Having kicked off the season faster than any other team in the NBA, the Warriors sit atop the NBA with the best record, so it is hard to imagine that anyone on the team is being overlooked. However, Andrew Wiggins’ play last season and, so far to date in the 2021-22 season, needs to be talked about more.
Without Klay Thompson sidelined, Wiggins has taken the challenge head-on of guarding the other team’s best wing scorer. That is something that for years Klay would always do, and he would respectfully get the attention he deserved.
The Golden State Warriors have been terrific, and former No. 1 overall pick forward Andrew Wiggins needs more praise for his role in their dominance.
While Wiggins may not have the pure jump shot like Klay, his scoring average warrants his name to be in the conversation as one of the most productive two-way forwards in the NBA. Wiggins, in just under 30 minutes a game this season, is averaging a shade over 19 points a game, trailing Stephen Curry as the team’s second-leading scorer.
Wiggins, who has more points than any other Canadian-born NBA player, is now playing consistent basketball. The former number one pick is showcasing the rare talent that had NBA draft scouts drooling years ago.
He has long been criticized for his somewhat nonchalant demeanor and attitude by many in the media, but it seems as if the Warriors fit was the right one. Established veterans in the locker room like Stephen Curry and Draymond Green have taken Wiggins under the wing and the play speaks for itself.
Last year, everything for Wiggins just looked different according to the eye test. He was finally utilizing his frame and his freak athleticism to put offensive players through tough shooting games while putting up steady scoring outputs.
This year, it has been more of the same but even better. The defense has gotten better, the mid-range is more deadly, and the team is far more dominant.
The great thing for the Warriors is that this type of production by Andrew Wiggins is a bonus when taking into account that Klay Thompson will be returning in a matter of weeks.
If he can continue to be a steady force for the Warriors, especially on Curry’s rare bad shooting nights, then the Warriors will look nearly invincible by midseason when number 11 comes back.