When Lindell Wigginton stepped on the floor for his first NBA ever, the last thing on his mind was nerves.
“It was on my mom’s birthday, so I was glad I could give her that gift,” the 23-year-old point guard told Global News Morning in a one-on-one interview.
“I worked so hard for this event, so I was not really nervous. It was just a blessing. “
Wigginton, originally from Dartmouth, NS, became the second Nova Scotian to ever score points in an NBA game. He scored his first ever bucket against the Golden State Warriors, the same day he signed a standard NBA contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.
“I worked all my life for this event and just to be able to be on the NBA floor, scoring my first bucket in my first game, it’s just a blessing,” he said. “It was definitely hard work, but God’s work mixed with it.”
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By signing his contract with the Bucks, Wigginton became the first player to sign a standard NBA contract from the Canadian Eastern Basketball League. He finished his game with more than five minutes and added a steal to go with his basket.
But shortly after making his debut, like many NBA players before him, Wigginton found himself in the league’s COVID protocol. It’s part of the process he’s taking with speed.
“It’s not ideal, but I’m here, I’m in a good spirit, I’m healthy, I have a healthy body, so I have no symptoms or anything like that,” he said. “I’m definitely just looking at my team from home right now.”
Wigginton joins Bedford’s Nate Darling with the Charlotte Hornets as the second Nova Scotian to score in an NBA game. The couple have been playing together for years and date all the way back to their days at the YMCA community.
“When I first signed, (Darling) congratulated me,” he said. “We have both come to this point in our careers so far, we just have to keep working and just keep being the best players and people we can be.”
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It was a long journey to get to where he is today. Prior to signing with the Bucks, Wigginton was named the top Canadian for the 2021 CEBL season. He was also named player of the year. Prior to that, he played two seasons at Iowa State, where he averaged more than 15 points per game.
But he never forgot his roots – playing for the Panthers at Prince Andrew High School in Dartmouth. Wigginton says the love he has received from Nova Scotia since making his NBA debut has not gone unnoticed.
“They have always supported me throughout my career, so I am definitely in step with the love they show me,” he said. “When I signed, I could not reach everyone, because there were so (many) messages… but I definitely felt all the love and support.”
By signing with reigning world champions Bucks, Wigginton joins stars such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday, to name a few. He says the leadership they have brought him since they signed was unmatched.
“Just being able to learn from guys who have been on this stage for so long was in the position they were in… it was a blessing to learn from some older guys who were on stage and know what it takes to be here stay, ”he said.
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Wigginton says he is proof that anyone from Nova Scotia can make it to where he is if they dream big.
“Believe in yourself more than anyone else can believe in you … As I believe in myself and the confidence I have in myself, no one else can have it,” he said.
“Just be humble, be the best player and the best person you can be, and, like I said, dream big.”
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