GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS MEDIA CONFERENCE

May 13, 2023

Andrew Wiggins

Media Conference

Q. How are you feeling? Are you sore after last night?

ANDREW WIGGINS: Definitely sore. Now the season is over and now it's time to get healthy, rest up.

Q. When you look at last year's championship season obviously and compare it to this year, what are the differences you saw in the way the team was able to navigate the season last year versus this year?

ANDREW WIGGINS: I feel like last year, we were just maybe a little more together. You know, maybe a little bit more, just, consistent, whether it's on the road, you know, but we had an older team last year, also, too.

I feel like this year we still have the team to do something special. But every year is not your year, but I'm sure we'll be back.

Q. You said last year's team was a little bit more together. Why do you think it was different this time around?

ANDREW WIGGINS: I mean, together, it's like, I was gone -- I was gone for a long time. But there was a lot of injuries this year. That's it. I don't mean like together like people don't like each other. I just mean like I was away for a while, a lot of injuries. So we never got a chance to just, you know...

Q. I know you haven't had a lot of time since the game yesterday but when you look at the big picture this season, it was one of your more tumultuous seasons. It seemed like every time you had a big game, then something happened. You had a big game in December and then you had you ever had your add duck tore, and then you had your big game and then you had to leave and then you had your big game in this series and then you injured your ribcage. What is your reflection of this season and how would you assess how it all played out?

ANDREW WIGGINS: It was just up and down. Up and down most of the season. If it wasn't one thing, it was another. But overall, you know, we still did some good things this season. I feel like the future is bright for this organization and all the players. Still excited for it.

Q. Following up, last year you were an ironman, you played all 82 and kind of revitalized your career since arriving here. How frustrating was it on a personal level was it not be able to consistently play and have all these long absences, really for the first time in your career?

ANDREW WIGGINS: Yeah, it's definitely frustrating not being out there for your team, because that's where you want to be. You know, that just feels like the right place to be whether you're injured or just away from the game. I always missed it, and I was always excited to come back.

Q. And then quickly, just how much pain were you in last night, playing that game, going up against LeBron nearly every possession, how are you feeling?

ANDREW WIGGINS: Yeah, it wasn't easy. It hurt for sure. Especially because I know, you know, there was a lot more banging than usual but that's part of the game. It is what it is. Now it's time to heal up and get healthy.

Q. With your rib, as far as healing up and getting healthy, what's the next steps there?

ANDREW WIGGINS: Just let it heal.

Q. Just rest?

ANDREW WIGGINS: Just rest. Let it heal.

Q. And as far as talking about a younger team versus an older double-team, do you feel like some of the veteran voices, as far as like an Otto, a Juan, etc., were missed a little bit this season?

ANDREW WIGGINS: For sure, it's like when we got GP back, all those guys played a huge piece in the championship run we had this year.

And this year, I still like the guys were tented they can he cannot our favor. Not our time that. Was it. But we had an older team last year and we had a younger team this year but talented team. All the guys on our team stepped up every way they could and did a good job this year.

Q. Along those lines, Kevon said he still believes this group, some of this core group has more to give and more to do, more to do on the big postseason stage. Do you think that that is the case? Everybody is speaking of, oh, well, are they done.

ANDREW WIGGINS: Oh, no, I still feel that we have a lot to give. I still feel like Steph, Dray, Klay, Loon, GP, we still got a lot to give and I still feel like the future is bright.

Q. Can you talk just about the impact that Andre Iguodala had on you? This might be it for him. Do you think like he would make a good coach? I know he has a million things going on but do you feel like him staying in the NBA in some capacity might be something you could see?

ANDREW WIGGINS: Yeah, his impact is huge. He's a legend. He's a legend. His impact is huge. His wisdom, his experience that he shares with all of us; he's a real -- if you could put like the perfect vet up there, that's him. He's really good at talking to the young guys and his basketball IQ is out of this world. So hopefully he sticks around basketball, if he wants to. If not, enjoy whatever you want to enjoy, because he's had a hell of a career. And like I said, he's a legend.

Q. We all watched and we know how good Jordan can be. We saw a lot of it last season. Didn't see as much of it this season. You and Jordan are pretty close. How do you think he navigated all the drama that was around this season with him?

ANDREW WIGGINS: I feel like he did a good job of it. I feel like he did a great job of it. He worked hard. He competed. He's always coachable. He's someone that the whole team likes to be around. So I feel like he did a great job.

Q. It seemed like a lot of the players who talked down in L.A. last night and even Steve really emphasized that they knew what pain you were going through but you still went out and gave that effort. When you hear that from players that you've won a title with but have maybe been at the top of the NBA, just is that validating to you in any way; that it hurt to play through it but these guys know that I'm there with them?

ANDREW WIGGINS: For sure. I'm out there competing. I'm out there fighting with these guys. That's how bad I want to win. I know they want to win just as bad, and I knows if tables are turned, I'm sure they would do the same thing. It's all about just want be to win and just wanting to be out there and compete with my guys.