Andrew Wiggins, the 2022 NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors, has called for urgency from his new team, the Miami Heat. With the season winding down, Wiggins stressed that the Heat need to approach the final stretch with desperation.
“We’ve got to play desperate,” Wiggins said, per South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “We’ve got to play like we want it. We’re not in position to be comfortable, so we’ve really got to go out there and play every game like we really, really need it because we do.”
At 29 years old, Wiggins brings a wealth of playoff experience, having made the postseason three times in his career. However, his recent stint with the Heat has been challenging. In the two games since joining Miami in a five-team trade, Wiggins has yet to see his team win. The Heat lost to both the Boston Celtics and the Oklahoma City Thunder in these matchups.
Wiggins, who is currently averaging 12 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4 assists per game in 32.5 minutes, is adjusting to a new role on the Heat’s roster. Despite his strong individual play, Miami has struggled to find consistency, dropping to an 8th-place spot in the Eastern Conference with a 25-28 record.
The Heat are 4-6 in their last 10 games, and their recent skid has left them in a precarious position for the remainder of the season. With the trade deadline in the rearview mirror, Miami has no more chances to make significant roster changes. Instead, it’s up to the current group to turn things around.
The addition of Wiggins to the roster was part of a high-profile trade that saw Jimmy Butler move to the Golden State Warriors. While the Heat’s roster has certainly shifted, the urgency remains the same: Miami needs to perform well down the stretch to solidify its playoff position.
