How Andrew Wiggins Turned His Career Around

Andrew Wiggins' career has been one of ups and downs, but it can be argued that his time with the Golden State Warriors has been the turning point in his career.

Wiggins was the first overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, but was quickly traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves as part of the Kevin Love trade. He was expected to be the face of the franchise and a future All-Star, but his time in Minnesota was filled with inconsistency and underachievement. He struggled to live up to the lofty expectations that came with being the first overall pick, and many criticized him for his lack of effort on the defensive end of the floor.

However, everything changed for Wiggins when he was traded to the Golden State Warriors in February of 2020. The Warriors had just lost Klay Thompson to a season-ending injury and were in need of another scorer to fill the void. Wiggins was seen as a reclamation project, and many wondered if he would be able to fit in with the Warriors' system.

But to the surprise of many, Wiggins thrived in Golden State. He embraced a new role as a 3-and-D player and was an integral part of the team's run to the Western Conference Finals. He averaged over 20 points per game in the playoffs and shot over 40% from three-point range. He also showed significant improvements on the defensive end, earning praise from his teammates and coaches for his effort and intensity.

The very next year, with Klay still sidelined, he was the second best player on a championship team. He and Steph Curry led the Warriors all the way to the finals against the formidable Celtics who had dismantled a great Nets and Bucks team. Wiggins's performance in the finals was integral to the Warriors winning the championship. He was also voted a All Star Starter that very same year. Let's take a look at his stats on the Warriors vs on the Timberwolves.

Season	Team	Games Played	Points per Game	Rebounds per Game	Assists per Game	Field Goal Percentage	Three-Point Percentage
2019-2020 (w/ MIN)	Timberwolves	42	22.4	5.2	3.7	44.4%	33.1%
2019-2020 (w/ GSW)	Warriors	12	20.7	4.6	3.6	45.7%	33.9%
2020-2021 (w/ GSW)	Warriors	71	18.6	4.9	2.4	46.6%	38.0%
2021-2022 (w/ GSW)	Warriors	73	17.2	4.5	2.2	48.2%	40.7%

Though his traditional stats have not improved since his ppg, rpg, and apg, have all slightly decreased, his impact on the game has greatly improved. His massive increase in 3pt% also represents the hard work that he was been putting in since joining the Warriors.

Wiggins' success with the Warriors can be attributed to several factors. First and foremost, he was given a clearly defined role on the team. He was no longer expected to be the primary scorer, but instead was asked to focus on defending and knocking down open shots. This allowed him to play to his strengths and take pressure off of him to create his own shot.

The Warriors also provided Wiggins with a winning culture and a group of veterans who were able to mentor and guide him. Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala were instrumental in helping Wiggins adjust to his new role and teaching him the importance of defense and effort.

Lastly, it's worth mentioning that Wiggins' time with the Warriors also allowed him to work on his mental and emotional well-being. He had struggled with depression and anxiety throughout his career, and he credited the Warriors organization for helping him to take care of his mental health and regain his confidence.

Andrew Wiggins' time with the Golden State Warriors has been a turning point in his career. He has gone from an underachieving lottery pick to a valuable role player on a championship-contending team. His success with the Warriors is a testament to the power of a clear role, a winning culture, and the guidance of veteran teammates. It's an exciting time for Wiggins and the Warriors, and it will be fascinating to see what the future holds for him.