Thomas Shea – USA TODAY Sports
When Andrew Wiggins was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, it was unclear if he would be able to live up to his potential. He was a physically gifted player with great measurables and a good work ethic. Yet it was thought that he would need time to develop and that he may not have the killer instinct to be a true number one scorer. Even though it is extremely early in his career, Wiggins has already shown signs that he can be a star in this league. So far this season, he has arguably been the best rookie when stepping on the court.
Wiggins is averaging 15 points, four rebounds and over a steal per game this season. He has shown a developing outside shot, and an explosive ability to finish at the rim. He is often one of the most athletic players every time he plays, and few are capable of containing him one on one. Defensively, he has matched up against some of the better offensive players in the league and has the talent on that end of the court to become a lock-down defender one day.
The Timberwolves have had their fair share of injuries this season, and currently own one of the worst records in the league. But now they have several young talented players, who they can build around for the future. They have an athletic team who will surely be entertaining to watch in future years, with plenty of room to grow. This is good news for the organization, as they had to trade away another star player in Kevin Love during the offseason and needed to get quality assets in return. They should be happy with the way Wiggins is playing so far this season, especially if he continues to improve on a nightly basis.
