Andrew Wiggins was pretty much invisible in the first half against the Hawks—one field goal, zero rebounds, and no assists. But man, when the second half kicked off, it was like he woke up and decided to take over. He attacked the Grizzlies like they’d done something to him personally. Finishing with 24 points, the most in the game, Wiggins sparked the Warriors’ offense just when they needed it most. With Kuminga out after spraining his right ankle, the team was feeling the heat. Kuminga had been on fire, so seeing him limp off to the locker room was a big blow.

But Wiggins stepped up big time, doing what he could to keep the Warriors in control. Though the Warriors seem to be finding their rhythm will this be enough for Golden State to move on from making another trade? Steve Kerr is keeping his options “open”. If they want to get Jimmy Butler, they’d have to trade Wiggins along with Draymond Green.

The Warriors find themselves stuck in a tough spot, with Wiggins right in the middle of it. His return to form as a solid perimeter defender, along with hitting 40% from beyond the arc, has made him a key piece for the team. During the post-match conference, a reporter pointed out that names are circulating in the trade market and emphasized that it’s time to rack up some wins to prove the team can stick together and get it done.

To which the 1x All-Star replied, “Yeah, I mean that’s what we wanted to do. You never know what could happen, you know, it’s a crazy league, and crazy things happen.” Finally, Wiggins said, “But you know, as long as everyone hoops and stays connected together and plays heart out, I think we’ll, you know, everyone have a good chance to stay here and keep moving.”

Wiggins didn’t sugarcoat the reality of the situation. However, he’s confident that if the team stays united, they can prove their worth and keep pushing forward—whether that means staying intact or making moves to strengthen the roster. But for now, Wiggins is playing his part, even though his name along with Green remains in trade rumors.

A specific play unleashed Andrew Wiggins against the Grizzlies

It was a rough first half for Andrew Wiggins and the Warriors. With 2:27 left in the second quarter, Jonathan Kuminga took a hard fall while attempting a block, leaving Chase Center eerily silent. Wiggins could only watch as Kuminga stayed on the floor, but it was the next moment that got Wiggins’ attention. At the 1:02 mark, Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane collided with Wiggins, sending him crashing to the floor while Bane’s shot swished through the net. That was the wake-up call Wiggins needed.

“I mean, that bump, it woke me up,” Wiggins said. And from that point, he was a different player. He came out in the third quarter with vengeance in his eyes as he drained a floater within the first 12 seconds. A 3-pointer followed just over a minute later, and then another jumper to really set the tone.

Wiggins finished with 24 points, the most of anyone on the court, sparking the Warriors to a 121-113 win. Coach Steve Kerr praised Wiggins, saying, “Wiggs, in that third quarter… just took over when we really needed him.”

Without Kuminga, who was sidelined with a sprained ankle, Wiggins’ energy and scoring were crucial. With Curry’s knee issues and Kuminga out, Wiggins has to keep stepping up. The Warriors desperately needed this performance.