The spotlight shines brightest on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren of NBA champion Oklahoma City, but there’s another Thunder player who deserves attention: guard Aaron Wiggins.
Yes, that Wiggins. The guy who dropped the mic Tuesday at the OKC Thunder victory celebration.
The former Maryland standout is the kind of role player who could explode with more usage. Wiggins, who averaged 22.9 minutes a game this season, is a two-way wing with length, discipline and offensive polish.
In a different situation — one where he’s not the fifth option behind an All-Star trio — Wiggins has the potential to make a James Harden-type leap. Not necessarily into superstardom, but into that Chauncey Billups, Gilbert Arenas, Jermaine O’Neal tier: players who were good on one team, then became great once given the keys elsewhere.
Wiggins, who calls himself a “late bloomer,” averaged 12.9 points this season. The 2021 second-round pick (55th overall) is a potential 50/40/80 threat who defends at a high level and moves without the ball like a veteran. His feel for the game, athleticism and attitude are tailor-made for a bigger opportunity. This isn’t a player who needs to be force-fed shots to be effective — he’s someone who can scale up without sacrificing efficiency or rhythm.
That’s why a team in NBA limbo such as the Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat — not bad enough to tank, not good enough to contend — should be on the phone with OKC.
Wiggins won’t come cheap. He’s in that rare space between being untouchable and being a valuable trade chip. But if a front office has the vision and patience to build around him or elevate him into a leading role, the payoff could be massive.
We’ve seen it before. Harden in Houston. Billups in Detroit. Arenas in Washington. O’Neal in Indiana.
Wiggins could be next.
