Blue Man Hoop
Fansided

Stock soaring for 4 Golden State Warriors, while 1 is fading fast to begin 2023-24

By Josh Cornelissen

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 25: Stephen Curry #30 and Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Golden State Warriors looks on against the Dallas Mavericks during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on January 25, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 25: Stephen Curry #30 and Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Golden State Warriors looks on against the Dallas Mavericks during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on January 25, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors, Andrew Wiggins. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

Fading Fast: Andrew Wiggins

It’s hard to point too many fingers at anyone on the Warriors. They are truly playing well as a group, and even those handful of players struggling in one area or another are still contributing to the success of the team.

With that being said, it’s clear that Andrew Wiggins has really struggled to start the season. He is shooting just 43.4 percent from the field, a percentage that hearkens back to his worst years chucking the ball in Minnesota, and is being weighed down by truly abysmal 3-point shooting: 16.7 percent on 2.4 attempts per game. He not only isn’t making shots, he isn’t taking them, and those two issues combine to make him a real spacing liability.

Wiggins has other things he brings to the table, be they defense, cutting or rebounding, but right now everything seems off. The Warriors have even tried to manufacture him some touches early in games to get him going, but to no avail. He is just 2-for-12 from 3-point range for the season.

That has resulted in Kerr replacing Wiggins in the closing lineup in most of their games, whether that’s to play Jonathan Kuminga (as he did in the opener) or to put Gary Payton II or Kevon Looney into the game. Wiggins needs to be careful; at some point, he becomes the preferred matching salary in a Warriors blockbuster deal.

Andrew Wiggins, at the very least, needs to know it’s time to turn things around. Not by shooting better; that would be nice, but ultimately neither the root of the issue nor the best solution. Instead, Wiggins needs to rev up the motor, fight for rebounds, set screens and work to help the Warriors even when he’s not shooting well.

Next. Ranking the 16 worst Warriors starters of the Stephen Curry era. dark

And when he catches the ball on the perimeter? To let it fly with no hesitation.

Home/Warriors News