His dad’s illness drew Andrew Wiggins away from basketball. Now the Warrior is rediscovering his joy

SAN FRANCISCO — Andrew Wiggins has long been the quiet member of the Golden State Warriors’ star-studded roster, content to remain in the background while others bask in the limelight. He never sought the pressure that comes with being the focal point of attention—preferring instead to keep a low profile.https://wordpress.com/

He would often sit back and smile, shaking his head as Draymond Green held court with his fiery talk or as Steph Curry dazzled with his signature moves. And when the spotlight faded, win or lose, Wiggins would gather his young daughters and head home to spend time with his family, a priority instilled in him by his father.

But in recent seasons, Warriors coach Steve Kerr noticed a change in Wiggins—something beyond his usual reserved nature. It seemed like a deeper, quieter sadness had taken hold. As his father, Mitchell Wiggins, battled severe health issues, Andrew became more withdrawn. He stepped away from the game, from the team, from everything.

“It was brutal to watch,” Kerr recalled. “To see someone you love, your father, struggling for so long—it’s hard to imagine the toll it takes on your daily life.”

Andrew took a leave of absence to be by his father’s side two years ago, and last season, he missed time due to Mitchell’s ongoing treatments. His performance on the court suffered, and the Warriors’ struggles mirrored his personal challenges.

For those who endure pain in silence, empathy often takes a backseat. Wiggins kept his struggles private, which led to misunderstandings among fans, many of whom blamed him for the Warriors missing the playoffs and even speculated about possible trades.

But Wiggins didn’t concern himself with what others thought.

“Basketball just wasn’t a priority,” he said. “You’ve got your life to deal with, and certain things take precedence. Basketball just fades into the background. You have to find balance.”

Mitchell Wiggins passed away in September, and the family was left reeling from the loss. Mitchell and his wife, Marita Payne-Wiggins, both athletes in their own right, had always kept family at the center of their lives, teaching their children valuable lessons about love, commitment, and resilience.

Three months later, the grief has softened, allowing Wiggins to breathe a little easier. While the pain of losing his father remains, Andrew has begun to reconnect with the world around him, finding his way back to his old self.

The Warriors have had an inconsistent start to the season, searching for the right pieces to complement Curry in their pursuit of another championship. One of the brightest spots has been Wiggins’ return to form, both in performance and spirit—a promising sign for the team that’s aiming for another run.

After a season marred by missed games, poor performances, and trade rumors, Wiggins is showing signs of emerging from his personal fog. His father’s death and the prolonged health struggles that preceded it left a lasting impact, but now Wiggins looks like a man at peace with his circumstances.

“My mind is definitely in a better place,” he said.

The road to recovery has been long and difficult. Before the All-Star break in 2023, Wiggins stepped away from the Warriors for personal reasons, missing the final 25 games of the regular season. He returned for the playoffs, but the Warriors were eliminated in the second round by the Los Angeles Lakers.

Last season, Wiggins appeared in 71 games, but he was far from his usual self. His scoring dropped to a career-low 13.2 points per game, and his defense was lackluster. Kerr even made the rare decision to remove Wiggins from the starting lineup. The Warriors understood that he was grappling with deep personal pain, and his struggles were clearly reflected on the court.

This season, however, Wiggins has regained his form. He’s averaging 17.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and shooting 42.6% from beyond the arc—stats that mirror his standout 2021-22 All-Star season. There are still some inconsistent nights, but there have been moments of brilliance, such as his key defensive stop and clutch plays in a recent game against the Timberwolves.

In the fourth quarter, with the Warriors pulling away from Minnesota, Wiggins found himself matched up against Julius Randle, a much bigger player. A year ago, Wiggins might have backed down. But this time, he fought back, absorbing the contact and contesting Randle’s shot with a forceful block. The play sparked a run that ultimately sealed the Warriors’ victory.

