Warriors' Andrew Wiggins reveals ambitious goal for next season

Andrew Wiggins stepped up when the Warriors needed him most last season. In the NBA Finals against the Celtics, he was the team's second-best player, behind Stephen Curry. It’s hard to imagine the Warriors winning the NBA title without him.

But Wiggins isn’t satisfied with his first NBA All-Star Game appearance or championship. The former No. 1 overall pick wants more recognition for his defense. In the NBA Finals, he received praise for containing Jayson Tatum.

Appearing on “The VC Show with Vince Carter” on Tuesday, Wiggins told Carter and Ros Gold-Onwude that “one thing I’m really gonna strive for this upcoming season is being on the [All-]Defensive Team. That’s a big goal of mine, and hopefully I opened some eyes in the playoffs and I can be on the radar. I ain’t get not one vote this year! I took it personal in the playoffs!”

This wasn’t the only time that Wiggins set this goal for himself. On “Point Forward“ with Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner earlier this summer, he detailed what’s next for him.

“The defensive team, that’s going to be most important for me. I feel like people never really questioned my scoring, but everyone always questioned my defense. To go out there and get an award for defense, that would be a dream come true for me.”

Wiggins averaged 17.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 31.9 minutes over 73 regular-season games. In the playoffs, he averaged 16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, one steal and one block in 34.9 minutes over 22 games. 

In the Finals, the 27-year-old forward led the Warriors with 8.8 rebounds per game. Wiggins finished the series with averages of 18.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks in 39.3 minutes over six games.