Warriors' Andrew Wiggins reportedly cleared to play in NBA playoffs 1st round after nearly 2 months away
Andrew Wiggins is back for the Golden State Warriors, just in time for the NBA playoffs.
The All-Star wing has been cleared to play in Game 1 of the Warriors' first-round series against the Sacramento Kings, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. His role for the series reportedly remains undetermined, but he is on track to play 20-plus minutes off the bench on Saturday with his workload ramping up for Game 2 on Monday.
Wiggins has not played for the Warriors since Feb. 13. He took an extended leave of absence from the team over an undisclosed family matter, which one of the players told The Athletic was "some real [expletive]."
That leave of absence ended April 4, but the Chronicle reported Wiggins declined to work with the Warriors' trainers while away, hence why it will take him another week-plus to get back into games.
Reviews on Wiggins' current condition have been positive, though, with Warriors center Kevon Looney saying the 28-year-old looked "amazing" Wednesday and head coach Steve Kerr saying he was ready Thursday.
“It was a good day,” head coach Steve Kerr said of Wiggins. “Andrew looks great, and he is ready to go.”
The Warriors went 15-10 over the course of Wiggins' absence, but will gladly welcome him back against the Kings, who led the NBA in offensive efficiency this season. Since the Warriors acquired him during the 2019-20 season, he has evolved into a key component of last season's championship-winning defense.
In 37 games this season, Wiggins has averaged 17.1 points, 5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 47.3% from the field and a career-best 39.6% from 3-point range.
If Wiggins is fully healthy — which isn't a guarantee for reasons beyond his leave of absence as he missed 15 games with a groin injury early this season — he figures to see plenty of time guarding Kings All-Star point guard De'Aaron Fox. He is a major X factor in an already compelling series between an upstart and a dynasty.
Game 1 between the 44-38 Warriors, the No. 6 seed in the West, and the 48-34 Kings, the No. 3 seed, is scheduled for Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN).
