Andrew Wiggins is still “a few weeks away” from the optimal level of care

Knee soreness kept Andrew Wiggins aside in one of the Warriors ’pre-season games, and Steve Kerr says the problem has prevented the attacker from reaching his optimal condition in the regular season just days away.

“He’s probably a couple of weeks away from being able to really get the condition and rhythm he wants, and that’s good,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters after the Friday night pre-season final. “That’s usually a lot of guys when you go to the regular season, so he’ll make it.”

Wiggins scored an average of 9.2 points and 3.2 rebounds in 18.9 minutes in four preseason games. Kerr also stressed that Wiggins ’size and ability at the defensive end are far more important to the Warriors’ success this season than his scoring.

Two of the NBA’s top three scorers in the preliminaries were Steph Curry and Jordan Poole, so there’s no shortage of companies on the Warriors ’starting field. Wiggins fired just 22.2 percent from the 3-point range during the preseason, but joined a steady 38 percent clip in the 2020-21 season.

As long as Klay Thompson stays on the shelf, Wiggins is primarily responsible for defending the number one anti-wings night and night for the Warriors. Even when Thompson is back, we see how his defensive ability continues after two years off the floor and after two major lower body injuries.

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Andre Iguodala is also likely to still be able to give points and defend sporty wings, but the 37-year-old is not the player he once was in the last Warriors game.

Damion Lee and Juan Toscano-Anderson could see wider action in the early stages as the Warriors get Wiggins ’fitness enhanced.

While he may not play a big role in the attack, Wiggins ’production greatly affects the ceiling of this Warriors team.

The championship quest begins Tuesday in Los Angeles against the Lakers.

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