Golden State Warriors: Andrew Wiggins needs another great year

Andrew Wiggins has taken full advantage of his second NBA life. Through years of being labeled a disappointment, the former No. 1 overall draft pick has found a home with the Golden State Warriors.

Wiggins played an integral role in lifting the Dubs to the Play-In Tournament last year. He shined in every facet of the game, wiping his reputation clean and giving him a brand new slate to work with.

The best is yet to come for Andrew Wiggins, who will need another great year with the Golden State Warriors to solidify his status.

On the defensive end, Wiggins finally put his physical attributes together by being an active member of the team. He accepted the challenge of defending opposing stars and showed an engagement level that was not there prior to this season for Wiggins.

He picked up perimeter players, fought over screens and contested shots at a league-high rate. Wiggins placed third in the NBA for 3-pointers contested and matched his career-high for blocks per game at 1.0.

Wiggins did not only impact the game as a disruptor but he found more success than ever as an offensive player. He thrived in his role as a complementary piece rather than a go-to scorer. Though Wiggins’ per-game scoring was down, his shooting splits of 47.7 percent from the field and 38.0 percent from the 3-point line marked the best of his seven-year career.

In particular, 3-point shooting will be an x-factor for Wiggins. Last year was an anomaly when looking back at his previous six seasons in which he shot below 35 percent from deep in all but one. He’s also been asked to increase his catch-and-shoot output to personal-high levels, connecting on 38.5 percent of nearly four attempts a night.

I would not expect Wiggins to suddenly lose his energy on defense. However, it is not a certainty that he will continue to be such a consistent shooter from behind the line. This issue can be minimized by Klay Thompson‘s return later in the year but will be highlighted early on if Wiggins reverts to his older habits.

Nevertheless, Wiggins has put together a solid sample size of rejuvenated basketball for the Dubs. We have high hopes for what year three of Wiggins will bring to Golden State and expect him to pick up where he left off.