For the second straight season, the Golden State Warriors must overcome a weak start with a great stretch run. For the second consecutive season, they may be without their top defensive wing player.

Andrew Wiggins missed Tuesday night’s victory over the Washington Wizards due to a “personal matter.” The timing is strikingly similar to what occurred to Wiggins last season, when he missed the final 25 games due to a “family matter.” Neither Wiggins nor the team verified the cause for his extended absence, but Shams Charania stated that his father, former NBA player Mitchell Wiggins, was in a “serious medical situation.”

The famously secretive Wiggins is unlikely to provide a reason, nor would the team put pressure on their starting small forward to accelerate his comeback. Last year, he returned to the Warriors after a 51-day hiatus and played in the first game of their first-round series against the Sacramento Kings. Wiggins showed no symptoms of rust, averaging 18 points per game in the first round before broken ribs slowed him down in the second round against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Warriors have more depth than last year’s squad, whose bench minutes were often devastating. They now have young supporting starters Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski, as well as bench aid from new sixth man Klay Thompson, Gary Payton II, and Chris Paul, who are all healthy.

Still, no one on the roster provides both halves of “3-and-D” like Wiggins does. Although Draymond Green’s 44.6% three-point percentage has been a revelation this season. Following a sluggish shooting start, Wiggins has made 40% of his three-pointers since December 1 and routinely protects the opposing team’s leading scorer.

However, Golden State has no alternative but to hope for a swift and satisfactory conclusion to Wiggins’ personal situation, especially with 15 road games remaining in their last 25 matchups. However, they will most likely have to do without Maple Jordan until the playoffs, assuming they can make it that far without him.