San Francisco – exit game 4 of the NBA Finals, Golden State Warriors star Andrew Wiggins He was seen in a new light with how he digs deep defensively and controlling the glass to help his team even into the 2-2 series.
Lean and athletic forward scored 17 pointswho landed a career high 16 decisive rebounds, had a high plus minus 20 starting unit and was kept Boston Celtics Superstar Jason Tatum scored 23 points in 23 shot attempts. His desire to win and compete was demonstrated in his 43rd minute on Friday.
There was a period during his six seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves That his competitive spirit was called into question. Wiggins possessed the sport, quick first step and ability to handle the ball at 6-foot-8, yet he didn’t break through to a superstar, leaving critics to believe he didn’t seek to maximize his attributes.
“I would never say I was never competitive. I was just on a losing team [in Minnesota]Wiggins told Yahoo Sports after training on Sunday. “I used to score more and do pretty much everything, but now I’m on a winning team. So, whatever I do people will appreciate more and that’s what winning does. Nobody respects losers and I feel like that. Everyone says they want to be a winner, but not everyone can do that. Winners are respected by people, and I am happy to be in this position.”
which – which”non-competitiveBrand is now dumped in Wiggins’ third season with Golden State after he traded there in 2020. There is evidence from the junior season supporting his assertion that he’s always had a competitive fire.
The Cleveland Cavaliers picked Wiggins with the No. 1 pick in the 2014 draft. Not long after, LeBron James caused quite a stir when news broke of his return to Cleveland after spending the past four years leading the Miami Heat to two titles.
From there, Wiggins’ fate was unknown as management suddenly had to quickly compile a championship roster around James.
It was an embarrassing stint for Wiggins spanning nearly two months, knowing he likely wouldn’t play a game for the team that drafted him.
“It was a rough period,” Wiggins told Yahoo Sports. “I can not lie.”
In a massive three-team deal in late August, two of the pack leaders saw Wiggins send to Minnesota in exchange for All-Star striker Kevin Love.
And in the two games against Cleveland during that season, the rising star eventually made sure the Cavaliers remembered why they picked him with the first overall pick.
In their first meeting in late December, Wiggins produced 27 points on 9 of 16 in a losing attempt in Cleveland. At the time, this was his second highest score.
The last meeting of the season came in late January. Minnesota lost again, but Wiggins broke out, scoring 33 points in 14 of 25 from the field in 43 minutes.
“I definitely circled them on the calendar,” Wiggins told Yahoo Sports. “I knew exactly when they would come for sure. I was ready.”
A year later in their third game, the Wiggins upped the ante by scoring a career-high at 35 points in a 12 to 19 shot. The Wiggins and Timberwolves won’t defeat the Cavaliers until their fourth season in the league, but the young star made his point.
“I wanted to show them what they were missing out on, and show them I was the best performer here. That was my mindset at the time,” Wiggins told Yahoo Sports. “It has always been fun and competitive to play with your trading team. It was not an easy experience, but I feel like that got me excited and competitive.”
The Cavaliers took home a title from the trio of James Love and Kyrie Irving in their second season together after upsetting the Warriors by historical standards by overcoming a 3-1 deficit in the 2016 Finals.
Wiggins said he understood the route the Cavaliers had taken to surround James with well-known veterans and that he had no hard feelings.
But he wants to set the record straight.
“I’ve always been competitive and wanted to win. He told Yahoo Sports.
“Alcohol enthusiast. Twitter ninja. Tv lover. Falls down a lot. Hipster-friendly coffee geek.”