Andrew Wiggins will miss the upcoming Warriors game against the Washington Wizards due to personal reasons, as confirmed by team reports. This absence comes after Wiggins, a 2022 All-Star, faced a two-month hiatus last season for undisclosed personal matters, which were reported to be related to his father's health concerns. Last season, Wiggins missed 25 games from mid-February to April before returning for the postseason.
Despite a challenging start to this season, where he is averaging a career-low 12.7 points per game, Wiggins has demonstrated improvement in February, shooting 50.4% from the field and 47.5% from three-point range. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr recently commented on Wiggins' improved physical condition compared to earlier in the season.
The Warriors have been seeking a consistent second scoring option alongside Stephen Curry, and Wiggins has not fully assumed that role. With Wiggins unavailable against the Wizards, there may be an opportunity for Moses Moody, a former lottery pick who has seen limited playing time, to receive more minutes. However, Lester Quinones and Gary Payton II are currently ahead of Moody in the team's rotation.
Despite Wiggins' absence, the Warriors remain well-equipped to face the struggling Wizards, who have a 9-48 record and recently moved Jordan Poole to the bench. The Wizards are currently on an 11-game losing streak, the longest active streak in the NBA. Golden State is otherwise healthy for their upcoming four-game trip, with point guard Chris Paul set to return after recovering from a hand fracture sustained in January.
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