Warriors 3 goals: Andrew Wiggins needs to bounce back
In the latest edition of Warriors Wire’s “three goals” series, we will be taking a closer look at Andrew Wiggins. The veteran wing regressed slightly last season and struggled to find his rhythm after missing 22 games due to personal issues. Wiggins will look for a big bounce-back in the upcoming season, especially given the Golden State Warriors‘ lofty expectations.
At his best, Wiggins is among the best 3-and-d wings in the NBA and can also provide reliable rim pressure when attacking the lane, largely due to his explosive athleticism.
With training camp less than a week away and the new season right around the corner, Wiggins will likely be looking at ways to cement himself as a core member of Golden State’s rotation.
Here are three goals Wiggins should look to implement throughout the upcoming season.
Double-down on defense
The Warriors have more than enough offense on their roster. Wiggins’ best chance of making his presence felt is becoming the team’s best perimeter defender, especially at the point of attack. During Golden State’s 2022 championship run, Wiggins was an impenetrable force on the defensive end – he will need to recover that production level.
If Wiggins can also improve his weakside rotations and become a pest when switching to smaller opponents, he will quickly establish himself as a vital piece to Golden State’s championship hopes.
Stay consistent from deep
Wiggins has seen his perimeter shooting dramatically improve over the past three seasons. Before joining Golden State, the Kansas product was shooting 33.2% from 3-point range, yet that number has shot up to 38.9% since moving to the Bay Area. If Wiggins can sustain that uptick in shooting production, he will be an ideal catch-and-shoot threat when spotting up in an off-ball role.
Embrace screening
Adding some new dimensions to this game would allow Wiggins to have a bigger role within the Warriors’ offense. The easiest addition for Wiggins is for him to embrace a bigger role when operating as a screener. Given his ability to shoot off the catch, pressure the rim, and bully his way through a defense on drives, Wiggins would thrive in an “inverted screener” role for the Warriors next season.
