Steve Kerr names the crucial player for the Golden State Warriors making the NBA Finals
Andrew Wiggins and Steve Kerr
© Kelley L Cox - USA TODAY Sports
Steve Kerr will coach in his eight NBA Finals. He’s been around long enough to know how certain players impact games more than the others, and particularly what kind of performances get overlooked. That's why Kerr made sure to point out one guy who deserves a lot more credit for helping the Warriors reach the Finals.
“We would not be here without Wiggs”
The typical suspects are Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. Even Jordan Poole could be in the mix with how he has been balling this season. But Coach Steve reserved the praise for Andrew Wiggins.
“We’re so lucky to have Steph, Klay, Draymond, Andre, who are basketball players. They understand the game, they understand a guy like Wiggs has so much value... We would not be here without Wiggs. His defense throuhgout the playoffs has been amazing, the threat that he provides offensively gives us another dynamic.”
Steve Kerr, NBA Today
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Wiggins may not get as much coverage compared to his more established teammates, but he was crucial for Golden State this year. He’s one of the few in the league who could play on both ends of the floor, which, as Kerr mentioned, gives his team another dynamic and a cause of headache for other teams.
The former first overall pick in 2014 was named as a starter for the All-Star game. A lot was surprised at the news, but he proved he was deserving with his consistency all season.
The former Minnesota Timberwolves forward isn’t scoring much, and he doesn’t have to. Still, he is contributing more to other intangibles such as deflections, cutting down on turnovers, and tough defense. Andrew fully embraced his role with Kerr’s system, and he might just be rewarded with an NBA title if GSW defeats Boston Celtics.
Andrew Wiggins crucial vs. Celtics
Wiggins’ length and athleticism will be tested once again by guarding Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown. The Celtics' defense is expected to focus on Steph Curry or Klay Thompson. This is where Andrew’s offense needs to shine. If he makes his shots, it will buy time for Curry or Klay to settle down and get to their rhythm. Once everyone is clicking for the Golden State Warriors, the series could be over soon for Boston.
Andrew has no finals experience yet, but his teammates had won it several times before. There will be no shortage of pep talk in the locker room to calm down Wiggins. All his career, he’s described as someone who failed to reach his potential. It turns out that Wiggins just needs to play in a system that knows how to maximize his abilities.
A championship would be a nice icing on the cake for a breakout season for Andrew Wiggins. Of course, his coach knows his value even if the fans don’t appreciate it as much.
