After missing 22 consecutive games for the Warriors due to a personal family matter, Andrew Wiggins is close to a return this week.
After some pretty nasty rumors circulated around the internet, NBA Insider Shams Charania reported that the real reason for Wiggins’ extended absence was because his father “Mitchell Wiggins, has been dealing with a serious medical situation, sources close to the situation say.”
Charania also said the championship forward plans to attend Golden State’s home game against OKC on Tuesday.
Wiggins has been working out by himself every day but when he returns he would need to be properly evaluated, Golden State coach Steve Kerr said last week.
“Beyond that, once he’s back our training staff will be able to get with him and see where he is,” Kerr said on March 29.
His teammates have been nothing but supportive. “We’d love to have him and hope that that does happen, because we want to be whole and I’m sure he wants to be a part of this,” Stephen Curry said last week. “But when he walks in the door, it’ll be when it’s the right time for him. That’s kind of the expectation at this point.”
28-year-old Wiggins signed a four-year contract extension last October and is currently averaging 17.1 points, five rebounds and 2.3 assists while shooting nearly 40 percent from three in 37 games this season.
Wiggins hasn’t had the best luck this season after missing a total of 42 games with left foot soreness, a strained adductor and a non-COVID illness.
His return comes at a crucial time for the Dubs (41-38) who are sixth seed and just one and a half games behind fourth seed Phoenix with three games left to play against the Thunder, Kings and Trailblazers respectively.