Andrew Wiggins played his first game as a Golden State Warrior and coach Steve Kerr seems happy with the 24-year old's first day on the job.
Speaking to reporters after their 125-120 defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers, Kerr just just said it feels good to finally have a wing that fills in their most glaring positional need, per Anthony Slater of The Athletic.
Steve Kerr on Andrew Wiggins’ debut: “It’s good to have a player who we can put on LeBron and at least match up physically.” pic.twitter.com/TxIAA0OlE2
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 9, 2020
Wiggins had an encouraging debut for Golden State. He scored 24 points on an efficient 8-of-12 from the field. He also added three 3-pointers and five steals in his first 31 minutes with the Warriors.
As Kerr said, Wiggins' addition gives the Warriors a wing that can match-up with other elite small forwards in the league such as LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, and Paul George to name a few.
However, the Toronto-native has yet to tap into the enormous potential he had when he entered the league in 2014. Pundits often criticized his lack of effort and for not trying hard enough, especially on the defensive end. Likewise, there were questions about his shot selection and inability to make plays for others.
With Golden State, Wiggins gets a fresh start. Playing alongside three All-Stars in Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green should allow him to play freely and without any pressure. Likewise, Golden State's fast-paced system should play into his strengths as a gifted super athlete.
Just a couple of days removed from being shipped from Minnesota, Wiggins did not have a lot of time to learn his new team's playbook. That's why Steve Kerr gave him simple instructions to just “sprint the floor, both ways.”
And that's what Wiggins did on Saturday. He certainly showcased how his game can fit in with the Dubs with timely cuts and transition finishes. Well, that's what it seemed like on day one at least.
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