Andrew Wiggins got off to a rough start on Opening Night but the NBA Twitter trolls are already in mid-season form.
Andrew Wiggins played 12 games in a Warriors uniform last season after being traded from Minnesota. But they were largely anonymous and irrelevant, for an injury-ravaged team that was already thinking about the NBA Draft. Opening Night of the 2020-21 season was his chance to show what he could do next to Stephen Curry and what he could offer a rejuvenated contender.
So far, it’s not looking great.
Wiggins started 1-of-8 from the field and finished the first half 2-of-10. He added three points at the free-throw line but also turned the ball over three times. In all, the Warriors were outscored by 14 points in the 16 minutes he was on the court, as the Nets built a monster 18-point lead by halftime.
Wiggins wasn’t the only Warriors struggling — Kelly Oubre Jr. was also 2-of-10 and fellow starter Eric Paschall missed all three of his shots from the field. Stephen Curry was 5-of-13 in the first half and the rest of the team shot 11of-38. Still, Wiggins, by virtue of his enormous contract and the expectations that come with having been the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft drew most of the heat on social media.
What did NBA Twitter have to say about Andrew Wiggins’ rough start on Opening Night?
Andrew Wiggins missed two wide open right corner 3s on back to back possessions, and then had a nice strong aggressive drive from the corner but missed the layup
— Drew Shiller (@DrewShiller) December 23, 2020
I’m happy for Wiggins. Black people don’t get enough chances to fail in Silicon Valley.
— myles brown (@mdotbrown) December 23, 2020
Just heard from a front office “I would not trade Harden for Wiggins.”
— Russillo (@ryenarussillo) December 23, 2020
Steph looking at Wiggins in the locker room at halftime: pic.twitter.com/N1f8Ce21dM
— CASHNASTYBURNA (@Topofthekeycash) December 23, 2020
Warriors fans told us Wiggins would have a big year #GSWvsBKN pic.twitter.com/TRnGesvGoC
— EL NEGRO (@blvckmacgyver) December 23, 2020
Wiggins: *misses a wide open layup*
— PRINGLEBIT.EXE 👾 (@PringleBit) December 23, 2020
Wiggins: pic.twitter.com/S7vEFy8dQA
Wiggins out here like .. pic.twitter.com/EquCnnqxxU
— mr kix (@mr_kixx) December 23, 2020
He’ll have 24 minutes to redeem himself but with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant firing on all cylinders (a combined 36 first-half points on 24 shots), this one might already be out of reach for Wiggins and the Warriors. Maybe Golden State’s Christmas Day matchup with the Bucks will be Wiggins’ chance to quiet the haters?