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Minnesota Timberwolves: The key to Andrew Wiggins’ breakout season

By Andrew Ites

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 1: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves gets a rebound during a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 1, 2019 at Target Center in Minneapolis, 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 1: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves gets a rebound during a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 1, 2019 at Target Center in Minneapolis, 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins is enjoying the best year of his career after many had given up on him, and his success can be explained by one simple adjustment.

The Minnesota Timberwolves reportedly tried to trade Andrew Wiggins this offseason, but they couldn’t find any serious suitors to take on the last four seasons of his five-year, $147.7 million contract.

Wiggins told the media that he had heard the naysayers, but most were skeptical whether that criticism would be enough to finally light a fire for the former number one overall pick who’s dedication to the game has been questioned.

Wiggins has silenced nearly all of the doubters this year as he’s off to an incredible start averaging 24.9 points per game with 5.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists. The efficiency numbers support those impressive box score stats with a player efficiency rating of 19.4 and an effective field goal percentage of 50.6%.

All of those numbers would be career-highs for Wiggins who was coming off of his worst season as a pro last year.

The secret to Andrew’s success this year has been trimming the midrange fat from his offensive game and becoming much more aggressive in attacking the rim.

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According to NBA.com, Wiggins is averaging 15.9 drives per game this season which ranks 13th in the league among the likes of Kyrie Irving and Donovan Mitchell. Compare that to last year when Andrew averaged just 7.9 drives per game.

Those drives have given Wiggins more opportunities for easier buckets at the rim as his 11.9 points in the paint per game this season would easily be a career-high, and it’s a huge jump from the 7.4 he averaged last year.

Those drives to the basket have helped him cut down on his midrange attempts as the percentage of his shots from both 10-16 feet and 16 feet to the three-point line are both career-lows by a significant margin.

His aggressiveness in attacking the rim is also opening up good shots for his teammates as Wiggins has shown much more promise as a distributor this season.

Wolves fans have been screaming at the television for years pleading for Wiggins to stop taking so many undesirable midrange shots, and it looks like Ryan Saunders is the first coach to actually get through to Andrew on that subject.

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During the preseason media day, Wiggins said he watched film and broke down some analytics this offseason with Saunders to improve his shot selection and that work is paying off big time this season.

Even if Wiggins cools off a bit and he’s not converting as many of those looks at the rim, his improved shot profile will help him be a much more efficient player moving forward as we’ve seen from the first couple months of the season.

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