BROOKLYN – Andrew Wiggins grew up watching Vince Carter during his “Air Canada” days, back when Tracy McGrady was also with the Toronto Raptors, showing his early flashes of stardom.
The phenom drew comparisons to both former Toronto players as ceilings for his development when he entered the NBA draft.
However, a handful of games into his NBA career, the 19-year-old has drawn numerous comparisons to Paul George in recent conversations with several league general managers, executives and scouts.
Wiggins had his best game thus far Wednesday, scoring 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting in a 98-91 road win over Brooklyn. He played a season-high 37 minutes, including down the stretch when he was asked by coach Flip Saunders to defend Joe Johnson, one of the best 1-on-1 wings in the NBA.
“He reminded me of Paul George,” an Eastern Conference GM told SheridanHoops. “Paul came in a better off-ball defender than Andrew. He’s probably a good on-ball defender. Paul had a very difficult time handling the ball when he came in and worked on it and their shooting is similar. I’d say Andrew is a hair better athlete and Paul is a little bigger maybe.
“Paul’s got a killer instinct in him and that’s what drove him and will continue to drive him. I just don’t know with Andrew until you see him do it. I suspect he does since he’s gotten to the level he has now.”
The biggest unknown is if Wiggins has the “killer instinct” of franchise players such as Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan.
The question is raised because some scouts felt Wiggins disappeared for stretches during games in his lone season at Kansas. However, other talent evaluators believed Wiggins let the game come to him and was a team player due to the surplus of talent on Kansas’ roster. Those same evaluators believed Wiggins could take over games with more assertiveness because the natural talent is there to dominate athletically.
“People that have watched us play, we see a three- or four-minute stretch where he’ll be able to take over a game offensively,” Saunders said. “Eventually, we’re hoping that he’s going to be able to do that over the course of 48 minutes and not just for three or four.”
That “killer instinct” isn’t something a player can learn or pick up over time. It’s something within him like an “it” factor. You either have it, or you don’t.
Or as Nets coach Lionel Hollins would say, “You’re either pregnant, or you’re not.”
“His skill level is awesome,” an Eastern Conference GM told SheridanHoops. “His athleticism is off the charts. He’s got a prototypical NBA body and will get stronger. He can be a Paul George type of defender. In the open court, he can be really a terrific player. For him it’s just a matter of continuing to develop a skill set. He’ll do that. He’s a hard worker.”
For Wiggins to become an elite offensive player, he must enhance his dribbling ability to become more creative in isolation and pick-and-roll sets, which have become more prevalent in today’s NBA game.
Wiggins scored his first basket Wednesday while isolated in the pinch post. The rookie caught the ball, faced his defender, used a jab step to create space and then rose over the defender to swish a 19-foot jumper.
Later in the game, Wiggins also made another jumper after a crossover dribble between his legs from right to left that created the necessary space to release his shot.
“I think he has the potential to be an elite level defender,” an Eastern Conference executive told SheridanHoops. “He’s more athlete than basketball player, but I think he has the potential to be a repeat All-Star at his peak. Not a franchise level player, but he should be pretty good.”
Saunders once developed a skinny high school kid named Kevin Garnett into a future Hall of Fame player and sees similarities with Wiggins’ development.
“We’re asking him to do a lot,” Saunders said. “His biggest thing is he’s advanced defensively. We’re trying to match him up on probably whoever the opposing team’s best offensive player is. Not many rookies come into the league and people try to do that. It’s going to be able to facilitate his progress and we’re trying to get him almost a little how KG was when he was younger to be an all-around player.”
I asked Saunders if there was a player whom Wiggins reminded him of or hoped he would eventually become.
“I think he’s got to learn to become his own player and the type of player I want him to be is I want him to become a two-way player,” Saunders replied. “Those are the players in our league that are the players that can help their teams get to the next level.”
That type of two-way player is George. It’s the reason he is a Team USA member and the face of the franchise in Indiana.
The biggest difference between George and Wiggins is the level of pressure, hype and scrutiny both faced.
George was drafted 10th overall in 2010 with more question marks surrounding his game and potential.
Much less was expected of George during his rookie year in comparison to the weight of expectations Wiggins must fulfill now.
Wiggins must become the face of the franchise after Minnesota traded the team’s best player, Kevin Love, to rebuild for the future.
I asked Wiggins how he’s dealt with that pressure of living up to the hype of being a top overall pick, the new face of the Timberwolves and representing Canadian basketball.
“You’ve got to take it day by day really and just try to set goals for yourself and expectations that you want to exceed,” Wiggins replied.
Wiggins’ goals for himself do not include winning Rookie of the Year but rather improving every day through practice on the court and continuing to develop and sculpt his body in the weight room.
“I feel like I’m getting better and improving every game and learning a lot,” Wiggins said. “I would say the difference between college and the NBA level is just finding your pace in the game and the physicality obviously because the players are all a lot bigger than college.”
Ricky Rubio, who was drafted fifth overall in 2009 as a heralded prodigy from Spain, experienced firsthand what it’s like to deal with supremely high expectations.
I asked Rubio what advice he has given Wiggins after coming over from Spain as the youngest player to play in the Spanish ACB League at 14.
“It’s hard when you had all the hype and you have a couple of games where you don’t – I wouldn’t say respond, but if people don’t – see numbers because in this league it’s all about numbers,” Rubio replied. “Maybe you had six points, but you had a great game. It’s something that he had to understand. He had to feel good if he gave everything on the court. It’s something that he had to respect the process. It’s not going to come and score 20 or 25 points a game. That’s only something LeBron or Carmelo can do as a rookie. I think he’s been good so far knowing what to do to help the team.”
“If he makes it, he’s T-Mac or Paul George,” an Eastern Conference executive told SheridanHoops.
What if Wiggins fails to live up to the hype?
“At the minimum, he’ll be Rudy Gay.”
Bank on Wiggins turning into a versatile two-way player in the mold of George on both ends of the floor while forming a highlight reel tandem with Rubio for years to come in Minnesota.
Michael Scotto is an NBA columnist for SheridanHoops.com. Follow him on Twitter.
I saw game and agree that he will be comparable to Paul George. However, if the number 1 pick is only as good as Paul George, in a deep draft, is that really high praise? George is no where near the importance of a Keven Love. CLE still made a good trade for the present, but Minny did better than can be expected, under the circumstance.
BTW Joe Johnson did have 22 points in limited minutes (foul trouble), but there was a key steal that turned a Nets win, into a loss.
Yes, by Thad Young. A big play.
Paul George was a MVP candidate for most of last season and is considered a top 10 player when healthy. How is that a bad comparison?