Golden State Warriors: Analyzing Andrew Wiggins fit alongside Curry/Thompson

Andrew Wiggins will have to fit alongside Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson if he wants to succeed with the Golden State Warriors.

The Splash Brothers have adjusted and adapted to a number of different scenarios to become one of the league’s all-time great duos. How will Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson perform alongside their newest teammate, Andrew Wiggins?

Wiggins was selected No. 1 overall in the 2014 NBA Draft and was hyped up to be a future superstar. His sensational dunks and high flying ability catapulted him into All-Star projections early in his career.

Fast forward to 2020 and Wiggins’ career is in jeopardy as this stint with Golden State could be his last hope at being a star. The Warriors have high hopes for Wiggins but his success won’t be measured by his individual performances. Rather, it will be how he fits into the team’s system and blends with Curry and Thompson.

On paper, it should be an easy fit. Thompson and Curry are two of the greatest shooters ever while Wiggins is an elite finisher around the rim. This inside-out dynamic will help the Warriors maintain versatility on offense.

Concerns begin to pick up when considering Wiggins as a playmaker and defender. He has not shown much of a knack for defending the perimeter and averages just 2.3 assists for his career. This could limit Wiggin’s ability to truly have a positive impact alongside his star teammates.

Wiggins falls somewhere between Harrison Barnes and Kevin Durant in talent. This means he will need to draw from both former Warriors’ to find where he fits best with the squad. If he can find a healthy medium between Barnes and KD, Wiggins will be a welcomed sight in Golden State.

At his best, Wiggins will be able to consistently score off of cuts to the basket. He won’t have to worry about playmaking as much and will seldom be asked to create his own shot off of the dribble. Hopefully, a reduced role offensively will help him increase his energy on defense.

Put all of this together and Wiggins could fill in beautifully as the third option next to Curry and Thompson. However, we won’t know anything for certain until the three are able to play together.