[festar35Participant]

Has he finally turned a corner? He has looked good so far this year, been scoring the ball nicely which he has always been capable of, but putting in a bit of effort defensively as well. Think he can keep it up?

25.5ppg-4.8rpg-3.3apg on 47% shooting is pretty good for a 24yr old, he is still very young.

[OhCanada-Participant]

He finally worked on his game. Hes bigger and stronger and his dribbling has noticeably improved. Now he can not ony finish at the rim but he is able to dribble through bumps and get to his spots on the floor. His skillset as a scorer is now polished and hes legit.

That being said he still makes bonehead plays from time to time, that whole Wolves team does but they are starting to turn the corner.

[r377Participant]

He looks a lot better, better dribbling and attacking. still throws up some bad shots but his stats are super impressive so far

[marcusfizer21Participant]

I think it has to do with Ryan Saunders and the confidence he gives him on a nightly basis. Not everyone can handle Thibodeau’s micro-minded approach and Jimmy Butler’s bullying. He’s more comfortable now with the system that allows him to be more involved rather than settle and take consistent awful mid-range shots. But in order for Wiggy to be better, he needs to improve his mental approach to the game more so than anything. He needs to face the bullies rather than succumb to them. He needs to prove that he can take whatever is given to him and so far, he has done a good job in this early part of the season.

[OhCanada-Participant]

I think that pretty much sums it up . I remember reading this before the season began.
Per Sportsnet (via SKOR North):

“I feel like my first three years I was on the rise and was getting better and better and then some changes were made,” Wiggins said. “I worked really hard this summer, and I’m as confident as I was when I first came into the league.”

The change Wiggins referred to is likely the big move Thibodeau made in the summer of 2017 to acquire Jimmy Butler, a player Thibodeau helped coach and develop while with the Chicago Bulls.

“All the yelling and stuff, I feel, is not going to really change my mood,” Wiggins said of what style of coaching gets the best out of him. “But when a coach comes at me and is real and tells me the real I feel like I respect that a lot more than anyone just yelling. Because anyone can yell, anyone can raise their voice, but not a lot of people can be real. So that goes a long way for me.”

At only 33 years old, Saunders is the youngest coach in the NBA, something that Wiggins says has helped acclimate himself to the Timberwolves players well.

“He’s a players’ coach for sure,” said Wiggins. “He has a great energy about him and I feel like a lot of guys can relate because he’s not too much older than us and I feel like he gets us.”

[ZouldiersParticipant]

The Sean McVay of the NBA. About time really

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

Wiggins has made some noticeable improvements to his game, but he is not really playing all that differently in my estimation. The difference is he is playing with a lot more confidence and is finally being given the type of freedom he needs to develop and thrive. Butler and thibs really did a number on his confidence, but you can see that he is getting it back.
The wolves are finally committed to building around towns and Wiggins as there 1-2 punch, which probably should have been the plan all along. These guys have gotten a ton of scrutiny for the past few seasons (some warranted, some not), but they are both still very young players with a ton of talent and there still could be a bright future in Minnesota.

[The GoatParticipant]

I’m glad this thread is here. I logged on today to specifically come and say that Wiggins and KAT need a shout out for actually showing some heart this year. They are playing hard, and people tend not notice Minny unless we are looking for someone to rag on. Wiggins has had a very good stretch, although I’m not sure of his defensive metrics as yet. If it’s like this by new year it’d be a good start. By March, then I can say he’s turned the corner.

[OhCanada-Participant]

Kat showed some heart last year too. He played as good as anyone really. Just doesnt really know how to close out games yet same as last year.

[canadabasketballisrisingParticipant]

Wiggins has showed major improvement when he look at his handles and defense- i don’t know how he could possibly only be showing “limited or noticeable” improvement. The question is- will this last or not?

[HitsterParticipant]

He is playing well and with Butler gone he’ll get a much higher percentage of shots. Don’t forget this is a guy who has never averaged less than 16.9ppg in a season and has a best of 23.7ppg so he clearly has the ability to be a 25ppg player and challenge for an All Star birth.

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