NBA FINALS: CELTICS VS. WARRIORS

June 13, 2022

Andrew Wiggins

Golden State Warriors

Game 5: Postgame

Warriors 104, Celtics 94

Q. Andrew, did you ever envision a night like tonight where you carried the team in the most crucial game of the NBA Finals?

ANDREW WIGGINS: It's something I dreamt about for sure, being in the league, and this is the ultimate stage. It doesn't get bigger than this. I was out there being aggressive. It was a good game.

Q. Klay and all these guys, they were celebrating almost as much as if they had made the shots when you'd make a shot or when you -- Klay said there's nothing better than to see you mean mug after a dunk. How much joy do you get in their joy and their appreciation of what's happening here?

ANDREW WIGGINS: That's love. That's what makes it all work. We all support each other, and we want to see each other do good and succeed. That's why we're here.

Q. What was the scene like in the locker room? These guys are so elated for you after everything you've been through in your journey. To have this type performance, what was it like in the locker room?

ANDREW WIGGINS: Just everyone showing love and support and everyone is happy. We're one win away from winning a championship. Everyone's excited.

Q. Why has this fit been so good for you?

ANDREW WIGGINS: Man, there are just a lot of great people here. Great people here that challenge you. They hold you accountable. The support system, everyone on this team, this organization, they support you and they want to see you do good, and they put you in a position to do good.

Q. When did you sort of feel like everything came together? You had not even played with Klay, and there were so many things, there was so much discussion. How is that all going to fit? And the joy that you have now, it's clear that things just worked out for you at some point, and it all started clicking.

ANDREW WIGGINS: I mean, before I even got here, they have been great. You know, things that worked for them. And I feel like I'm pretty easygoing, so I just came in here and hoop. I'm playing basketball, and I'm playing hard, and I feel like people respect that. And I'm just trying to win. At the end of the day, no matter what it takes or whatever they need from me, I'm here to help them win.

Q. Do you remember the first time you turned on the TV and watched the NBA Finals? When was it?

ANDREW WIGGINS: I don't remember, to be honest.

Q. Do you have any fond memories of the Finals specifically?

ANDREW WIGGINS: I feel like there's been so much. I watch it every year. But one that maybe stood out to me was when the Raptors played the Warriors in the Finals, because I'm a hometown kid from Canada, you know, and Warriors, and now kind of full circle. Now I'm on the opposite side.

Q. At the end of the game, Mike Brown came up to you and said something to you, looked like an emotional moment. Can you share what he said? And how important has he been to what you've been able to do defensively through this run?

ANDREW WIGGINS: He was excited for me. That's all it was. We are all excited. Like I said, we're one win away from winning the championship. The emotions have been high, and he's been one of the people that push me and challenge me every game. Every day he challenges me to be better.

Q. You probably had an impression of Draymond before you got here, but once you got here, what was he like and what could you see was his impact on how the Warriors' play was?

ANDREW WIGGINS: What's the last thing you said?

Q. What did you see, like how he impacted the style of play?

ANDREW WIGGINS: Oh, everything I thought he was going to be like he is. You know, he's intense. He speaks his mind. And he makes everyone around him better. Even on the court, everyone around him better. He finds people, he creates; he's a monster on the defensive side. You know, he's an anchor.

Q. How was it the first time? I'm assuming he like went off on you and cursed you out in practice or something.

ANDREW WIGGINS: I mean, I feel like I respond well to everything, so I don't really remember if there was a moment like that; but I'm sure if there was, you know, that's just the leadership in him. He holds people accountable. And like I said, he wants the best for you, and it's going to make you better. Everything he does, he does it for a reason. He can dish it out, but he can also take it.

Q. You guys have had an elite defense all season, and you don't have a traditional rim protector. How important is the collective intelligence of everyone out there, all the rotations, all that?

ANDREW WIGGINS: It works because we all play together. We're all on a string together. We have each other's backs on the defensive side. We are not the tallest team but we work hard.

Q. Any guess what fans in Minnesota are thinking tonight about Andrew Wiggins?

ANDREW WIGGINS: Shoot, I don't know. I mean, there's some fans that like me and probably some fans that don't. I'm not too sure. But I still wish them all the best. They had a hell of a season, and a lot of good, young talent. They are going to have a lot of good years ahead of them.

Q. Draymond Green said when they first got the news that you were traded here to Golden State, he saw you as a player who could really fit and thrive in this system. What do you think it is about the Warriors system and the environment here that's allowed you to really peak in your playing career like you are right now?

ANDREW WIGGINS: I feel like being here, it's a winning culture. They have won before, and they have dominated the NBA. When I got here, they put you in position to succeed. They always bring out the best in you. They want the best for you. You know, supportive. So, it's been good.

Q. Speaking of succeed, your defensive play has grown exponentially since you've been here. What's behind that and how much work have you done to get better defensively?

ANDREW WIGGINS: I think it's just, you know, staying active. You know, staying -- asserting yourself, even when you're tired or just finding reasons to motivate yourself to win, and I feel like it's just a competitive spirit in me. I love guarding every team's best player. I know it's huge. It's going to help win games, and it's something I look forward to.

Being here, these guys challenge you. These guys challenge you. Every day before the game, they will tell you, we need you, and that's important, and I love the fact that they do that.