If there’s one play to encapsulate the Golden State Warriors' Game 3 victory, without question, it would be this:
ANDREW WIGGINS EXPLODES TO THE RIM ON TNT 🤯 pic.twitter.com/p18kLhcf1p
— NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2022
It might even be a series-defining play as the Warriors are one win away from sweeping the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals.
There’s a lot to be said about that dunk, from its finesse, artistry, power, and impact, to the stakes and the moment of it all. Even the call reversal brings a twist to the story. It could have been a shuddering offensive foul but the coaches’ challenge revealed the truth: that it was indeed a blocking foul, and more importantly, that the dunk was counted. The victim of the viral moment also adds an element as Luka Doncic is the Mavs’ star and a generational talent who will one day enter the Hall of Fame. That massive facial will go down as one of the best in-game playoff dunks ever.
And at the center of it all is Andrew Wiggins. The same Andrew Wiggins who was drafted first overall in 2014 and who’s always been highly criticized for his play ever since his days with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Is he living up to his potential? Is there more from him outside of being just a scorer? Is he making good decisions on the court?
Even when he was traded to Golden State, questions surrounded his overall fit and role on a championship-caliber team. His inclusion in the All-Star Game this season was also met with skepticism. Now on a deep playoff run later, he is a vital cog in the Warriors’ title hopes.
Aside from his eyebrow-raising slam, he finished with 27 points on 11-for-20 shooting, 11 rebounds, three assists, and zero turnovers. In his first postseason with the Warriors, he’s averaging 15.9 points, 6.9 boards, and 1.7 dimes, while shooting 39.7 percent from deep. More importantly, he’s settled into the role that the team has envisioned for him: a two-way player who can impact both ends of the floor.
We all know he can score but now he’s showing more of his defensive prowess. He’s exerting more effort and more commitment on that end of the floor. He’s no lockdown defender by any means (just ask Doncic and his 40 points and 11 rebounds in Game 3), but he’s the perfect fit in Golden State’s schemes. Aside from making Doncic work for every bucket, he’s opening up Draymond Green to roam around and be the help defender. It’s no coincidence that Reggie Bullock, Maxi Kleber, and Dorian Finney-Smith aren’t hitting shots. Wiggins’ activity works well with the Warriors' vice grip on the Mavs. He has the size, speed, and now the enthusiasm to be a disruptor when the opposition has the ball.
Looking ahead when Golden State advances, Wiggins will be tasked to match up with either Boston’s Jayson Tatum or Miami’s Jimmy Butler. Again, he won’t necessarily stop them, but he will make them bleed for every basket.
Now in his eighth season, Wiggins has definitely found a home in Golden State. He’s not carrying the offense, certainly not on a team with Steph Curry or Klay Thompson. He’s just making the most out of his scoring opportunities. He understands the free-flowing, equal-opportunity system being deployed by coach Steve Kerr. On defense, he understands that it’s not all on him to impede the enemy team’s best player. With Green serving as the anchor, he can just focus on his man and know that he has help behind him when needed.
Wiggins’s dunk on Doncic was his viral moment of the playoffs. But time and time again, he’s proven that he’s more than just a highlight. When the Warriors move on to the Finals, he will play a pivotal role in bringing the title back to the Bay Area.
