Wiggins found his place in the NBA

Circumstances are everything. You need to find the right place and the right teammates. Wiggins has fit in perfectly.” Who said this? Steve Kerr, the three-time champion coach with Golden State Warriors. The praise was for Andrew Wiggins, who shined in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics.

With 26 points, the Canadian forward was the Warriors’ top scorer in the 104-94 win to put his team ahead 3-2 in the defining series. Wiggins also grabbed 13 rebounds, a fundamental contribution for San Francisco. It was the first time this season and also the first time in his playoff career that Wiggins led his team in points and rebounds in a game.

If that wasn’t enough, Wiggins had a blazing last quarter: he scored 10 points in that period, the same as Celtics stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined.

Wiggins’ joy at his formidable performance was palpable at the postgame press conference. Still smiling, the forward said, “There are great people on this team that constantly challenge you. They give you responsibilities and offer you a system that supports everyone. They want you to shine and they do everything they can to make it happen.”

In these Finals, Wiggins records 18.4 points and 9.4 rebounds, more than double the average he took in the regular season. Another of his key contributions is his defensive role, especially when he has to handle Tatum. “I love defending the opposing team’s best player. I know it’s something important and it helps us win games,” the Canadian said.

That facet of the game is something Wiggins improved exponentially. In the five seasons he played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, defensive duties were among his most notable shortcomings.

Wiggins’ big night could not have come at a more necessary time for the Warriors. Stephen Curry, the team’s big star, wasn’t sharp at the rim. It seems like a mistake, but it’s not. So, we’ll say it again: Stephen Curry wasn’t sharp at the rim. He missed all nine of his three-point attempts. The NBA’s all-time leading shooter had converted at least one three-pointer in 132 consecutive playoff games. That is, in all the games he had played. He also had 233 consecutive games – the longest streak in history – scoring a three-pointer or more.