Mitchell Wiggins, the father of Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins, is reportedly dealing with a serious medical condition that has kept his son away from the team since mid-February. The nature and cause of Mitchell Wiggins’ health issue are not known, but it is speculated that it could be related to his past cocaine abuse that led to his suspension from the NBA in 1986.
Mitchell Wiggins’ NBA Career and Cocaine Scandal
Mitchell Wiggins was a 6-foot-4 shooting guard who played six seasons in the NBA from 1983 to 1992. He was drafted by the Chicago Bulls with the 23rd pick in the 1983 NBA draft, which featured several future stars such as Clyde Drexler, Byron Scott and Doc Rivers. He averaged 12.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game in his rookie season with the Bulls.
After one year in Chicago, he joined the Houston Rockets, where he played alongside Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson. He helped the Rockets reach the NBA Finals in 1986, where they lost to the Boston Celtics in six games. However, his career took a downward turn shortly after.
In January 1987, Mitchell Wiggins and his teammate Lewis Lloyd were banned from the NBA for two years for using cocaine. The league’s anti-drug program had given them several chances to come forward voluntarily and avoid penalties, but they refused to do so. David Stern, the former NBA commissioner, said at the time: “They had plenty of chances to come forward. Our anti-drug program is not passive. We are constantly counseling all the players about the treatment programs available to them.”
Mitchell Wiggins and Lewis Lloyd missed the remainder of the 1986-87 season and were reinstated at the start of the 1989-90 season. Interestingly, Mitchell Wiggins had the best season of his career after returning to action. He averaged 15.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game in 1991-92, his final season in the NBA.
Andrew Wiggins’ Absence and Return to the Warriors
Andrew Wiggins, Mitchell Wiggins’ son, is a 28-year-old forward who plays for the Golden State Warriors. He was the first overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, but was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves before playing a single game for them. He spent five and a half seasons with the Timberwolves, where he averaged 19.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.
In February 2020, he was traded to the Warriors in exchange for D’Angelo Russell. He played well for the Warriors in his first season with them, averaging 18.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game while shooting a career-high 38% from three-point range.
However, he has been away from the team since mid-February this year due to his father’s serious medical condition. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Andrew Wiggins plans to attend the Warriors-Thunder game on Tuesday, April 4th. It is unclear if he will play or be on the bench for that game.
The Warriors have struggled without Andrew Wiggins, who is their second-leading scorer behind Stephen Curry. They have lost nine of their last 11 games and are currently ninth in the Western Conference standings with a record of 23-27.
The return of Andrew Wiggins could boost their chances of making the playoffs and competing for another championship. However, his father’s health remains a priority for him and his family.
We wish Mitchell Wiggins a speedy recovery and hope that he can overcome his medical condition soon.