SAN FRANCISCO – Although Andrew Wiggins was unclear on whether or not he would begin Saturday for Recreation 1 of the Warriors-Kings first-round Western Convention playoff sequence, his perspective was abundantly clear.
He’s keen to embrace both function, a disposition that shines one more gentle on the management of Stephen Curry.
Requested about his standing on Thursday, Wiggins advised NBC Sports activities Bay Space that he didn’t but know whether or not he would begin or come off the bench.
“I’ve acquired to attend and see,” he mentioned after apply at Chase Heart. “However I’d get it if (coach Steve Kerr) mentioned he needs me to come back off the bench. I wasn’t right here for a very long time, so I’d perceive. You possibly can’t say something about that.
“I imply, Steph got here off the bench final yr. What? Steph can do it, however I can’t?”
Wiggins cracked a broad grin, which rapidly advanced into full laughter.
He paused, grinned once more, after which laughed more durable, presumably on the absurdity of anybody on the Golden State roster attempting to justify prioritizing their ego when the group’s celebrity is keen to submerge his ego for the sake of the group.
Curry’s standing getting into the playoffs final season was about as questionable as that of Wiggins this season. Curry missed 4 weeks after sustaining a sprained ligament in his left foot on March 16, 2022. He was not cleared to play till April 15, sooner or later earlier than Recreation 1 of the first-round sequence in opposition to the Nuggets.
The 2-time MVP got here off the bench and performed 22 minutes. Curry was a reserve for the primary 4 video games of the sequence, lastly returning to the beginning lineup in Recreation 5, through which the Warriors clinched the sequence.
Wiggins’ absence, nevertheless, is twice so long as that of Curry. Wiggins final performed on Feb. 13. He can have missed 25 video games and, furthermore, 62 days when he walks onto the courtroom at Golden 1 Heart in Sacramento.
Wiggins has scrimmaged at the very least 4 instances over the previous 10 days, and his teammates and coaches are delighted with what they’ve seen.
“He didn’t actually appear like he’d misplaced a step,” Curry mentioned.
“He appeared superb,” Kevon Looney mentioned after the group’s scrimmage on Wednesday.
“Andrew appears nice, feeling good, able to go,” Kerr mentioned after a light-weight session on Thursday.
There may be one factor that drastically differentiates Wiggins’ state of affairs from that of Curry. Curry has far more expertise coming off the bench, having finished so a number of instances early in his profession and twice within the postseason earlier than filling that function 4 instances to start final postseason.
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In eight NBA seasons, Wiggins has performed 662 video games (together with postseason) and each one in all them as a starter.
Ought to he come off the bench on Saturday – and group sources say that call has not been decided – it’ll snap a career-long private streak.
Wiggins merely shrugged at the opportunity of snapping his streak.
“Steph set the bar excessive,” he mentioned. “I can’t be mad at that.”
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