Amidst an extremely talented team, Aaron Wiggins is entering a critical point in his career with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
As a 25-year-old point guard, Wiggins’ role on this team has always been very important, but on paper, it’s been diminishing as the Thunder become more relevant as a contending team in the Western Conference. Nearly nine fewer minutes per game from his rookie season to now, along with 31 fewer starts — and, to be clear, that has nothing to do with his performance, of course, but rather an influx of talent on the roster that’s clouding Wiggins’ ability to spend more time on the floor.
But when you look at his productivity during those 15.7 minutes averaged over 78 games a year ago, his efficiency and confidence have never been higher on either end of the floor. His time is maximized, as the former Maryland Terrapin feeds off the budding success he, his teammates and the entire team are seeing.
From his sophomore season to his junior campaign, Wiggins saw a 10 percent increase in his three-point percentage while slightly decreasing his three-point shooting frequency — all while doing the same from the field, which is a 5 percent increase in that area. He knows how to play to his strengths, clearly. However, it seems like his role in this version of the Thunder could be limited in some sense.
With Cason Wallace proving his worth as a sixth man, a spot-up starter and a solid two-way talent, Alex Caruso coming over from Chicago, sharpshooter Isaiah Joe and, of course, Lu Dort, Oklahoma City’s depth along the wing inhibits Wiggins’ ability to consistently play 20-plus minutes a night, allowing him to be as effective as possible in the playing time he’s given.
His role is a perfect fit for Oklahoma City, as he does everything he’s asked to do and with a smile, like every player on this Thunder team. Whether he’ll end up wanting more out of his career in the long run is another story. But for the foreseeable future, Wiggins fits the Thunder mold extremely well — and it seems like he’s comfortable with the opportunities he’s been given and will continue to be given as Oklahoma City looks to capture a title.
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