Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins was not in Toronto for the start of the Canadian men’s basketball team’s training camp.
On Friday evening at the team’s first media availability of training camp, Canadian general manager Rowan Barrett said he got a call from the Warriors a few days before the start of camp saying Andrew Wiggins would not be available to play. When asked if Golden State Warriors gave him a reason, Barrett said:
“That’s something you have to talk to them about. We were talking to him consistently. He’s been training for weeks and weeks getting ready for this. And then I got a call from Golden State Warriors a day or two before camp saying that they’re holding him out. So, from what I see, this is not an Andrew decision. This is from the team.”
Canada basketball head coach Jordi Fernandez on not having Andrew Wiggins in training camp:
— Libaan Osman (@libaanstar1) June 28, 2024
“I feel for him because I know he wanted to be here…. It’s a position where it’s not in our hands. We don’t like it, we respect. And we just gotta move on.” pic.twitter.com/yEkl6KvSH0
Wiggins played 71 games for the Warriors in the 2023-24 season, but he struggled with an ankle injury late in the year that continued into the offseason, posing a potential medical concern for the team. He had a challenging start to the season but finished stronger, ultimately averaging 13.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
The decision to part ways was purely medical, mutually agreed upon to prioritize Wiggins’ health going into the next season, according to sources.
Wiggins’ inclusion in Canada’s training camp roster sparked some controversy. In the summer of 2022, Canada required players to commit to attending summer camps for three years to be eligible for Olympic play, should Canada qualify. This stance softened over time, but Wiggins couldn’t commit then due to the Warriors’ championship pursuit and his impending unrestricted free agency in a year.
“I feel for him because I know he wanted to be here…. It’s a position where it’s not in our hands. We don’t like it, we respect. And we just gotta move on” – said Canada basketball head coach Jordi Fernandez.
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