Andrew Wiggins knows the Warriors will need more scoring punch from him this season.
The Golden State Warriors are going to look different in 2024-25. It’s no secret that the biggest change is going to be the departure of Klay Thompson, who ended up landing with the Dallas Mavericks. As Warriors players return to the team as they prepare for the preseason, they are being asked to reflect on Thompson’s departure. Warriors wing Andrew Wiggins acknowledged that it’s a notable shift.
“It’s going to be different for sure,” Wiggins said. “On and off the court Klay is a big presence and when you think about Golden State you think about Klay, you think about Steph, you think about Draymond. I feel like he will always be that guy, but we’re all going to miss him and know he’s going to do great things over there.”
After reflecting on Thompson, Wiggins was asked if the Splash Brother’s departure meant that he would need to be a more aggressive scorer this season. Wiggins response was short and to the point, “More than I did last year, for sure.”
Wiggins is coming off a down season, the least productive of his career. He appeared in 71 games (59 starts), but averaged just 13.2 points per game. Prior to last season, Wiggins’ had never averaged fewer than the 16.9 points per game he scored as a rookie with the Timberwolves back in 2014-15.
The small forward position might be the most pivotal position for the Warriors this season. Wiggins was a pivotal piece of the championship run three seasons ago, but has been a far less impactful player since. Moreover, young wing Jonathan Kuminga made a strong case for a starting role last season and has the potential to be the most efficient scorer on the team outside of Steph Curry. How head coach Steve Kerr manages that dynamic is going to undeniably spark plenty of discourse and debate.