Warriors dismissing Andrew Wiggins’ critics after run of impressive play by the former No. 1 pick
SAN FRANCISCO — While the Warriors have dealt with their fair share of criticism over the years, the constant critique that comes with being a No. 1 overall pick is something no current Warriors player has had to deal with.
Yes, Stephen Curry is a former No. 7 pick, Marquese Chriss a former No. 8 pick and Klay Thompson a former No. 11 pick, but the expectations heaped onto a top overall pick are unlike those for a player selected in the late lottery.
This is something Andrew Wiggins is well aware of, but his teammates and coaches have been steadfast in dismissing that criticism.
“One thing I don’t like is people automatically think he wasn’t good. He averaged 20 points a game. The kid’s good, he’s really good,” Eric Paschall said following the Warriors’ 135-105 loss to the Rockets on Thursday night. “He’s been playing well for the past few years. He was Rookie of the Year. It’s his sixth year and he’s averaged 20 for his whole career, so no surprise over here.”
Wiggins scored a team-high 22 points on 10-for-17 shooting as he continued to impress with his new team since being acquired in a trade-deadline deal with the Timberwolves.
The Warriors have not won a game since trading D’Angelo Russell and two others for Wiggins and a pair of future draft picks, but they are encouraged by the 24-year-old forward’s performance.
Before Golden State’s blowout loss to the surging Houston, Wiggins maintained a positive plus-minus that was tops on the team, as the Warriors outscored their opponents by an average of 4.3 points per game with Wiggins on the court.
In addition to being the team’s leading scorer, Wiggins has impressed with what he’s been able to contribute defensively. In Minnesota, Wiggins’ commitment to defense was questioned, but head coach Steve Kerr believes the reputation he earned early in his career preceded him.
During his time in Golden State, Wiggins has been trusted to guard some of the league’s top scorers, including LeBron James, Devin Booker and James Harden.
“Now that I’ve seen him play, I feel like people have focused on the last couple years everything Andrew can’t do and have forgotten all the things he can do,” Kerr said. “People have said he’s overrated for a couple years and he’s become underrated.
“You look at what he does, you look at his size, you look at how he defends, he’s a damn good NBA player.”
Over the next 26 games, this is what the Warriors hope to get from Wiggins. Maybe he never raises his game to the level expected of a No. 1 overall pick but, in Golden State, he needs only to play a role. The Warriors are asking him to run the floor, play focused defense and make open 3-pointers.
During a lottery-bound season, their goal is to establish some continuity ahead of next season, when they aim to vault back into contention.
When Stephen Curry returns in early March from left hand surgery, they will get a chance to see Wiggins play alongside a two-time MVP and former Defensive Player of the Year in Draymond Green.
“I think he wants to be great,” Green said. “He’s a guy who has been beat down a lot. … He’s not demonstrative. He’s not very talkative, so people will never say that or see it. But, just talking to him, getting to know him and watching him work, he wants to be really good. …
“I think he fits in here perfectly, and we want to help him reach his promise.”