Golden State Warriors: Andrew Wiggins has become an elite defender

The Golden State Warriors had every reason to believe they could be the franchise that helps turn things around for Andrew Wiggins. If anyone was capable of pushing the former No. 1 overall pick towards a new path – it would be the Dubs.

Over the years, Golden State has built up a winning reputation. This culture rubbed off on every player who suited up for the Warriors, from Patrick McCaw and Marquese Chriss to league MVP Kevin Durant. Anybody could find success with the Dubs.

Still, the situation with Wiggins was unique. He hadn’t yet lived up to expectations in Minnesota and he hardly made any noticeable leaps in development since being drafted. Many assumed this was because of the Timberwolves’ lackluster training staff, but there was really only one way to find out how much untapped-potential was left in Wiggins – a trade had to happen.

Andrew Wiggins is fulfilling his untapped potential and becoming one of the NBA’s top-tier defenders with the Golden State Warriors.

A change of scenery can be all that is needed for a young player to thrive. As Draymond Green recently said in a blistering press conference where he attacked the league’s double standards, we always ask why a young player isn’t able to succeed – but why don’t we consider if the team he’s playing for is the one failing?

The Wolves have proven to be incompetent throughout the years. Not only did they pass on the opportunity to draft Stephen Curry back in 2009, but they’ve squandered recent talents such as Zach Lavine and Jimmy Butler – and are en route to wasting Karl-Anthony Towns’ early seasons.

As for Wiggins, however, the Warriors have offered an oasis of basketball development where he has been able to reach heights he never would have in Minnesota. Going from an uninspired defender to one of the league’s best perimeter threats in a matter of one year.

This great post from GSWReddit on Twitter shows how dedicated Wiggins is to defending shots this season – and how much more effective he has been. He is holding opponents to the second-lowest field goal percentage in the entire NBA, and Royce O’Neal is the only other guard in the entire league to defend more shots than Wiggins.

Wiggins isn’t being asked to carry the offensive load anymore and he appears far more comfortable because of it. He’s attempting the fewest shots per game since his rookie season while shooting the best splits of his career.

This extra energy has been reserved for playing hardnosed defense. Wiggins is using his length and athleticism to fly around the court and contest opponents at the best rate we’ve ever seen from him.

The Warriors did something that Minnesota never had the luxury of doing. They gave Wiggins a focused role where he is only asked to create for himself on special occasions – meaning he has more freedom to play within a team system offensively and pick the shots he is most capable of shooting.

As for defense, he’s joined by another elite wing defender in Kelly Oubre Jr. and a mastermind forward in Green. Once James Wiseman is back in the lineup and Klay Thompson eventually returns, the Warriors will have a strong core of defenders to fend off opponents.