Dieter Kurtenbach: How did Andrew Wiggins look in his first Warriors game?

SAN FRANCISCO

Andrew Wiggins wasn’t spectacular in his first game as a Golden State Warrior. He wasn’t a revelation to the team or the game of basketball.

But his Saturday debut in blue and yellow was an unquestioned success.

Wiggins looked good, solid. He looked like he fit in with Golden State. Fit goes a long way in this league.

It’s only one game, and it came in a 125-120 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Thirty minutes doesn’t — and shouldn’t — mean much.

And it should be noted Wiggins played alongside more Santa Cruz Warriors (seven) than championship winners (one, Kevon Looney).

But first impressions matter, a lot, and Wiggins made a strong one to the Chase Center crowd, scoring 24 points on 66% shooting and swiping five steals in those 30 minutes.

The soon-to-be 25-year-old forward likely never will live up to the expectations of being the No. 1 overall pick, of being Maple Jordan. He likely never will play well enough to justify his five-year, $148 million contract, either.

But as the Warriors have said — and meant — they don’t need him to be a superstar. No, they merely need him to play the way he did Saturday night. Do that, and he and his new team will be a success.

No offense to Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III — two good players and good guys — but after years of being so blessed with wing talent that Andre Iguodala came off the bench, Wiggins is the first starter-caliber wing the Warriors have put on the floor this year.

It’s impressive how much better the Dubs’ system works with one of those in the fold.

The Warriors, led by Ky Bowman at point guard, ran the same offensive system Saturday the dynastic Golden State squads popularized.

That’s a byproduct of the G-League Santa Cruz Warriors’ synergy with the big league club. They pushed the pace, moved off the ball and passed it around, too. The Dubs weren’t talented, but they were trying to play the game the right way.

That, of course, was not the case when D’Angelo Russell was on the team. The rock-pounding point guard is a brilliant offensive creator, but his methodical — OK, slow — style forced the rest of the Warriors to acquiesce to him. Golden State was disjointed at best with him at the helm — a team with two identities. And when he wasn’t outstanding, the Warriors were embarrassed by opposing teams.

But Saturday, the Warriors were able to put a cohesive — though not all that talented — group on the court with Wiggins instead of Russell, and that had clear, positive repercussions. I’d venture to say it’ll be a trend.

“Steve (Kerr) said yesterday he wanted to start playing faster… the way they have the past four, five years that led them to being successful,” Marquese Chriss said Saturday. “I think that was what we were doing, just trying to push the ball up the sideline and play aggressive.”

On the offensive end, Wiggins did everything you’d expect a small forward to do in the modern game.

He was able to score as a spot-up shooter and off the bounce — driving to the basket well but also pulling up when space presented itself.

He was hardly a perpetual-motion machine, but he was a willing pick-setter and he showed a nice understanding of when and where to cut.

It’s easy to see that skill being a big part of the Warriors offense when Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson return to the court, creating even more space and drawing even more defensive attention away from Wiggins.

It was only one game, but I can easily see Wiggins being Harrison Barnes with some wiggle for the Warriors. They really needed someone like that.