“I’m just grinding and getting back to myself,” Wiggins said. “Being with my family and friends, remembering what I can do. I’ve been doing this for a long time at a high level. It’s about playing two-way basketball and defending.”

Mitchell Wiggins was a standout in his own right—an All-American at Florida State and a first-round pick in the 1983 NBA Draft. He carved out a niche as a tenacious defender and a relentless rebounder for the Houston Rockets in the mid-1980s.

“He was a warrior,” said former teammate Jim Petersen, who played alongside Mitchell in Houston. “He was incredibly competitive, a fantastic offensive rebounder for a guard, and a lockdown defender. He was the kind of player you wanted on your team.”

Mitchell met his wife, Marita Payne, at Florida State, where she was a talented sprinter and an Olympic medalist. The Wiggins family has always been deeply rooted in their athleticism, but even more so in their commitment to each other.

When Andrew was traded to the Timberwolves before his rookie season, his parents moved from Toronto to Minnesota to be closer to him. His sisters often attended his games, and family became an ever-present theme during his six seasons in Minnesota.

“Family was everything to Andrew,” Petersen said. “You could see the strong bond they had. When Mitchell’s health declined, it was evident how much it was affecting Andrew, both personally and on the court.”

The bond between father and son was unbreakable. When Wiggins helped lead the Warriors to the 2022 championship, it was a moment of redemption, not just for Andrew’s basketball career but for his father’s pride. Mitchell was especially proud of the man Andrew had become—not just a talented player, but a loving father and son.

“Everyone saw his talent early,” Mitchell said after the 2022 championship. “But the thing we’re most proud of is the man he’s become—the father he is to his daughters, the son he is to us.”

Andrew’s love for his father is evident in the way he speaks about him, and the impact of losing Mitchell is still a daily struggle. But Wiggins is finding solace in the lessons his father imparted, and in the family he continues to build.

“Basketball wasn’t everything,” Wiggins said. “There were bigger things in life. You learn to take it day by day.”

Through it all, Wiggins has found unwavering support from his Warriors family. Kerr, former GM Bob Myers, and his teammates rallied around him, ensuring he had the space to deal with his grief.

“This is a first-class organization,” Wiggins said. “They’ve been there for me through it all.”

One of the key people who supported Wiggins during this difficult time was Dr. Robby Sikka, a former Timberwolves executive and a close friend of the family. Sikka was a constant presence, offering guidance through the complex healthcare system as Mitchell’s condition worsened.

Sikka’s support also extended to other players, including Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards, who have both faced similar losses. The trio is now investing in a new healthcare app designed to give people the kind of medical support athletes receive.

“I want to help people,” Towns said of the app. “If we can save lives, that’s all that matters.”

For Wiggins, the app represents the opportunity to pay it forward, something that’s deeply personal to him.

And now, as his family prepares for the arrival of their third child—a son—Wiggins is looking forward to a new chapter. The Warriors’ victory in Minnesota was a step forward, but the true victories are those off the court.

“Just seeing my daughters, and now expecting a son—it’s a beautiful thing,” Wiggins said.

As the Warriors head home after their win, Kerr couldn’t help but reflect on the significance of the moment. It wasn’t just the victory—it was the peace Wiggins had found, the serenity that had eluded him for so long.

“Seeing him with his family, with that smile on his face—it’s something special,” Kerr said. “Andrew loves life. He’s not in it for the fame, just for the game, and for his family.”

Wiggins’ father may have passed too soon, but he left his son with the tools to continue his journey. Now, as Andrew prepares for his first Christmas without Mitchell, he carries forward the lessons of love, family, and resilience—lessons that will guide him as he navigates the challenges ahead.

“I think about my dad every day,” Wiggins said. “Every single day.”

The Warriors’ season is still a work in progress, but with Wiggins finding his way back, the team’s future looks brighter. Kerr couldn’t be happier to see him at peace, knowing what it took for him to get here.

“It’s wonderful to see him happy again,” Kerr said. “He’s earned it.”