NBA FINALS: CELTICS VS. WARRIORS

June 12, 2022

Andrew Wiggins

Golden State Warriors

Practice Day

Q. You've been more expressive in the playoffs. Obviously heightened stakes, bigger games, but have you noticed that in yourself that you've been more overtly expressive?

ANDREW WIGGINS: Yeah. You know, for sure. I think it's the moment. It's a big stage, a lot at stake every game. Everything is just so intense.

Q. You don't let us in often, just how you operate. You're quiet. With that being said, for most people, they get their viewpoint of who they think you are from us media. With that being said, there's always this label that you didn't play hard or something like that, and then you look at what you did in the Finals and what you've been doing here, do you think that's just a matter of now that you're playing on a team that people pretty much watch every game, that they're getting to see that stigma or whatever it was was false?

ANDREW WIGGINS: For sure. There's more exposure. Doing it on a bigger stage, even when I used to score a lot in Minnesota or do anything special, it's like, you did that but you're losing, so no one really cares. But doing it on a winning team, it's appreciated more.

Q. Did it ever bother you about the perception of you before you got here?

ANDREW WIGGINS: It bothered me in a motivational way, just wanted to change that viewpoint. But I would never go out in the media and be like [mocking sound]. I just play hard, and if that's what you think, that's what you think. I was never one to really try to impress anybody or change the media's mind. I always just stayed true to myself and do what I do.

Q. Sixteen boards in Game 4; obviously it's more complicated than just wanting the ball more, especially with those offensive rebounds. What's been the key for you in this series? What's clicked throughout these entire playoffs?

ANDREW WIGGINS: Just staying active and just trying to find different ways to affect the game. We have a lot of guys that can do a lot of things on the court, whether score, pass, create. So I'm just trying to do everything I can to be on the floor and be effective.

Q. Your mental approach, when things go wrong on the court during the game, especially the Finals, how do you try to solve the problems when you're on the court by yourself?

ANDREW WIGGINS: You just think in your head, you're like, it's a long game, a lot of possessions in the game. We're a team that can -- even if we're down a little bit, things aren't going our way, we can get back in the game quick. We have a lot of guys and a lot of people that can go up there and change the game quick.

So I always stay confident. As long as there's time, I feel like we have a chance to do whatever.

Q. I mentioned to Draymond that people from Europe, they wake up at 4:00, 5:00 to watch your games. What would you tell them as a message to the NBA fans in Europe?

ANDREW WIGGINS: I would just say, appreciate all the love and support and hope you guys are enjoying yourselves.

Q. Did these guys ever surprise you back in the beginning with how supportive they have been to you?

ANDREW WIGGINS: I mean, I don't know if I would say it's a surprise just because you know the success they've had, and I feel like that doesn't happen unless you support each other. Coming here, just everything I've done, they've supported me and helped me out in a lot of ways. I'm thankful.