Is the decline of Andrew Wiggins happening sooner than expected?
Something is wrong with Andrew Wiggins?
Andrew Wiggins was on his way to being a star in the NBA, but the arrival of Klay Thompson changed all that. Wiggins' decline was baffling and came sooner than expected.
Andrew Wiggins the All-Star
Wiggins' arrival to the Golden State Warriors worked wonders in his career. He was signed to become the 3rd or 4th option on offense and mitigate Klay Thompson's loss while recovering from his injury. Andrew embraced his role and the challenges that came with it.
He's averaging 17.6 points and 4.2 rebounds this season, and he made the All-Star lineup for the first time thanks to Kpop star BamBam who campaigned for him. However, many still question his inclusion in the All-Star game. After all, he averaged more playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves but never got in. In February, his numbers went down, which added more fuel for further criticizm.
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Wiggins suffers from Klay Thompson's arrival
With Klay Thompson's arrival, it's expected that Wiggins would have a lesser role or playing time, and it would affect his performances. That's a given fact, but his game deteriorated faster than anyone expected.
Per Basketball-Reference, in February, just weeks after the ASG in Cleveland, Andrew tallied 13.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. Since Klay returned, his highest scoring output was 19 points, while the lowest was nine points. Moreover, the small forward is shooting 47.8 percent from the free-throw line in his last 20 games. If this continues, Wiggins could make history as the fastest player to fall from the All-Star level in the same season.
Steve Kerr and the coaching staff need to diagnose the problem ASAP. The playoffs are just around the corner. Utilizing Wiggins as another offensive option aside from the Splash Brothers increases the chances for the Warriors to go deeper in the postseason.
With Thompson back in the lineup, Andrew Wiggins needs to adjust and embrace his new role. He can do much more than scoring if he struggles with his shooting. With the absence of Draymond Green, Andrew could provide more on defense and add the hustle that Draymond gives.
In March, he might go nuclear and prove that all the critics are wrong about him. As long as the Warriors are winning, the fans probably wouldn't care, but Andrew Wiggins needs to shape up before becoming a liability rather than an asset for Golden State.
