Former Kansas Jayhawk Andrew Wiggins praised by Steph Curry after Warriors win opener

NBA superstar Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors heaped praise on former Kansas Jayhawks one-and-done shooting guard/small forward Andrew Wiggins on Wednesday night after Game 1 of the NBA’s Western Conference finals.

Wiggins, who averaged 17.4 points and 5.9 rebounds in 2013-14 at KU prior to being selected No. 1 in the NBA Draft, scored 19 points on 8-of-17 shooting in helping Golden State blast Dallas, 112-87. The 6-foot-7 Wiggins defended 6-7 Mavericks star Luka Doncic, who scored just two points the second half on 1-of-6 shooting with six second-half turnovers.

Doncic finished with 20 points on 6-of-18 shooting in 35 minutes.

“He’s just showing everybody what he’s capable of in terms of impacting winning,” Curry said of Wiggins after the game as quoted by NBCSports.com. Curry scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds with four assists.

“We’re asking him to take on that challenge (of guarding Doncic) and be aggressive offensively.”

Wiggins, an All-Star for the first time in his eight-year NBA career, is averaging 14.5 points and 6.9 rebounds while shooting 40% from three during the 2022 playoffs.

“Last series, he demonstrated that he’s ready for this moment,” Curry said of Wiggins, who has played for Golden State two full seasons and part of another. He started his NBA career with Minnesota.

“Game 1, he stepped up. I’m happy for him. Eight years in the league, this is his moment.”

Curry added as quoted by The New York Times: “He took the challenge, and Luka’s tough. He (Doncic) still finds a way to control possessions. You’ve got to assume he’ll shoot a little bit better, but Wiggs was relentless. Every possession, he was out there on him. That’s all we really want. Even if Luka has his numbers, you just want to, at the end of the day, feel like he had to work for everything he got.”

Golden State’s Klay Thompson, who like Curry and Draymond Green won three NBA titles with the Warriors before the arrival of Wiggins, was one of many to laud Wiggins after Game 1.

“That’s why he was the No. 1 pick (in 2014 Draft),” Thompson said of Wiggins, who inadvertently scratched Doncic on his cheek early in the game. Doncic experienced a slight cut that was visible. “You can’t teach that athleticism. You can’t teach that length. You can’t teach his timing. I’m just happy the world is getting to see who he really is.”

Wiggins was asked after the game on the podium if he was “tired” after playing hard on offense and defense 35 minutes. The Warriors’ strategy was for Wiggins to pick up Doncic defensively in the backcourt.

“I feel like I’m still young,” said Wiggins, 27. “I don’t really get too tired. I’m locked in. I’m motivated. And when you see it work or I feel like it’s helping us play better, it just motivates me to do it more. I’m not tired or anything.”

Warriors coach Steve Kerr said of Wiggins, who The New York Times noted had developed a reputation as a bust prior to coming to Golden State: “I just think that Andrew is in a really good groove. He’s comfortable. He’s confident. He believes in himself. He believes in the team. This is just who he is.”

Wiggins, who played in one postseason with the Timberwolves, is hoping to claim his first NBA title with a Warriors team that went to five straight NBA Finals, winning three.

“It helps me see a different side of the game,” Wiggins said. “Being here, the culture, the people, organization, most importantly, just being around winners.”