Andrew Wiggins: Rising Above The NBA’s Rookies
By Tom West
The NBA has seen a host of talented rookies this year. Standing far above everyone else atop the rookie rankings though, is none other than Andrew Wiggins
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Andrew Wiggins endured a rough start to his NBA career. After being an unwanted talent on a now overly talented (and disappointing) Cavaliers squad, he’s finally hitting his stride with the Minnesota Timberwolves. And not only has Wiggins’ recent form made him emerge as the top candidate for Rookie of the Year, it’s shown the league that he can turn into that star player that everyone has been predicting since his high school dunk montage.
Over his last fifteen games, Wiggins has averaged 20.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. Pretty impressive numbers. Especially considering that he’d only scored 20+ points four times in his previous 26 games, compared to 10 times in just the last month.
*last 15 games, via NBA.com
After having a slow start to the season, it’s clear Wiggins has started to use his incredible explosiveness to start gaining some momentum. And one of the main issues that was raised about his game after college (his jump shot) has been showing real signs of improvement in his recent hot spell.
Dec 23, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward
Andrew Wiggins(22) shoots against Cleveland Cavaliers forward
Shawn Marion(31) in the fourth quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Most recently, Wiggins set a new career-high of 31 points in a 113-105 win against the Denver Nuggets, and showed signs of what he could be capable of as his career continues to progress.
Since his days in high school, Wiggins was praised as the next LeBron James, and his 44 inch vertical leap and high-flying dunks in college did nothing but add to his expectations to succeed as a professional. The defensive prowess, size, and athleticism he displayed at Kansas gave scouts no hesitation that he was a potential superstar. So you can’t really blame the Cleveland Cavaliers for taking him with the No. 1 pick in the draft.
Dec 12, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins (22) blocks Oklahoma City Thunder forward
Kevin Durant(35) during the third quarter at Target Center. The Thunder defeated the Timberwolves 111-92. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Especially after their ridiculous decision to take Anthony Bennett with the first overall pick the year before. Maybe the Cavs just loved Canadian basketball players.
That brief love affair came to a dismal and sudden end, though. And now that Wiggins has finally found a team that wants him, he’s emerging as the clear cut choice for Rookie of the Year.
Other rooks such as Nikola Mirotic, Jusuf Nurkic, Nerlens Noel, and even Jabari Parker before his knee injury, have all made good impressions during their first seasons in the NBA. Although, none have made the leap to basketball’s highest platform in quite the same way as Wiggins.
Now that he’s beginning to hit his stride and find his confidence with Minnesota, Wiggins’ defensive potential has been one of the standout features of his rookie season so far. His quickness and agility for a man who’s 6’8″ is just incredible. Combined with his reactions and explosiveness, it’s rare to see him get left behind after an opponent’s crossover, or not elevate and use his 7-foot wingspan to contest a shot.
Not many players would be able, or even try, to block a Kevin Durant jumper. Wiggins, however, has showed the tenacity to try just that. And succeed.
In what was his best game of the season, against the Nuggets on January 17th, Wiggins not only scored a career-high 31 points with a career best four three-pointers, but he demonstrated how he’ll be able to lock-down shooting guards for years to come. He held Arron Afflalo (who’s coming off an 18.2 point per game season with the Magic) to just 4 of 14 shooting, whilst rejecting two of his shots.
Just to make sure the Nuggets two-guard didn’t rate him as another mere NBA hopeful.
What has really been impressive about this 15-game stretch is his confidence on the offensive end and ability to score inside and out.
Despite his slender, 200 lbs frame, Wiggins has showed a surprising amount of confidence at times when attacking the rim. In college he was a far superior athlete to the majority of his opponents, but in the NBA everyone is just that bit stronger and tougher to play against. And he’s still delivering.
His aerial attacks may be nothing new, yet his hop-steps to drive the ball into the paint and efforts to back down his opponents in the post from time to time are highly promising for the Timberwolves moving forward. The fact that Wiggins is taking 29 percent of his shots from within three feet of the basket shows he’s been aggressive, and the consistency he’s shown when finishing inside is exactly what’s needed of him.
Not only does it show his versatility, but also that his confidence is rapidly increasing after such a rough start to his career.
Wiggins has been able to finish through contact and bounce off defenders to reach the basket, which has resulted in him making 65 percent of his field goal attempts from within three feet. And when shooting from the perimeter, Wiggins has impressed yet again — shooting 38 percent from three-point range, and even making 45 percent of his catch-and-shoot threes from the corner.
The dunking-extraordinaire is proving that his range and consistency may not be such a major issue after all.
The ease at which Wiggins can rise to the rim to dunk is just scary at times, and he can use that same explosiveness and length to elevate and receive passes over defenders in the post to create countless match-up nightmares against smaller guards.
Dec 10, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins (22) is fouled by Portland Trail Blazers center
Robin Lopez(42) during the fourth quarter at Target Center. The Timberwolves defeated the Trail Blazers 90-82. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Of course he’s going to have some bad games now and again, because, well, all rookies do. That being said, Wiggins has certainly reached his expectations thus far, and has risen far above the rest of the league’s competition for Rookie of the Year.
The absence of two players who were potential rivals to take home the award, Julius Randle and Jabari Parker, have no doubt made Wiggins’ ascent to the top of the rookie ladder a little easier. Regardless of a weakened opposition though, he’s still shown that he is a worthy winner if he continues to play as well as he has done so far.
He’s not the NBA’s next phenom just yet. But his defensive talents, offensive explosiveness, perimeter shooting and aggression inside have shown that Andrew Wiggins can well and truly become the star that so many hoped he would.