scm5
01-05-2016, 06:32 PM
I've seen so many posts writing this kid off, even calling him a bust. I'm going to dispel that.
In terms of production, I wouldn't worry just yet. Carmelo Anthony came into the league as a complete offensive player yet he still had his struggles before become one of the best offensive players in the league.
At 20 years old and in his second season (same as Wiggins), Melo put up these stats: 20.8ppg 43%FG 26.6%3FG% 7.6 FTA/gm
Look familiar?
How many of you were writing Melo off on his second season in the NBA?
The most common comparison I see for Wiggins is Rudy Gay, some even putting Wiggins' ceiling at Gay's level. Gay is actually an efficient scorer with a deadly mid-range game. However, that's also Gay's downfall. He makes really hard mid-range shots, but he does it without trying to draw contact. Gay in his best season, only averaged 5.8 FTA's per game. Wiggins averaged 5.7 during his rookie season and is averaging 7.5 this season. Keep in mind that Wiggins' best quality is his athleticism and he's playing with grown men. Once he grows into his athleticism and develops the strength to go along with it, he's going to be a monster. He looks absolutely effortless moving out there.
A similar example of players that never panned out is Michael Beasley. We all saw how much talent the dude had. His best season even came in Minny where he averaged 19ppg, but he still only got to the line 4.0FTA (the most in his career) that season.
The funny thing about Wiggins is that he actually shies away from contact. He's still a scrawny kid by NBA standards and gets bumped easily. When he drives, he rarely finishes strong and usually tries to finesse his finish. This will probably change once he inevitably gets stronger. He gets to the hoop almost effortlessly, but its his finishing that's holding him to low FG%.
Andrew Wiggins has perhaps one of the most deadly spin moves in the game. He does it so effortlessly and moves so fluidly during the spin move that he can travel great distances with it. He draws a ton of his fouls this way.
Even if Wiggins never develops a decent jump shot, you can be sure he'll start finishing stronger once he puts some muscle on. He already gets 32.3% of his FGA's 0-3 ft from the basket which beats out Kobe's best season and higher than Lebron got in his first two seasons in the NBA, he just needs to start finishing stronger around the basket.
Wiggins also gets around 50% of his shots within 10 ft of the basket which is higher than Lebron averaged for most of his career. In fact, Lebron only put up a higher % of shots within 10 feet once he started playing more PF.
You can be sure that all things considered, at the bare minimum, he'll be putting up 25ppg on over 45% FG once he fills out.
In terms of production, I wouldn't worry just yet. Carmelo Anthony came into the league as a complete offensive player yet he still had his struggles before become one of the best offensive players in the league.
At 20 years old and in his second season (same as Wiggins), Melo put up these stats: 20.8ppg 43%FG 26.6%3FG% 7.6 FTA/gm
Look familiar?
How many of you were writing Melo off on his second season in the NBA?
The most common comparison I see for Wiggins is Rudy Gay, some even putting Wiggins' ceiling at Gay's level. Gay is actually an efficient scorer with a deadly mid-range game. However, that's also Gay's downfall. He makes really hard mid-range shots, but he does it without trying to draw contact. Gay in his best season, only averaged 5.8 FTA's per game. Wiggins averaged 5.7 during his rookie season and is averaging 7.5 this season. Keep in mind that Wiggins' best quality is his athleticism and he's playing with grown men. Once he grows into his athleticism and develops the strength to go along with it, he's going to be a monster. He looks absolutely effortless moving out there.
A similar example of players that never panned out is Michael Beasley. We all saw how much talent the dude had. His best season even came in Minny where he averaged 19ppg, but he still only got to the line 4.0FTA (the most in his career) that season.
The funny thing about Wiggins is that he actually shies away from contact. He's still a scrawny kid by NBA standards and gets bumped easily. When he drives, he rarely finishes strong and usually tries to finesse his finish. This will probably change once he inevitably gets stronger. He gets to the hoop almost effortlessly, but its his finishing that's holding him to low FG%.
Andrew Wiggins has perhaps one of the most deadly spin moves in the game. He does it so effortlessly and moves so fluidly during the spin move that he can travel great distances with it. He draws a ton of his fouls this way.
Even if Wiggins never develops a decent jump shot, you can be sure he'll start finishing stronger once he puts some muscle on. He already gets 32.3% of his FGA's 0-3 ft from the basket which beats out Kobe's best season and higher than Lebron got in his first two seasons in the NBA, he just needs to start finishing stronger around the basket.
Wiggins also gets around 50% of his shots within 10 ft of the basket which is higher than Lebron averaged for most of his career. In fact, Lebron only put up a higher % of shots within 10 feet once he started playing more PF.
You can be sure that all things considered, at the bare minimum, he'll be putting up 25ppg on over 45% FG once he fills out.