Andrew Wiggins rejoins Warriors, getting back into condition

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Andrew Wiggins took anextended leave of absence from the Warriors when his family neededhim, and now the Golden State forward feels like he can get back toplaying basketball for the defending NBA champions.

Wiggins has rejoined the team and is working his way back tobeing able to play again. That won’t be in the next few days, coachSteve Kerr said Tuesday.

Wiggins showed his signature smile with a shorter hair cut hesaid needed cleaning up a bit.

“When you’re in a certain situation and your family needs you,it requires your attention and your love, that’s my firstpriority,” Wiggins said. “My career, everything, family’s alwaysfirst for me. It will always be that way. I felt like I was in asafe space to come back. We’ve got everything settled, not fullysettled, but in a safe place where I can come back.”

Wiggins said he appreciated the Warriors’ support in allowinghim to be there for his family during a crucial time. Wigginsexpressed gratitude to everyone that respected his privacy and saidhe is comfortable resuming basketball.

“I’d rather keep that private,” Wiggins said when it comes tospecifics surrounding his family’s ordeal.

He was able to get regular workouts done, shooting and liftingweights but said he will need to regain some conditioning. Themedical staff will be involved in deciding when Wiggins has builtup the stamina and endurance to get back into game action.

Wiggins was set to miss his 23rd straight game Tuesday nightagainst Oklahoma City and hasn’t played since Feb. 13 versusWashington, but said he expects to play again soon. There have beenno details provided on what Wiggins was dealing with, nor had therebeen a timetable for his return other than Kerr saying last week heremained hopeful of Wiggins being back before the end of theseason.

“It’s good to see my bro!” Klay Thompson said.

Offered Gary Payton II: “Big Wiggs is back, yeah!”

Warriors general manager Bob Myers and Kerr — and Wigginsoffered his thanks, too — credited everyone involved who allowedWiggins to handle his business without being bothered or feelingpressured about the basketball part. Wiggins watched games wheneverhe could.

“What sometimes gets lost in professional sports, they’repeople, they have lives and family, and I know that sounds obviousbut it sometimes gets lost,” Myers said. “But when you work here,at least how we do it, you get to know Andrew as a person, not justas a 20-point scorer, so when someone that you know or work withgoes through something your first thought is: ‘How can I help? Areyou OK? Is there anything you need?’ In this case, Andrew needed tobe away. Whatever he needed we wanted to support.”

The Warriors will be thrilled to have him as they fight fortheir playoff positioning in the Western Conference and hope toavoid the play-in round.

“It was great to see Andrew today. We missed him the last couplemonths,” Kerr said. ”... Everyone loves Andrew, just having himback is fantastic.”

Kerr said he expects to have a better idea in the next couple ofdays when Wiggins might be able to play and if so how many minutesthat could be.

“There’s no way he’s playing in the next few days I can tell youthat,” Kerr said, unsure what Wiggins’ role would be yet.

Wiggins has missed 43 games in all — three more with left footsoreness, 10 because of a strained adductor in his right thigh, andseven games with a non-COVID illness.

The 28-year-old Wiggins, a first-time All-Star last season whosigned a four-year contract extension in October, is averaging 17.1points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 37 games this season.

The Warriors never questioned giving Wiggins the time away heneeded.

“This was a really easy one, honestly,” Kerr said, “it’s justbeing human.”