Since the Golden State Warriors acquired Andrew Wiggins via trade, the explosive forward has become integral to the team’s rotation. Under the tutelage of Steve Kerr, Wiggins has developed into one of the best three-and-D wings in the NBA and has become an NBA champion.
However, it appears Wiggins’ inability to build on his impressive 2021-22 season has seen him slide out of the top 10 small forwards in the NBA. According to HoopsHype’s latest position rankings, Wiggins is 12th among his peers, two slots behind Kris Middleton of the Milwaukee Bucks.
“After a very successful 2021-22 season that saw him help lead the Golden State Warriors to a championship, Andrew Wiggins was not able to follow up on that run last season, missing a large portion of the campaign to deal with personal matters,” Frank Urbina wrote. “Once Wiggins did return for the playoffs, he never really got into a great rhythm, just one of the many reasons Golden State was unable to repeat.”
Who will be the top small forward of the season in the NBA?
We’re going with Jayson Tatum once again.https://t.co/cOgAUMjKlw
— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) August 13, 2023
Wiggins was a No. 1 draft pick. Yet, the 28-year-old struggled to showcase his skills during his tenure with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Fortunately, the Warriors have found a way to bring the best out of Wiggins, and when healthy, his defense and tertiary scoring provides the Warriors with a different dimension on both sides of the court.
After missing the majority of last season due to injuries, Wiggins will need to prove himself once again as a new-look Golden State roster gears up for another push toward a championship. If Wiggins can regain the form he displayed during the 2022 postseason, this time next year, he will surely be listed among the top 10 players in his position.
