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Can Jimmy Butler be Andrew Wiggins’ Luol Deng?

By Austin Hansen

BLOOMINGTON, MN - JUNE 29: Tom Thibobeau introduces Jimmy Butler of the Minnesota Timberwolves to the public during a press conference at the Mall of America on June 29, 2017 in Bloomington, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, MN - JUNE 29: Tom Thibobeau introduces Jimmy Butler of the Minnesota Timberwolves to the public during a press conference at the Mall of America on June 29, 2017 in Bloomington, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Can Andrew Wiggins benefit from Jimmy Butler like Butler benefited from Luol Deng? Let’s explore the role of mentors in today’s NBA.

When Jimmy Butler entered the NBA he was fortunate enough to be mentored by seasoned veteran Luol Deng. Deng, a defensive-minded, high-minutes former Tom Thibodeau player, proved to be instrumental in advancing Butler’s career.  Can Butler be to Andrew Wiggins what Luol Deng was to him?

While there are many instances where this comparison doesn’t seem to bear fruit, Minnesota Timberwolves’ fans should hope there are at least a few areas in which Butler can put his stamp on Wiggins. He should be able to mentor Wiggins on rounding out his offensive arsenal, giving the blueprint for becoming a lock-down defender, and setting the example for how to be a true professional.

Offense

Wiggins is staggeringly ahead of Butler in terms of points per game at their respective ages. Butler wasn’t drafted until he was 22 and didn’t average over 20 points until his fourth NBA season. Wiggins, entering his fourth season, has already averaged over 20 points for two consecutive seasons. The difference is Wiggins is only 22 and it took Butler until age 26 to accomplish this same feat.

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With that in mind, there is no reason to believe that Wiggins point-scoring can’t continue on an upward climb. Butler, who has increased his points per game in each of his six NBA campaigns, surely has some scoring tips that can help his under-study develop into that go-to scorer opponents will come to fear. Because Wiggins and Butler will be sharing the wing-scoring role, I don’t necessarily believe either will see an immediate increase in ppg. However, I do look for both to have significant increases in scoring efficiency numbers.

Defense

This is where the comparison gets harder to fathom. Deng was an established lock-down defender when Butler entered the league. Butler was drafted because of his defense and mostly in spite of his offense. The opposite can basically be said of Wiggins. Hear me out on this one though. While Jimmy was brought into Chicago to play defense, his tireless work ethic propelled his offense to All-Star levels.

If the ultimate goal is to become a top two-way player, why is it unimaginable that Wiggins can’t morph into a top-tier defender in the same fashion that Butler transformed his offensive weaknesses? Wiggins has all the physical and athletic tools to become an All-Defense candidate in the future. With a defensive-minded coach at the helm and a running mate that paved his path to stardom through defensive intensity, is there ever going to be a better time for Wiggins to make the leap defensively?

Intangibles

While it may seem cliché, there are many aspects to becoming an NBA superstar that do not involve actual gameplay. Butler is known for working extremely hard in the offseason, taking care of his body during the rigors of the NBA season and fully competing each and every NBA contest. I’m not suggesting that Wiggins doesn’t do any of these things. However, he has never played alongside an established All-Star wing of this magnitude.

Butler has a few more seasons under his belt and if nothing else brings a winning mentality that has landed him in the playoffs in all but one of his professional playing years. Whether these things directly rub off on Wiggins or not, Butler is going to, at a minimum, lead by example. It will be up to Wiggins to follow his lead.

Butler and Wiggins are not exactly similar players or personalities. Nobody can force the two to be friends off of the court. There is no proof that both players can have success on the court whilst co-existing. However, both are explosive players that have been dubbed as one-dimensional early in their careers.

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One could argue that the duo is under appreciated both today and for what they accomplished in the beginning stages of their careers. The opportunity for Butler to mentor Wiggins seems to be one that both players should seize and be mutually beneficial. Wolves’ fans should be hopeful for a Deng-Butler type relationship. If Wiggins can unlock further potential and Butler continues to play at an elite level, wing-play in Minnesota should be at an all-time high.

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