Golden State Warriors: Andrew Wiggins has turned his season around

Andrew Wiggins’ first full season with the Golden State Warriors hasn’t been easy. The former No. 1 overall pick is attempting to find his niche as the franchise traverses through some unprecedented territory for a dormant dynasty.

The Warriors are on the verge of missing the playoffs for the second straight season and much of this year can be seen as another trial run to see who will remain on the team as they transition back into a championship-focused unit. While Klay Thompson’s return will alleviate some pressure and reduce the need for Wiggins to play perfectly – it also brings a new wave of expectations.

Andrew Wiggins is proving he can handle pressure as he successfully reverses his underwhelming season for the Golden State Warriors.

All in all, Wiggins looks like he’s having a mild season. His per-game averages are on par with his usual career numbers. Although his scoring is down slightly, his 3-point shooting has skyrocketed to a personal-best of 39.4 percent on over five attempts a night.

Andrew Wiggins 2020-21

• 18.2 Points, 4.7 Rebounds, 2.2 Assists (47/39/71 Shooting Splits)

Andrew Wiggins career

• 19.6 Points, 4.4 Rebounds, 2.3 Assists (44/34/73 Shooting Splits)

What his base statistics don’t show are his improvements on defense. He’s been more engaged than ever before, ranking towards the top of the league in contests per game. This isn’t exactly the most accurate barometer for measuring the NBA’s best defenders but it should be noted that Wiggins is contesting more shots per-36 minutes than ever in his career (10.0 contests a night).

He’s finally using his athleticism and versatility to impact the defense. With credit to Kelly Oubre and Draymond Green, Wiggins is a major reason the Warriors have a top 10 Defensive Rating this season.

More importantly, he’s shooting better from the 3-point line as of late. He’s been extremely streaky this season, with an 18 game stretch of sup 30 percent shooting earlier in the season. Yet, he’s weathered the storm and has drilled 20-of-36 (55.6 percent) of his attempts over the last six games. Wiggins is averaging 25.0 points during this stretch.

For the record, the Warriors are 10-6 when Wiggins hits three or more 3-pointers and 9-5 when he scores 20+ points. Inversely, the team has lost all but 3-of-14 games in which Wiggins has scored 15 or fewer points. There’s a clear correlation between Wiggins’ shooting and the team’s success.

Defense and 3-point shooting are exactly what the team needs from Wiggins. It’s been a bumpy road but he continues to dig away and carving his role with the Dubs.