We are seeing Andrew Wiggins become more comfortable as a member of the Miami Heat with each passing game. 

For Andrew Wiggins, the search for stability has been the underlying theme to this career. 

When he was selected by the Minnesota Timbewovles with the first overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, Wiggins was thought to be the Wolves’ franchise cornerstone nearly a decade after they sent away Kevin Garnett. As the seasons went by, it was obvious Wiggins was more of a great complement than the main man, and the Golden State Warriors were happy to capitalize on Minnesota’s disappointment. 

With the Warriors, Wiggins found a role as the primary perimeter stopper and Golden State was able to maximize his offensive abilities, giving open shots thanks to the gravity drawn by his teammates and allowing him to take over when the mismatches called for it. The Canadian was instrumental in the Warriors’ 2022 title run, serving as the two-way player Steph Curry and Golden State needed against the talented Boston Celtics. 

Unfortunately, injuries and personal issues off the court made it hard for him to build on his strong 2021-2022 campaign. The emergence of the likes of Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, and Brandin Podziemski made the perimeter a crowded place, even when Klay Thompson moved in 2024. It was thus, not surprising that he was sent to the Miami Heat, who themselves were happy to acquire a more than capable player for a disgruntled Jimmy Butler. 

Wiggins’ numbers have naturally gone up since joining the Heat, thanks to the opportunities that came with replacing Butler. There were some obvious learning curves to be dealt with, but it’s safe to say that more games led to a more comfortable Wiggins in Miami. 

The 42 points Wiggins scored against the Charlotte Hornets was his highest single-game scoring output since the 2016-2017 season and the most scored by a Heat player this season. It was a complete game for the 2014-2015 NBA Rookie of the Year not just because of his other stats (three rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block), but more so because of the balanced offense he showed against the Hornets. 

Entering the NBA, Wiggins was known more for his athleticism and how it would factor more into his offense during the early portion of his career. Over the years, the 30-year old developed his shooting and extended his range, and it has made him even more indispensable than when he was younger. Moreover, it allows him to assume more roles on both ends of the floor, something Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra has been known to do. Going forward, we’ll be seeing more of Wiggins in various roles and for now, he’s found a home with the Heat. 

High praise must be given to someone like Andrew Wiggins, who despite not meeting high expectations continued to work on his game and became a good player nonetheless. The Miami Heat are definitely happy he’s getting better at the right time and his best game with them ended their worst stretch of basketball this season. The Play-In Tournament awaits Wiggins and the Heat, but the hope is that Wiggins will truly settle in so they can breeze past the wildcard round and knock down a few giants in front of them.