Warriors’ Glue Guys Deliver a Statement Win—And Maybe a Farewell
Despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's career-high 52 points, the Oklahoma City Thunder fell to the Golden State Warriors 116-109 on January 29, 2025, with Andrew Wiggins leading the Warriors with 27 points.
Warriors’ Glue Guys Deliver a Statement Win—And Maybe a Farewell
Basketball is often thought of as a game of stars. The Golden State Warriors are known for their superstar, Steph Curry, one of the greatest shooters in NBA history. But on some nights, it’s not the biggest names that decide the game—it’s the glue guys, the hard workers, the role players, the unsung heroes who make all the difference.
That was the case on Wednesday night, when the Warriors beat the Oklahoma City Thunder, one of the best teams in the NBA, 116-109. It was the Warriors' biggest win of the season, and the players who made it happen weren’t the ones on billboards. They were Kevon Looney, Andrew Wiggins, and Gary Payton II—three players who don’t always get the spotlight, but who always show up when the team needs them.
In the NBA, the 'trade deadline' is the final date during the season when teams are allowed to exchange players with each other. This year, the trade deadline is on February 6, 2025, at 3 p.m. Eastern Time.
After this deadline, teams cannot trade players until the season ends. Teams often make trades before this date to strengthen their rosters for the remainder of the season.
And with the NBA trade deadline approaching, it might have been their last great moment as Warriors.
What Made This Game Special?
Basketball is about more than just scoring points. It’s about teamwork, defense, effort, and knowing your role—just like in any community.
On this night, the Warriors’ stars didn’t carry them alone. Instead, the “glue guys” held everything together:
Big Man Looney Doing His Thing
Kevon Looney—a big man who doesn’t take many shots but does all the “dirty work” like grabbing rebounds and protecting the basket. He had 18 points and four blocked shots, stopping the Thunder’s best players from scoring easy points.
Andrew Wiggins—a versatile defender who also scored 27 points, helping the Warriors win even though the other team was focusing their defense on Curry.
Gary Payton II—a smaller player who plays much bigger than his size, making life difficult for the other team’s best scorers. He finished the game with a powerful slam dunk that had the home crowd roaring.
Even though Curry is the face of the franchise, this game was a reminder that basketball is a team sport, and every player—no matter their role—can make a difference.
Why This Win Might Be a Goodbye
The NBA trade deadline is coming up, and in professional basketball, teams sometimes have to trade away beloved players to get better.
Looney and Payton have expiring contracts, meaning they could be traded soon.
Wiggins has a valuable contract, and teams looking for a strong defender might want him.
The Warriors need another star to help Curry, and that means making difficult choices. If they trade these players, it won’t be because they weren’t good enough—it will be because basketball is a business, and teams have to think about the future.
Even the players themselves know it.
“Yeah, I want to stay,” Looney admitted. “But I’ve been here long enough to know how this works. The trade deadline is always stressful.”
Wiggins agreed:
“It’s not easy. If you enjoy things somewhere—your family is here, you’ve got relationships—it’s tough. But it’s a business.”
They love playing for the Warriors. The fans love them. But sometimes, even great players have to move on.
What Can We Learn From This?
For newcomers to basketball, this game teaches an important lesson—not just about sports, but about life.
Success isn’t just about individual talent—it’s about knowing your role and helping the team. Just like in work or community life, sometimes the most valuable people aren’t the loudest or most famous—they’re the ones who do the little things that hold everything together.
Hard work and reliability matter. Looney, Wiggins, and Payton don’t always get the credit, but their effort is what wins games—just like showing up every day and doing your job well builds success over time.
Change is part of life. In the NBA, players get traded even when they’ve done everything right. In life, immigrants often leave home and start over in new places, bringing their skills and values with them. It’s never easy, but it’s sometimes necessary for growth.
This Warriors win wasn’t just about basketball—it was about loyalty, effort, teamwork, and the bittersweet reality of change.
The Beauty of the Moment
If this was the last ride for Looney, Wiggins, and Payton, it was a damn good way to go out.
Looney dominated the paint like he always does.
Wiggins played like the 2022 version of himself.
Payton put an exclamation point on the win with a dunk that shook the arena.
Even Curry knew how much it meant.
““To finish the game like that was special,” he said. “You just want to be able to have a stamp on a game like that. The crowd was going crazy. The whole bench was up. … Not to overemphasize one play, but it was huge.””
This is the NBA experience—the highs, the lows, the unforgettable nights. It’s a reminder to appreciate what’s in front of you, because nothing in sports—or life—is permanent.
Players come and go. Teams change. But the moments last forever.
So if this was Looney, Wiggins, and Payton’s last great performance as Warriors, it was a farewell worthy of champions.
Loon. Wiggs. GP2.
Proven. Versatile. Warriors.
Enjoy them while they’re here—because the only thing certain in basketball, and in life, is change.