Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins has now missed 13 consecutive games due to undisclosed personal reasons, leading to speculation about why he’s been absent and when he might return. As Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic writes, Wiggins’ teammates know why he’s been gone, but instead of feeling angry or resentful, they’ve expressed “patience and understanding, a little disappointment but a lot of concern.”
“What he’s dealing with,” one player said, “is some real (expletive).”
Wiggins’ privacy deserves to be respected, according to Thompson, and the fact that an organization that has had some very public leaks over the past year-plus — including Wiggins’ vaccine hesitancy last season and Draymond Green punching Jordan Poole during training camp — has kept the matter in-house “says a lot.”
With the team in the midst of its most crucial stretch of the season, and so many major decisions hanging over the franchise, Wiggins being gone is even more amplified. But that doesn’t mean outsiders are entitled to know what’s going on, says Thompson.
“If we’re fine with it,” one player said, “and the people who pay him understand, then so should everyone else.”
Here’s more from the Pacific:
- On the bright side for the Warriors, second-year forward Jonathan Kuminga was able to play on Wednesday night after missing the past three games with a sprained ankle, tweets Kendra Andrews of ESPN. Unfortunately, longtime veteran Andre Iguodala broke his left wrist and will undergo surgery next week. Head coach Steve Kerr spoke about losing Iguodala last night, per Mark Medina of NBA.com (Twitter link). “It’s a huge loss. …We’ll see what it means, roster wise. We’ll see how things play out, whether we use the last roster spot on one of our two-way guys or something else comes up,” Kerr said as part of a larger quote.
- Law Murray of The Athletic tackles a number of topics in a mailbag column, answering questions about Eric Gordon‘s importance to the Clippers, small-ball lineups, and possible favorable postseason matchups, among others. According to Murray, prior to Wednesday’s victory over Golden State, Gordon had the highest plus-minus on the team in fourth quarters since he was acquired at the trade deadline (plus-46 in 84 minutes).
- The Lakers have an open roster spot and a couple of frontcourt players injured in LeBron James and Mohamed Bamba, plus Anthony Davis has been rested on back-to-backs (only one more back-to-back remains on the schedule). Prior to Wednesday’s loss to Houston, in which Davis was out, Kyle Goon of The Southern California News Group asked head coach Darvin Ham if the Lakers had any plans to add another big man with their roster opening. “We feel like we have a good vibe, a good rhythm with the guys that are out there. We’re standing pat for now,” Ham said as part of larger quote. “But the process of trying to improve our roster never changes. We’re constantly looking.”
why not roll the dice on Dwight, gsw?
Wouldn’t be eligible for playoffs though
I think you can’t be with an other team after the deadline. Dwight and Melo would be fine
Nobody in the NBA wanted him. What makes you think he can help the Warriors? Seems pretty clear. His career is over.
Hard to believe there are some fans and sport writers upset at Wiggins for not playing. If they are meant to be champs it will happen no need to blame Wiggins for needing time off.
I think its very likely that someone in his immediate family is very ill.
Imagine if it comes out Wiggons is under investigation for googling a photo of a gun. Sanctimonious Warriors fans heads will explode…meanwhile Draymond watching old videos of Wacky Racers in a search for more dirty tricks to pull….typical bull oney
Guns are bad… mmmmmmmmmmkay
Lakers lost to Houston last night because they had nobody to man the center position. Houston knew that they had nobody and just kept getting basket after basket in the paint with little to no resistance. They had 78 points in the paint! Lakers new AD would be out for that game and should have at least signed someone to a 10 day contract to fill that 15th spot on the roster.
100% coach blew Houston game could have even had D league center travel with the team Big Mistake
I’m all for reckless speculation on why Wiggins is at
Home. Feel free to let them fly…
Just rumors but I heard he had to go to a funeral for a close family member, and while there got into a big fight with his dad.
See his dad wanted him to give up basketball and take over the family business — Wiggins Wigs, a regional chain of wig stores in the greater Toronto area that specialize in, well you guessed it, wigs, but Andrew prefers basketball. They’ve been at odds ever since, even having a small scuffle at the funeral which upset his mother and siblings greatly.
Now he is at his ranch in Vancouver contemplating whether the cost of letting down his family is worth it to pursue his hoop dreams. Only Andrew can answer that one.
Rumours are than his wife has been cheating on him for years with his best friend and that the kids he thought were his might not even be his. Really really feel for the dude if that’s the case
Noël Nerlens to Lakers. Mark my words.
He would not be eligible
Detroit bought nerlens noel out before the deadline. Brooklyn only signed him to a 10 day. Pretty sure he is still playoff elgible
Sign lamb for rest of year he would be eligible for playoffs as well why is GSW waiting?????
Sace couple dollars and also want to wait juat in case of injuries. If curry or poole is hurt, jerome will be converted.
Wiggins deserves privacy. Anyway here’s another article about Wiggins.