Andrew Wiggins is no longer considered a complete draft bust. Under the guidance of the Golden State Warriors, Wiggins has become an impactful player on both ends of the floor for a very good team.
Baxter Holmes of ESPN broke down Wiggins' ascent with the Warriors and included a tidbit from Kevin Garnett, who shared the last few years of his career with Wiggins when they were on the Minnesota Timberwolves. The firey Garnett discussed Wiggins' love for the game (or lack thereof), which has been brought up frequently in the past.
Garnett shares something else — a point posited by scouts throughout Wiggins' basketball life. Early on, frustrated by the perceived gap between his talent and performance, Garnett wondered about Wiggins' passion for the game itself.
“I thought he liked basketball, but I don't think he loved it,” Garnett says. “Like, Wiggs has other interests in life. He has other things that stimulate him, and I have to respect that.”
“I can't really tell someone the order to love something in,” Wiggins says, in response. “I love basketball, sure, but it's temporary. I can only play basketball for so long.”
Wiggins' blunt, honest response may read to some as proving Garnett's point, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Although it is frustrating to see Wiggins not reach his full potential as a superstar, he is still a highly productive player for the Warriors.
This season, Wiggins is averaging 19.1 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting a career-high 43.5 percent from beyond the arc. He has generated some All-Star buzz for his contributions to Golden State, though the competition for an official nomination is very stiff. Regardless of him making it, he is enjoying a promising season that should only get better with the eventual return of Klay Thompson.
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