Killion: How does Andrew Wiggins’ fit with Warriors look after Game 5 win? Perfect

The Andrew Wiggins redemption tour is very close to turning into a victory parade.

“It’s something I’ve dreamt about,” Wiggins said of his performance on the NBA’s biggest stage. “It doesn’t get bigger than this.”

Wiggins came into these playoffs as “the other.” The guy who wasn’t part of the Golden State Warriors’ core. Who wasn’t Kevin Durant. Who was supposed to fill that wing role like a missing puzzle piece.

But would his edges line up? Was he going to click right in, or would you have to force it? Nobody could be sure entering the playoffs, because the Warriors were never whole all season.

But over the course of 21 playoff games, Wiggins has become a perfect fit, on both sides of the ball. The lines from Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson match up seamlessly with Wiggins. He has been indispensable.

“We didn’t really know what it was going to look like,” Curry said. “We had some guys that had not played in the playoffs before who were going to have meaningful minutes. Wiggs was at the top of that list.

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“We wanted to peak at the right time and keep building. You talk about it, and you hope it’s going to work.”

Oh, it’s working. Wiggins’ efforts have helped put the Warriors 48 minutes away from a fourth NBA championship in eight seasons.

On Monday night for the second consecutive Finals game, Wiggins dominated, with a double-double. His 26 points and 13 rebounds led the team, critical on an off-night when Curry couldn’t carry the team. Over the pivotal Games 4 and 5, Wiggins has scored 43 points and grabbed 29 rebounds. He has played over 126 minutes in the past three games.

“He’s just been fantastic,” Steve Kerr said. “He’s definitely enjoying the playoffs. He’s found such a crucial role on our team, and I think that empowers him. He knows how much we need him.”

In addition to his contributions offensively, Wiggins has drawn the toughest player to guard most nights: Ja Morant on Memphis, Luka Doncic on Dallas and Jayson Tatum in the Finals.

“I love guarding every team’s best player,” he said. “I know it’s huge. It’s going to help win games.”

Soft-spoken Wiggins came to team as an enigma, a former No. 1 draft pick (of Cleveland) who incurred the wrath of Minnesota fans ready to label him a bust as he, unfairly, became the face of that dysfunctional franchise. The Warriors traded for him in February of 2020, but some viewed him as just potential future trade piece. He was part of a churn, part of a changing face of the team.

“The trust has been building for two and a half years now, since he got here,” Green said. “A lot of people looked at it like, oh, that’s another piece they can move. But we looked at it from the beginning like this is a guy who can fit next to the healthy group. He’s continued to get better. He’s taken on every challenge that we’ve thrown in front of him.”

But at the beginning of this season, when it looked the Warriors would finally have pieces back in place to compete, Wiggins’ reluctance to get vaccinated threatened to derail the season. His teammates, to a man, stood behind his right to make his own choice, even though they knew it could disrupt their chances. Support worked better than strong-arming. Wiggins eventually chose to get vaccinated and went on to have an All-Star season and help the team earn the No. 3 seed in the West.

Over the course of the playoffs, Wiggins has become more animated and — for want of a better word — joyful in press conferences and on the floor.

“We’ve embraced him from day one,” Curry said. “The bottom line is he’s just having fun playing basketball. That’s the biggest thing, after everything he’s been through in his career.”

It’s clear that Wiggins has found a fit in the Warriors’ inclusive culture.

“There’s a lot of great people here,” he said. “That challenge you, hold you accountable and put you in a position to do good.

“I feel I’m pretty easy going so I just came in here and hooped. I’m playing hard and I feel like people respect that.”

The Warriors respect it. They also love it. Thompson said there’s nothing he likes more than seeing Wiggins throw down a dunk and “mean mug.”

“That’s love,” Wiggins said. “That’s what makes it all work. We support each other.

“It’s a winning culture. When I got here, they put you in a position to succeed. They always bring out the best in you. They want the best for you.”

Wiggins is responding to the love. To the joy. To the Warriors’ culture.

“It’s a reminder that for every player in the NBA, circumstances are everything,” Kerr said. “You need to find the right place, the right teammates. Wiggs has been a great fit.”

A perfect fit. The missing piece, who has helped put the Warriors one win away from another title.

“For him this has been a pretty cool journey,” Curry said. “To understand what it feels like, what it looks like and how fun it is.”

For Wiggins, it’s a very cool journey. That’s just one win away from becoming a victory parade.

Ann Killion is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Email: akillion@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @annkillion