NBA Number One Pick Andrew Wiggins Introduced As ‘Mitchell’ Wiggins [Video]
If you’re the first overall pick in the NBA draft, everyone usually knows your name.
Maybe the Cleveland Cavaliers are the exception, however.
Last night’s number one draft choice in the 2014 NBA draft Andrew Wiggins met the local today, during which he was introduced as Mitchell Wiggins.
Cavs play-by-play announcer Fred McLeod did the honors (see embed below): “We’d like to, if we can, welcome in the newest member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, along with General Manager David Griffin and new Head Coach David Blatt, let’s say hello to Mitchell Wiggins.”
After an awkward pause, he then added “Andrew Wiggins, excuse me…”
Mitchell Wiggins, Andrew’s dad, was a shooting guard in the NBA and in Europe in the 1980s and 90s, and was in the audience, so perhaps the gaffe was understandable to some degree.
Later in the ceremony, the Cavs execs momentarily misplaced Andrew Wigggins’ team jersey. “What’s worse, not having the jersey or calling him Mitchell?” GM Griffin quipped.
The Kansas Jayhawks star small forward averaged 17.1 points in his freshman year before deciding to turn pro. He is the second Canadian player in history to be taken first overall in the NBA draft, the first being UNLV’s Anthony Bennett who was also selected by the Cavaliers in last year’s draft.
Andrew Wiggins, 19, also created something of a social media stir by wearing a black tuxedo with white floral patterns to the draft last night.
With regard to his personal goals as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers are concerned, Wiggins explained that “I just want to come in, create an impact right off the bat, offensively and defensively, bring the team to the next level and just be a good teammate, be a good part of the organization. I want to be on the All-Defensive team, be rookie of the year, make the All-Star team, all that type of stuff,” ESPN reported.
As the Bleacher Report noted in connection with the name mixup, “Hopefully for Andrew and the city of Cleveland, his time with the team will go more smoothly than his introduction did.”
