Will Klay Thompson or Andrew Wiggins Be the Better Player in the Long Run?
By Ben Pickman
Andrew Wiggins is somehow only 19 years old, yet the Minnesota Timberwolves’ guard is already making his imprint on the NBA after playing just 53 games.
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Klay Thompson is still just 25 years old and in the midst of the best year of his career. The Washington State product has proven he is far more than just a three point shooter.
In the Warriors 94-91 win over the Timberwolves Wednesday night, Thompson outplayed Wiggins. Wiggins’ six point performance is only his second single-digit scoring game in his past 27 games. But the young Wolves’ guard is better than many expected, so let’s consider which guard will have the better career in the long run.
Thompson entered the league in 2011-12 and after a solid rookie season posting 12.5 points per game while shooting 44 percent from the field and 41 percent from three, has improved in each of his first four seasons culminating in his current breakout season. Thompson is currently averaging 22.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, all while shooting 47 percent from the field and 44 percent from three. He has been named to his first All-Star Game and looks to be the franchise piece the Warriors thought he would eventually become.
But when considering who will have a better NBA career, unless Thompson scores 25 plus points consistently and continues to improve the entirety of his NBA arsenal, Wiggins is projected to be the better player in the long run.
Wiggins, 19, is a lock for the Rookie of the Year award. After a relatively slow start, the Kansas Jayhawks’ product has taken the league by storm. In the month of January, Wiggins averaged 19.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game while shooting 47 percent from the field and 34 percent from three. His on-ball defense has improved slightly with more games under his belt, but his off-ball defense has drastically improved and he no longer looks as lost on either end as he did in the month of November.
There is a debate in NBA circles as to whether the Cavs are better off with Kevin Love or Andrew Wiggins. And, conversely, another question on whether Wiggins is better off with the Wolves or Cavs.
The jury is still out on the first question. And when considering the latter, there are two schools of thought.
Surely Wiggins would have learned a ton playing with LeBron James and Co., but it is very likely LeBron would not have joined the Cavs without knowing the Cavs would get Love. Who knows what kind of impact a bad game against the Spurs on national TV would have had on Wiggins’ psyche. With the Wolves, it’s not often that he has to worry about putting up a stinker on national TV.
In Minnesota, Wiggins is the star of the team. He is the only player on the roster to start every game this season and has emerged as the focal point of the offense. He has looked better than anyone expected in his first few months in the league. Wiggins truly has flourished running the show, but in the future if the Wolves continue to struggle, then a question will arise on whether Wiggins is merely a stat-stuffer and is just the best guy on a bad team.
That all remains to be seen.
The Warriors though, are clearly better off with Thompson then Love.
In Bil Simmons Book, The Book of Basketball, Simmons spends a section of his 697 page encyclopedia discussing the great Detroit Piston Isaiah Thomas. Thomas is quoted as saying that, “the secret of basketball is that its not about basketball.” Translation: the secret to basketball is the chemistry of the team. Playing alongside teammates you like truly does make a difference. And for the Warriors, chemistry is an ultra-important reason for their success. Their chemistry and continuity has made a major difference this season and will continue to in following seasons.
Wiggins is hoping to form some continuity in Minnesota as well, something that Kevin Love was never able to do. If Wiggins does, and Minnesota improves enough to make the playoffs while the Warriors are still legitimate power players in the NBA, NBA fans might get the opportunity to watch two of the best shooting guards in the league battle for supremacy.