Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins returns, but personal matter not fully resolved – NBC

SAN FRANCISCO – Andrew Wiggins returned to the Bay Area on Monday, rejoined the Warriors for practice on Tuesday and will play on Wednesday. If he needs to leave again on Thursday, it will be understood and accepted.

If anyone on the team needs to leave for a serious family matter, it will be understood and accepted.

“I don’t care about the basketball part,” coach Steve Kerr said after Tuesday’s practice. “Life is way more important than the game. The main thing is that if any of our players has a life situation where they need to be with their family, then that’s where they’re going to be.

“You just want everybody to be OK and give them the space they need and that’ll always be the case with the way we operate.”

Wiggins’ leave of absence lasted one week. He missed four games, three of which the Warriors won. They managed to have, by any reasonable measure, a successful road trip while he was away for personal family reasons.

It’s important to note that Wiggins, Golden State’s starting small forward, remained engaged while away. He got in a few workouts and followed the Warriors during their swing through Eastern Conference teams in Washington, New York, Toronto and Boston. He liked what he saw.

“We’re on the rise,” Wiggins said. “We found something good. Found that identity that we were searching for. We put pieces together that worked, and it’s been special last few games. Everyone is play well, playing together, and we look like the real Golden State Warriors.”

The “real” Golden State Warriors have a roster filled with players capable of contributing. The “real” Warriors are playing their best basketball at the most important time of the regular season. The “real” Warriors trust they have enough to make more than a token appearance in the playoffs.

The “real” Warriors expect to playing well while also being sensitive to the personal needs of every player and coach on the NBA’s highest payroll.

Yet there is no doubt that Wiggins’ return is a boost. After a sub-mediocre first half, by his standards, Wiggins has scored double figures in 14 of his last 16 games while also providing stellar defense on the perimeter.

He has looked more like the “real” Andrew Wiggins, and the Warriors are substantially better for it.

Which is why he will play — and likely start — Wednesday night, when the Milwaukee Bucks invade Chase Center.

“We feel comfortable,” Kerr said. “We’ll see how many minutes. You can’t really simulate an NBA game (while away), so we’ll see how he holds up. But physically, he’s perfectly fine to go ahead and play tomorrow.”

Though neither he nor Kerr offered details behind his absence, whatever it was affected Wiggins enough to pull him away from his job.

“Just taking care of what I had to take care of, and being present for what I have to be present for.” Wiggins said of his time away. “I think this is the…