Andrew Wiggins hasn’t had the type of start to the season he would have hoped for. Steve Kerr has been opting to sit Wiggins down the stretch of games, which has led to some questions being asked regarding the championship-winning wing’s overall production through the Golden State Warriors opening five games.
When speaking to C.J. Holmes of the San Francisco Chronicle, Kerr noted that he’s not concerned about Wiggins’ start to the season. He noted how the veteran wing hasn’t been at his best but has still contributed when on the court.
“Wiggs is an important player for us, and he’s not at his best, but I’m not worried about Wiggs,” Kerr said. “He helped us win a championship two years ago. He’s been here for five years. We know what he can do and he’ll get through.”
Through his first five games, Wiggins is averaging 11.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 0.6 assists while shooting 43.4% from the field and 16.7% from 3-point range. Those numbers are considerably lower than Wiggins’ career production. While impact isn’t measured in the box score, it’s a good indicator of the slippage we’re seeing from the veteran to begin the season.
With so much basketball left to be played, there should be little doubt that Wiggins will figure things out and return to being the two-way wing that was so important in the Warriors’ 2022 championship run. An NBA season is long and arduous; peaking early isn’t always the best option.