He arrived to the Warriors labeled as a player who never reached his potential as a former No. 1 overall draft pick, and left as someone who always should be revered by the fan base, the same way he was by teammates, coaches and the entire locker room.<\/p>\n
Headlines will be centered around the Warriors and Miami Heat reportedly agreeing to a trade Wednesday that brings Jimmy Butler to Golden State, but Andrew Wiggins will not be forgotten.<\/p>\n
The human element of the NBA trade deadline can be cruel. Wiggins was on the Delta Center floor getting shots up before the Warriors were set to play the Utah Jazz, when word began spreading of his new reality. Wiggins was about to be on the move again.<\/p>\n
Warriors assistant coach Jacob Rubin wrapped his arms around Wiggins, hugging his now former player. Soon after, Warriors players warming up were sent back to the locker room. Media members were kicked out of their allotted locker-room time and coach Steve Kerr addressed a group that had to say goodbye to four players they\u2019ve grown close with, some longer than others.<\/p>\n
\u201cWiggs just had a baby boy last week,\u201d a dejected Kerr told reporters after the Warriors crumbled in the final three minutes and lost to the Jazz, 131-128. \u201cWiggs is one of my favorite players I\u2019ve ever coached. Just a beautiful soul. Just a wonderful human being.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t hang that banner in \u201822 without him. Everything he brings every single day \u2013 the laughter, the smile, the joy \u2013 just a wonderful human being. I\u2019m going to miss him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Not one for many words and long answers at the podium, Wiggins was loved the moment he became a Warrior. He wasn\u2019t low maintenance, he was no maintenance. His smile seemed to have an extra gleam and a little more shine than anybody else. And with the respect Wiggins earned and gave, the Warriors stuck by him.<\/p>\n
Through him wrestling with his vaccination status ahead of what became Wiggins\u2019 first NBA All-Star season and first time being able to call himself a champion. Through him missing chunks of games due to personal reasons that centered around his now late father.<\/p>\n
Coaches loved him. Veteran players loved him. Young players loved him.<\/p>\n
There were tears from the Warriors in the Jazz\u2019s visiting locker room, and taking Wiggins away from the team had to be a major reason why.<\/p>\n
“Very sad moment, obviously, just an hour before tip-off, we lost four of our brothers,” Podziemski told Bob Fitzgerald and Kelenna Azubuike on the NBC Sports Bay Area broadcast. “So it was sad. There were some tears but at the end of the day, we have to do our job. We’re just doing it for them.”<\/p>\n
\n\ud83d\udea8 WIGGINS POSTER ALERT \ud83d\udea8\u00a0pic.twitter.com\/tjj7Q7PdPI<\/a><\/p>\n