It was an unprecedented summer for Andrew Wiggins.
As the new NBA champion, the Warriors forward was finally able to escape the immense criticism he received for most of his career.
In an interview with the Toronto Star over the weekend, Wiggins told Doug Smith he’s happy with his path to victory. In Wiggin’s eyes, it was worth the noise of the naysayers he had heard for years.
“There were a lot of ups and downs, a lot of people counted me out,” Wiggins said. “To be back and… win a championship? All the sacrifices, all the ups and downs, it was all worth it. It makes the story even better. »
As the top pick in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Wiggins spent the first six years of his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Meanwhile, the T-Wolves have only made the playoffs once, winning just one game in the first round in 2018.
In 2020, the Warriors decided to acquire the Toronto native via trade, bringing him into a team culture built around championship expectations. Plus, it eased his shoulders as the #1 scoring option.
“When I stepped onto the court, I always had confidence in what I could do,” Wiggins said. “When I was in Minnesota, I put in numbers. But people said, “He put numbers on a bad team.” So I go to Golden State and I don’t score as much, but I do a lot at a more efficient pace so the whole world can see.
Wiggins’ contributions fit nicely into Golden State’s 2022 system. The result was 18.3 points per game in the NBA Finals, including a 26-point outburst in Game 5.
With a shining Larry O’Brien trophy in his arms, Wiggins now feels like he’s acquired the ability to cut through the noise of the critics who’ve lived in his head rent-free for all these years and that’s led to the best summer ever. of his life. .
“The summer was different, but it’s been the best summer of my life,” he said. “It’s been amazing to come here and feel all of this love and positivity. It’s been awesome. Just being able to take the trophy home to where it all started for me… where all my friends are and my family who helped me get to where I am now.