“Could the Steph-Wiggs Duo Unleash a Game-Changing Strategy That Transforms the Warriors’ Championship Dreams?”

As the Golden State Warriors put on their jerseys once again and hit the hardwood, the anticipation in the air is thick with potential. Recently, we witnessed a significant shift in the lineup as Andrew Wiggins took to the court not in his usual small forward role, but rather as a shooting guard, a position he has yet to occupy in a regular-season game for the Warriors. This move opens up intriguing possibilities for team composition and dynamics, especially when paired with the incomparable Stephen Curry. The duo has drawn comparisons to the legendary Klay Thompson, bringing a blend of size, athleticism, and defensive prowess that could redefine this team’s approach. Coach Steve Kerr’s vision for this backcourt configuration isn’t just a whimsical thought—it speaks to the evolving identity of the Warriors in the absence of Thompson. While Wiggins might still be shaking off some rust, his presence heralds a new chapter. As we delve deeper into the nuances of this dynamic, it’s clear that securing a spot in the starting lineup means one thing: Wiggins has to elevate his game and take on the challenge of stepping up as a critical scorer. The possibilities are endless, and the stakes are high. The question remains: can this backcourt find the rhythm and chemistry needed to lead the Warriors into a promising season ahead? LEARN MORE.

Wiggins started not at his customary small forward position but at shooting guard, where he has never started a regular-season game with Golden State. He shared the backcourt with point guard Stephen Curry, a role made legendary by the two-way talents of peak Klay Thompson.One of several clear messages from Kerr to Wiggins is to raise his volume of 3-point shots.Why Steph-Wiggs backcourt might give Warriors their most balanced lineup originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay AreaThe minuscule sample size of Golden State’s fifth starting lineup in five games offered nothing declarative — much less definitive — mostly because Wiggins, who missed most of training camp, was new to the action.“I’ve already told him: six 3-pointers a game,” Kerr told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Kerith Burke last week. “He is a really good 3-point shooter. It was down a little bit last year. But since he’s been here — 39, 40 percent. I want a lot of threes, and I want a lot of attacks to the rim. He shot 80-plus percent from the foul line in the second half of the year last year.Curry and Wiggins formed two-fifths of a lineup – along with Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis – that might be the most balanced the Warriors can assemble.But Wiggins’ presence and position provided a preseason glimpse of what is possible. And sensible.Wiggins, by contrast, averages 18.5 points per game for his career. He has topped the 20-per-game bar four times in his 10-year career, all while with the Minnesota Timberwolves.“He looks really comfortable in every aspect of the game. And let’s face it, with Klay gone, we need him to step up and be our second scorer after Steph, and we know he’s perfectly capable of that.”If Wiggins shoots six more threes per game, that provides more spacing for Kuminga, whose 3-ball is looking better but might always be secondary to his ability to attack the rim. Both were in the starting lineup because Kerr’s dream scenario is to play them together – have two athletic 6-foot-7 wings to challenge opponents at both ends.Though Melton is a legitimate scoring threat, it’s a stretch to ask him to approach 20 points per game. That’s more than double his career average. And GP2 is a defense-first player who is good for a few corner triples, but not heavy scoring lifting.“The key is JK and Wiggs running the floor,” coach Steve Kerr told reporters in Las Vegas after a 111-97 win over the Los Angeles Lakers at T-Mobile Arena. “It puts a lot of pressure on teams. And they set a good tone tonight, the way they just got downhill, with or without the ball, they were gone. I really like the way both of those guys played and the impact that they can make with their athleticism and force.”Kerr has visualized a possible Curry-Wiggins backcourt for the better part of a year, ever since acknowledging the growing likelihood that Klay Thompson would leave Golden State. Kerr has long considered Thompson and Wiggins, of similar size and two-way ability, as interchangeable wings; this was an opportunity to examine that notion.Wiggins played 21 minutes, finishing with 11 points on 3-of-9 shooting from the field, including 0-of-3 from distance. He was 5-of-5 from the line and added one assist and one steal.Download and follow the Dubs Talk PodcastThough Wiggins will never be the deadeye shooter Thompson is, he is now a better on-ball defender. He has the tools to do a decent-to-excellent job against most of the league’s playmakers, and that was one of Golden State’s most visible weaknesses last season. General manager Mike Dunleavy addressed that in July, signing De’Anthony Melton, an elite point-of-attack defender. Gary Payton II, who missed most of last season, is another on-ball hellcat.For the first time in six months, the Warriors got a microscopic look on Tuesday night at Andrew Wiggins in an NBA game. They didn’t expect much, and didn’t get much as he scraped off considerable rust.But Wiggins is rangier and offers more offensive versatility. Since coming to the Warriors in February 2020, he’s 38.1 percent beyond the arc. Not Klay, but very solid. In 2021-22, when Wiggins made the Western Conference All-Star team, he shot 39.3 percent from deep. Again, not Klay, but more than acceptable.With Thompson gone, Wiggins no longer is a good third scoring option. The ask is that he now becomes a good second option. He has the tools, and now he needs to make the most of them.