Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins is expected to rejoin the team this week after missing the last 22 games attending to a family matter, multiple sources say.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Wiggins plans to attend the Warriors game against the Thunder on Tuesday (April 4). Wiggins’ father has been dealing with a serious medical situation, and the team has given the 28-year-old complete space and freedom to deal with this family matter.
ESPN Sources: Golden State Warriors All-Star forward Andrew Wiggins is nearing a return to the team and is expected to be back early this week. Wiggins has missed 21 games attending to a family matter. Huge boost for the defending champions and sixth seed in the West. pic.twitter.com/bQAw8ixINI
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 3, 2023
Wiggins, an All-Star and NBA champion last season, has been out since Golden State’s Feb. 13 win over the Wizards. He’s averaging 17.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals a game this year while shooting nearly 40% from three.
The return of Wiggins comes at a good time for the defending champion Warriors, who would love to have him for the impending playoffs next week. In the 2022 Finals, Wiggins averaged 18.3 points a game, which was second on the team to Curry, while also adding 8.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks — both of which led the team. The Warriors sit sixth in the Western Conference with three games to go and are currently in a four-way tie in the loss column for the last two guaranteed playoff spots.
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It is unclear what Wiggins’ role will be in the team’s final three games, but Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said that the forward has been working out every day while away from the team and the training and medical staff will evaluate his fitness and conditioning to determine how soon he will be able to return to play. Wiggins has missed a total of 42 games this season with left foot soreness, a strained abductor and a bout with a non-COVID-19 illness.
Last offseason, Wiggins signed a four-year, $109 million extension with Golden State after his role in their championship run. He previously spent five years in Minnesota before the Warriors traded for the former first overall pick at the 2020 deadline, sending a package that included D’Angelo Russell to the Timberwolves.
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