The Phoenix Suns are benefiting from T.J. Warren‘s career season, but are the Minnesota Timberwolves experiencing the same benefit from star Andrew Wiggins?
After being drafted in 2014 draft, both Minnesota Timberwolves’ first overall pick Andrew Wiggins and Phoenix Suns‘ 14th overall pick T.J. Warren were up for contract extensions this past offseason. Wiggins and Warren both signed their respective extensions, with Wiggins’ having a much larger payday than Warren’s contract. As the NBA is getting ready to transition into the new year, Warren’s having a break out season where as Wiggins has regressed. Warren’s playing at a higher level than Wiggins at this point during the season.
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Wiggins is younger and has more potential than Warren. If Wiggins can reach his potential, then there is no doubt that he will end up having a much more successful career. He should be having a career year with two perimeter players in Jeff Teague and Jimmy Butler that can take the defensive attention off of Wiggins. That’s not including big man Karl-Anthony Towns and reserve Jamal Crawford. However Wiggins has struggled with the extra help, he’s having the second lowest averages of his career in both points and 3-point percentage. He also is experiencing a career low in field goal percentage. Surely this isn’t something the Timberwolves were hoping for when they signed him to that contract extension.
On the other side of that coin, Warren is experiencing a career high in points, rebounds and assists. He’s doing so with much less help on offense than Wiggins does. Granted Devin Booker is becoming a generational talent, he doesn’t provide that impact that T-Wolves’ teammates provide Wiggins. Warren has really stepped up his game, where as Wiggins’ has taken a step back to Butler and Towns.
| Rk | Player | Season | Age | G | GS | MP | FG% | 3P% | 2P% | eFG% | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | T.J. Warren | 2017-18 | 24 | 36 | 36 | 31.7 | .476 | .179 | .508 | .485 | .769 | 5.6 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 19.0 |
| 2 | Andrew Wiggins | 2017-18 | 22 | 34 | 34 | 36.4 | .428 | .301 | .474 | .468 | .630 | 4.0 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 17.5 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/27/2017.
The only areas that Wiggins has an advantage in are the 3-point percentage and steals per game. However, Wiggins isn’t a good 3-point shooter either and the steal stats are very close. Advance stats show that Warren has an offensive advantage over Wiggins.
| Rk | Player | Season | Age | G | MP | PER | TS% | 3PAr | FTr | ORB% | DRB% | TRB% | AST% | STL% | BLK% | TOV% | USG% | OWS | DWS | WS | WS/48 | OBPM | DBPM | BPM | VORP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | T.J. Warren | 2017-18 | 24 | 36 | 1142 | 17.7 | .526 | .096 | .268 | 6.3 | 12.4 | 9.3 | 7.5 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 7.3 | 25.8 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.0 | .084 | -0.4 | -1.8 | -2.2 | -0.1 |
| 2 | Andrew Wiggins | 2017-18 | 22 | 34 | 1239 | 12.7 | .496 | .268 | .289 | 3.4 | 9.5 | 6.4 | 7.4 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 8.9 | 23.5 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.7 | .029 | -1.3 | -1.7 | -3.0 | -0.3 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/27/2017.
Warren’s usage isn’t much higher than Wiggins yet Warren has much more offensive win shares. They are about equal defensively with Warren having the offensive advantage. Wiggins hasn’t had any 30 point games this season, where as Warren has had two such games.
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There is no doubt that Andrew Wiggins is the more physically gifted athlete and has tools to become a special player. However at this point in the season, T.J. Warren has been playing better basketball than Wiggins. If Warren continues to play like he has been, then the Phoenix Suns should be put into a good direction heading forward.