Center Chase did not forget Andrew Wiggins, the symbol of the 2022 title
For his first match at the Chase Center since his departure, Andrew Wiggins he was entitled to a standing ovation, followed by a video recap of his highlights in the jersey Warriors.
Once Dub, forever family.
Welcome back to the Warriors Ground, Andrew pic.twitter.com/GIiiV5KsoI6
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) January 20, 2026
Arriving in February 2020 with the tag of a former No. 1 draft pick never quite living up to expectations, the winger left five years later with an NBA title … and an unexpected level of love, both in the locker room and among the fans. From his first months in San Francisco, his attitude and temperament indicated a role cut out for him: a third offensive option and primarily a defender assigned to opposing stars. On the other hand, no one expected the peak that will be experienced in 2022.
Buoyed by Golden State’s blistering start, Andrew Wiggins made his first career All-Star game, to the extent that he was named the starter thanks to a popular mobilization, boosted by K-Pop star and Warriors fan BamBam. He then rose to the level in each round in the playoffs, including a suffocating defense of Luka Doncic in the conference finals, before dominating Jayson Tatum in the finals.
“Without him we wouldn’t have had a chance to win this title. But apart from that, Wiggs is just a great human being. Everyone loved him in our dressing room. He had so much success with us and it was a pleasure to coach him every day. When a guy like that joins you and you go through a lot together, on and off the pitch, and then suddenly he wanted to move. He succeeds because he’s a golden person” explained Steve Kerr.
“When you see Wiggs, you can’t help but smile”
During warmups, Andrew Wiggins came with a smile on his face to hug Stephen Curry, his former teammates, staff… and even members of the Chase Center organization. The winger has built deep ties in San Francisco, to the point where he confided that he didn’t want to leave before his transfer.
The trade — in which Jimmy Butler went the opposite way — also came as a shock to the locker room. Completed in Salt Lake City just before the game against the Jazz, the transaction left a strong emotion among the Warriors: no one really wanted to turn the page, even if the outcome seemed to be written.
A week before they left the bay, Andrew Wiggins and his wife also welcomed their third child, adding an intimate and necessarily delicate dimension to this quick getaway.
And after a period of adaptation, the Canadian found his place in Miami, to the extent that he became an essential link in the balance of the Heat. And his teammates knew that this return would have a special flavor.
“We know what it means to him. He had great moments in this room, especially during their last title season. We know he will be warmly received and deservedly so.”Erik Spoelstra explained. “This transfer has worked for both teams. We are grateful that he is with us. He has a lot of responsibility on both sides of the field and, despite everything that is asked of him, he is having perhaps the best season of his career.”
Final words for Stephen Curry, summing up Andrew Wiggins’ impact: “When you see Wiggs, you can’t help but smile. He will forever be a legend in Warriors history.”
Comments collected in San Francisco.
| Andrew Wiggins | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | The team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | That | Pd | Ft | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2014-15 | MIN | 82 | 36:12 | 43.7 | 31.0 | 76.0 | 1.6 | 2.9 | 4.6 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 16.9 |
| 2015-16 | MIN | 81 | 35:07 | 45.9 | 30.0 | 76.1 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 3.6 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 20.7 |
| 2016-17 | MIN | 82 | 38:36 | 45.2 | 35.6 | 76.0 | 1.2 | 2.8 | 4.0 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 23.6 |
| 2017-18 | MIN | 82 | 36:20 | 43.8 | 33.1 | 64.3 | 1.0 | 3.4 | 4.4 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 17.7 |
| 2018-19 | MIN | 73 | 34:50 | 41.2 | 33.9 | 69.9 | 1.1 | 3.7 | 4.8 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 18.1 |
| 2019-20 | GS | 12 | 33:35 | 45.7 | 33.9 | 67.2 | 1.5 | 3.1 | 4.6 | 3.6 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 19.4 |
| 2019-20 | MIN | 42 | 34:39 | 44.4 | 33.1 | 72.0 | 1.1 | 4.1 | 5.2 | 3.7 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 22.4 |
| 2020-21 | GS | 71 | 33:18 | 47.7 | 38.0 | 71.4 | 1.2 | 3.7 | 4.9 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 18.6 |
| 2021-22 | GS | 73 | 31:54 | 46.6 | 39.3 | 63.4 | 1.2 | 3.3 | 4.5 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 17.2 |
| 2022-23 | GS | 37 | 32:10 | 47.3 | 39.6 | 61.1 | 1.6 | 3.4 | 5.0 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 17.1 |
| 2023-24 | GS | 71 | 27:03 | 45.3 | 35.8 | 75.1 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 4.5 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 13.2 |
| 2024-25 | GS | 43 | 30:08 | 44.4 | 37.9 | 77.7 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 4.6 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 17.6 |
| 2024-25 | MIA | 17 | 32:07 | 45.8 | 36.0 | 73.1 | 1.4 | 2.9 | 4.2 | 3.3 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 19.0 |
| 2025-26 | MIA | 40 | 31:35 | 46.7 | 39.9 | 78.0 | 1.8 | 3.1 | 4.9 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 15.9 |
How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.
2026-01-21 16:51:00
