Andrew Wiggins is expected to start at small forward in the season-ender for the Timberwolves against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night at Target Center.
The rookie sensation, according to the Wolves, is one of only 10 players in the NBA to have started every game this season.
But it’s not just the starts that make Wiggins’ likely Rookie of the Year campaign impressive; it’s the number of minutes he’s logging.
According to FOX Sports, Wiggins leads the NBA in minutes played since Dec. 1.
“I didn’t envision him playing the amount of minutes he’s played this year,” head coach Flip Saunders said. “I didn’t even know if he’d play 82 games and now he’s in line to play 82 games.”
As the minutes continue to mount, so does Wiggins’ confidence. With a huge vertical and a 6-foot-8 frame, Wiggins has started to dunk over and on anyone.
“My first instinct is to get to the basket, get to the rim,” Wiggins told FOX Sports. “If they back off, I’ll shoot it. But if I see a lane, I’m going for it. Whoever I see there, it doesn’t matter.”
Omer Asik of the Rockets and Rudy Gobert of the Jazz are two stout rim protectors, but both were victimized by Wiggins slams.
I like that Andrew Wiggins has decided he just wants to dunk on everybody. The Asik one was filthy but the attempt on Ajinca was absurd too.
— Zach Harper (@talkhoops) April 14, 2015
But it’s not just the dunks that should excite a fan base hard-pressed for optimism; Wiggins keeps improving. Here’s a look at his month-by-month numbers.
.@22wiggins by month. #twolves pic.twitter.com/md4G9h6ypl
— Alan Horton (@WolvesRadio) April 13, 2015
Most points by a 19-year-old in NBA history:
1,725 – Carmelo
1,654 – LeBron
1,624 – Durant
1,349 – Andrew Wiggins
1,220 – Kobe— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) April 13, 2015
So as the season comes to a close for the Timberwolves on Wednesday night, fans, don’t forget that Wiggins is only going to get better.
Andrew Wiggins was a monster last night 1. https://t.co/wboIbW0Dfg 2. https://t.co/qh8OO4Mfoe
— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) April 11, 2015
Andrew Wiggins is pretty good https://t.co/bQ8VspI7yb
— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) April 12, 2015
Andrew Wiggins! That was niiiiiiice… https://t.co/mzB7VfuwQX
— Steve Noah (@Steve_OS) April 11, 2015
Andrew Wiggins doing LeBron James dirty. https://t.co/MRqH615MzH
— SneakerTicker (@SneakerTicker) April 5, 2015
