Golden State Warriors: Andrew Wiggins needs to be more aggressive

The Golden State Warriors need more from players not named Stephen Curry, and while Andrew Wiggins has played well, he still needs to do more.

Andrew Wiggins has been with the Golden State Warriors for almost a year.

Being brought in prior to the 2020 trade deadline in a trade that featured D’Angelo Russell, Wiggins’ development has actually shocked many. He’s playing the best basketball of his career with the Warriors.

Wiggins, this season, is averaging 17.5 points per game, playing 32 minutes per game. The two aspects of Wiggins’s game that have been notably more impressive than anyone was imagining are his efficiency and defense. Wiggins is averaging 1.4 blocks per game.

As for his offensive game, he’s shooting over 46 percent from the field for the first time in his career, but his shot attempts are down. While that isn’t a bad thing, the Warriors are going to need more from someone in the postseason.

It’s also similar from deep. While his volume three-point shooting is down, Wiggins is averaging a career-high 36.9 from downtown this season. That’s been paramount for the team’s success this season.

When Stephen Curry receives consistent double teams, there must be a player that makes the right play the majority of the time. Wiggins has proven that he can be that player, but for now, he needs to take his aggression playstyle to the next level.

Three times in the full six full years Wiggins has played, he’s averaged at least 20 points per game. Despite shooting at career-high averages, Wiggins is averaging the second-fewest points per game in his career.

Curry is attracting the bulk of the attention and launching over 20 attempts per game. Wiggins is sitting at just over 14. If he can get that number up to where it was last season, 17, he should see his scoring improve back into the 20s.

The Warriors don’t have the options that they did in the past. They brought in Kelly Oubre Jr. to help fill at least the void created when Klay Thompson‘s injury was announced. Oubre Jr. has been consistent for the Warriors.

They’re also trying to replace Kevin Durant, who left in the 2019 offseason. Wiggins won’t reach that level, but he’s got the potential to be a solid second option. Stepping up and getting his shot more often should be what’s next on Wiggins’s plate.

His potential within the Warriors’ offense is uncapped, but he needs to be more aggressive with his offensive game.