Andrew Wiggins realizes that anybody following the Warriors is bound to see that his skid since January, from All-Star to struggling star, parallels that of the team.
His response Wednesday is much the same as the message often uttered by head coach Steve Kerr: Patience, please.
“There’s going to be ups and downs,” Wiggins said after the team’s shootaround. “That’s part of the journey. That’s part of the grind. There’s a bigger picture. We’ve got a team full of great guys, great players, and we have a chance to do something special.
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“I’ve got to keep putting in the work. My time will come. My shot will fall at the right time. I truly believe that.”
After a strong first half of the season generated enough momentum for Wiggins to be voted in as a starter in his All-Star Game appearance, there has been an appreciable dip in his production and efficiency.
“There’s games (when) I’ve been aggressive, but sometimes shots aren’t falling,” Wiggins said. “That’s part of the game. It happens. I’ve just got to keep my head, keep pushing forward and stay confident.”
Wiggins’ 13.8 points-per-game average in February was his least productive month since November 2014 -- his first full month in the NBA. March has been no better. He’s averaging 14.8 points, but his shooting percentages are down to 40.7 from the field and 27.9 from distance.
Golden State Warriors
After being recognized for his two-way abilities in the first half of the season, Wiggins is now an easy target for analysts and frustrated fans venting on social media.
“They’re going to love you, then they’re going to hate you,” he said. “Then they’re going to love you again. And they’ll probably hate you again. That’s how it goes.
“You’ve got to wake up every morning just happy to be alive. There’s bigger things to worry about.”
That last line surely applies to the Warriors, who were 38-13 through January but are 10-15 since the calendar flipped to February. They’ve dealt with the loss of Draymond Green for most of that time. And then, two weeks ago, Stephen Curry sustained a sprained foot that sent him to the sidelines.
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Wiggins concedes that Curry’s absence changes the way the Warriors play offense, but the 27-year-old forward, who has one season remaining on his contract, did not offer that as an excuse for his declining performance.
“I’m still getting a lot of, not the same shots, but similar shots,” he said. “No one can replace Steph, the attention he (gets) on the court. But I’ve still gotten great looks. But the ball just hasn’t been going my way. That’s how the game goes.”
Kerr said Monday, after a blowout loss to the Grizzlies in Memphis, that he still believes the Warriors have what it takes to reach the NBA Finals.
Wiggins expressed the same confidence -- and also believes that, in the end, he’ll find his game and become one of the reasons the team makes an extended postseason run.
“It’s tough, not seeing your shot go in, even if it feels good or you’re getting open shots,” he said. “But it’s part of it. I’m doing my part. I’m in the gym, working hard. And eventually, they’ll fall. They’ll fall at the right time.”