Andrew Wiggins Taking 1st Step Toward NBA Stardom

You can just feel his confidence and comfort rising by the week. Andrew Wiggins has found a rhythm, and it reflects his first major step toward NBA stardom. 

Wednesday night against the Phoenix Suns, Wiggins racked up his seventh 20-plus-point game in the Minnesota Timberwolves' last eight outings. 

And the streak ultimately came at a great time, following what had been a fairly slow start when you take into account the expectations fueled by unforgotten hype out of high school, being the No. 1 pick and then being traded for three-time All-Star Kevin Love. 

There was plenty of skeptical noise out there discrediting the rookie's performance early on in the season. Less than two months into his career, FiveThirtyEight.com's Neil Payne placed him on a level with James Posey via projections. Some of the stat gurus have also been quick to point out that based on categories like win shares and VORP (value over replacement player), Wiggins has been ranked among the worst under-20 rookies who've qualified with enough minutes.

I say throw away the advanced numbers. Ignore the losses. Overlook the inefficiency—at least when it's measuring a 19-year-old, 199-pound swingman on a depleted, rebuilding roster.

Mark Duncan/Associated Press

Instead, focus on the positives and the enormous room for growth. He's still dropping 20-plus points, which he's done 11 times in 34 games, without credible setup men, surrounding talent or legitimate offensive polish.

Anthony Davis didn't record his 11th 20-point game until his second year in the league. Paul George, Wiggins' most frequently used comparison, didn't get there until his third season.

From an observational standpoint, Wiggins started to pick it up once Shabazz Muhammad was inserted into the starting lineup. Naturally, Wiggins has drawn smaller or weaker defenders, with some of the stronger opposing wings forced to guard the 227-pound Muhammad.

Six of Wiggins' field goals against Utah came on either 6'6" Dante Exum or Joe Ingles. Against Phoenix, he scored five times while guarded by either Eric Bledsoe or Goran Dragic—6'1" and 6'3", respectively.

As a potential 2-guard, it's a reminder of just how dangerous of a mismatch the 6'8", ultra-athletic Wiggins can really be.

For what it's worth, depending on how much stock you've put into Wiggins' poor early-season advanced numbers, ESPN's Kevin Pelton noted (subscription required) that "since the lineup change, his two-point percentage has improved dramatically, and he's cut way down on his turnovers. He has been playing at an above-replacement level, and that's with little help from the Timberwolves' point guards because Ricky Rubio is out of the lineup."

Stacy Bengs/Associated Press

Still, it's not necessarily the recently inflated stats that should keep fans optimistic. It's how he's generating them.

Arguably the biggest knock on Wiggins at Kansas was his lack of aggression and assertiveness. Despite being the most talented kid on the floor, he blended in far too often. 

If any good has come out of playing with primarily first- and second-year players in Minnesota, it's that he's getting used to a role in which he's more of a top option in the offense.

Head coach Flip Saunders recently touched on the subject via Phil Ervin of Fox Sports North.

"It's very gratifying, because I think everyone in here knows, the biggest question the national media always asks me, 'Is he passive?'" Saunders said. "That was the question coming out, and he's showing more and more that he's getting more aggressive."

Before his current streak started against the Cleveland Cavaliers (27 points) on December 23, Wiggins had taken 15 shots four times through 26 games. He's now taken at least 15 in seven of his last eight.

And in the process, his arsenal seems to be expanding, while his overall basketball awareness is growing. He's starting to figure out new ways to separate and score against set defenses, while the freedom he's had in Minnesota allows him to refine his skills through trial and error. 

Season Averages	14.3	12.5	42.5	39.0
	Points	FG Attempts	FG Percentage	3PT Percentage
December 23 to January 8 (eight games)	21.5	16.3	51.5	42.3
October 29 to December 21 (26 games)	12.0	11.4	38.5	36.4

Who knew Wiggins had a post game? He sure didn't showcase one last season while playing to Kansas' system in a straitjacket.  

Against Cleveland, he converted two field goals in the post and got fouled twice from that position. That led to two more buckets in the post against Utah on December 30, three against Sacramento on January 1 and three against Utah on Saturday. 

You also have to be encouraged by his shooting, considering he's hit 39 percent of his threes (including 46.7 percent on catch-and-shoots). His perimeter-scoring game is starting to come around. We continue to see Wiggins show the ability to create his own shot, whether it's with the step-back, jab step or spin move. 

One month ago, as of December 8, Wiggins was shooting just 29.8 percent in the mid-range. He's picked that number up to 34.1 percent as of January 8, having shot 15-of-39 (38.4 percent) from 10 feet to the arc during his current eight-game hot streak. 

From implementing new moves, like post-ups, to tightening up the go-to ones he entered the league with, like step-backs, pull-ups and spins, we're starting to see Wiggins build and sharpen up his repertoire. 

Over the last few weeks, Wiggins' production is simply proof that his offensive punch can do some damage. The next step is being able to pick and choose when and where to throw it. 

The top stars in the NBA are the guys who can go get their team a bucket when it needs it most—during droughts, to start a half, down the stretch of games.

David Sherman/Getty Images

The Wolves haven't been in too many close games, but against Sacramento on January 1, down five with five minutes left to go, we saw flashes—Wiggins went straight at Rudy Gay for a bucket in the post and then came right back down the floor to beat Gay for another one in isolation. 

That's the type of go-to mentality he'll have to embrace and ultimately grow into as the Wolves' top gun.

But at this point, it's just good to see his scoring attack deliver, whether it's in crunch time or sporadically throughout a 20-point loss.

Chances are his shooting numbers will eventually fall, and his mid-range game will cool off before it catches back on fire. 

And that's OK. He's a teenager. Six seasons from today in 2021, Wiggins is still going to be considered young.  

I wouldn't get too caught up in the shaky analytics this early. The eye-test results show that Wiggins is right on track to become one of the game's most exciting two-way weapons.