Andrew Wiggins’ temperament: Conundrum or catalyst?
By Josh Bungum
What can we expect?
It cannot be overstated that Andrew Wiggins is still an incredible young individual, even given that he is now in his fourth year in the NBA. The almost-23-year-old (his birthday is on Friday) still has time to grow his game and adapt as he becomes more comfortable in where his scoring opportunities will come and how to play off of fellow stars in Jimmy Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns.
The pertinent question is whether or not he can turn his passive temperament into an asset. That is to say, will he allow himself to not be frustrated when taking the backseat to these fellow stars and dominate his mismatches with increased his efficiency, turning into one of the most lethal third options in the entire league? Or rather, will he let his passive demeanor take him out of games and continue to struggle making an impact in areas other than the scoring column?
As we move into the future with this Timberwolves roster, and the looming financial pains it is set to endure with max contracts due to Towns and Butler, Wiggins continued growth is perhaps the most pivotal piece to the heights the franchise can reach.
He likely will never change who he is as an individual. His relaxed personality will lead to countless moments moving forward where he is laughing with teammates after an intense late-game timeout or poking fun at Cole Aldrich for his ridiculous game day outfits. He will continue to drive fans crazy as he disappears for games against inferior competition and bricks an unsettling number of free throws.
But the moments where he raises up to throw down a tomahawk dunk over some of the league’s best rim protectors, or looks like the best player on the floor in games where his services are needed, are the times that give us hope as fans. Striving to make these moments routine rather than inconsistent is the key.
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Hopefully, when all is said and done and this Timberwolves core is eventually broken up, we can say that his temperament was more of the catalyst we all hoped it could be rather than the conundrum we feared. Only time will tell.