Dub Hub, Daily Warriors Links for 4/14/23: Andrew Wiggins cleared to play in limited bench role vs. Kings

Good Morning Dub Nation,

The Golden State Warriors received an important medical update ahead of their first-round matchup against the Sacramento Kings. On Thursday, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins will officially make his return off the bench on Saturday.

This will be Wiggins’ first game back after missing the past 25 games due to personal reasons. The report adds that Wiggins will be on a minutes restriction as the team slowly ramps him back into game shape. This method is similar to how the team reintegrated Stephen Curry in the first round of last year’s playoffs after the point guard missed the final 12 games for the Warriors that season.

Rumblings of Wiggins’ official return were abundant throughout the week. Although Wiggins’ teammates have spoken highly of his performance during practice scrimmages, head coach Steve Kerr says regaining his rhythm in games will be the biggest obstacle for the athletic All-Star wing.

With Wiggins back in the lineup, Golden State is as close to full strength as they have been all season. Adding this to the momentum they built towards the end of the regular season could mean trouble for the rest of the league as Golden State looks poised to, once again, make a long playoff run.

Here are the rest of today’s stories:

In case you missed it from Golden State of Mind:

• Warriors vs Kings Playoffs Series Preview: A deep dive on the battle for Northern California supremacy
• The narrative is perfectly set up
• Warriors preparing for a reunion against former assistant coach Mike Brown
• Full Schedule for the Warriors’ first round matchup vs. Kings
• Warriors’ assistant Kenny Atkinson among candidates to interview for Rockets’ head coaching job

Other Warriors News:

• Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins cleared for Game 1 of NBA playoffs (ESPN)
• How Kevon Looney has made himself invaluable to the Warriors dynasty (The Athletic)
• Warriors-Kings playoff preview: Containing Steph Curry, De’Aaron Fox in crunchtime and more (The Athletic)
• Draymond Green identifies where Kings coach Mike Brown is missed most (NBC Sports Bay Area)
• How Moses Moody has stayed game-ready after fall from Warriors’ rotation (The Mercury News)

NBA News:

• Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid understands the challenge of becoming a champion (Andscape)
• Ja Morant files countersuit against Memphis teenager (NBA)
• Kings coach Mike Brown voted NBCA’s Coach of the Year (ESPN)
• The Rudy Gobert trade is on the verge of being an all-time NBA disaster (SB Nation)
• Magic Johnson delivers another assist in Commanders purchase (AP News)

A tweet to end the week:

It was a long, emotional journey for Golden State, but the regular season finally came to an end as the team looks towards the postseason. In honor of that, here are some of the best moments of the regular season highlighted by the team’s official Twitter account. Enjoy the Weekend Dub Nation!