In less than a decade, the majority of superstars have gone through a chromatic analysis of sorts; switching teams and finding their best match. LeBron James traveled to LA through Cleveland, Kevin Durant is 1,000 miles away from OKC. James Harden had to fight his way into the Clippers. As superstars continue to switch squads, gone are the days when the Cleveland fans rioted on the streets to burn LeBron’s jerseys. The majority of fans now prioritize players over a team. One would claim that Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors harbor a contrasting fanbase. However, Mark Willard claims otherwise.
In a recent episode of 95.7 The Game, Willard and Dibs talked about the recent changes in Warriors’ fans’ approach. Mark spelled out a hypothetical situation. He walked through a timeline where “Warriors lose to the Lakers” in the play-in before “Andrew Wiggins is traded in the offseason and they tweak the roster to support the big three.” He further explores that as Steph-Klay Thompson and Draymond Green “keep getting older and this little seed number next to them keeps getting higher” for the remainder of their NBA career. With that, he asks the fans, “Are you going to look at that with bitterness?”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Through his speculation, Willard probes whether Stephen Curry‘s franchise-altering presence has imbibed negative patterns among fans. As the Warriors go through one of their worst stretches in recent years, Willard claims, “In a way I would say for some fans it threatens to ruin your enjoyment of Warriors basketball.” Surprisingly, fans’ fury does not spare the pieces from their dynasty-striking trio.
Draymond Green‘s fourth ejection of the season left a teary-eyed Steph in the late-March game. Since then, the fans, who once argued against his suspensions, have relegated him to a thorn in a rose. However, this is just a recent trend.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Stephen Curry fans still want Andrew Wiggins out, despite a ramp-up in form
Andrew Wiggins is posting career-low numbers this season, just 13 points with approximately a 36% clip from 3s. Looking back at the Warriors campaign, the 6’7 wing was on the receiving end of probably the most scrutiny from the lot. From being a game-changer in the 2022 finals, he was deemed a tradeable piece by fans; all with his mock drafts revolving around the trade rumors.
However, it is essential to realize that Wiggins is still a crucial factor in the Warriors’ season run. As the squad fights for their play-in candidacy, Wiggins has emerged as a pivotal player in key games. Starting from the night that saw Green’s latest exit, Wiggins led the Warriors with 23 points (50% shooting), 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
He followed that by scoring 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists to Steph’s 23 points. Moreover, in their recent win against the 5th-seeded Dallas Mavericks, he again led the unit. While Steph and Klay struggled heavily from the floor, Wiggins notched a team-high 23 points, helping the Warriors to escape with a narrow 104-100 win.
Read More – Andrew Wiggins Has Draymond Green Pissed Despite Stellar Show Against Mavs