolves traded a pick which turned into Jonathan Kuminga along with Wiggins for D’Angelo Russell who the Warriors brought in via a signed-and-trade deal with the Nets.

This season has been Wiggins’ best. He actually has never been an All-Star before, and now he’s a starter. That’s what playing alongside Draymond Green and Curry can do for a player.

Playing alongside those two has completely changed his career. This season, Wiggins is averaging 18.1 points per game and shooting 48% from the field. He’s also connecting on over 40% of his attempts from deep.

As for Curry, he’s averaging 25.8 points per game. Surprisingly, Curry has struggled with his efficiency this season, shooting under 42% from the field and under 40% from deep, but he has his Warriors looking like legit Finals contenders.

That said, Ja Morant, LeBron James and Nikola Jokic rounded out the Western Conference All-Star starters via The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

Wiggins is really the only surprise here. Jokic could very easily be the MVP favorite to this point, and James has been carrying the Lakers and putting some phenomenal numbers while doing so. Morant has also been among the most electric players in the Association.

That said, while surprising, it’s terrific seeing Wiggins as an All-Star starter. It’ll be equally as interesting to see if Green is awarded the trip to Cleveland for the fourth time in his career.