MINNEAPOLIS — Save for a spot in the All-Star Game starting lineup, the month of February hasn’t been kind to Andrew Wiggins.
His 14 points per game pace in February sits in stark contrast to the 18 point per game pace he held from October through January. The 42% three-point percentage that lifted him to an All-Star nod took a hit with his 37% rate beyond the arc this month. He’s slowed on the boards, too — his 5.3 rebound rate this month is the lowest on the team.
The 27-year-old hit a rough patch. Can a game in Minnesota against the Timberwolves, his former team, light a fire?
“He usually plays well against these guys,” head coach Steve Kerr said. “He hasn’t had a great start to the post All-Star break portion of our season but I’m not worried about Wiggs.”
Wiggins is in the midst of a career year, but one that hasn’t been without its bumps. He started the season slow, averaging 15 points and shooting 33% from three until a breakthrough, 35-point game against the Timberwolves on Nov. 10. Wiggins’ ferocious dunk on center Karl-Anthony Towns marked the beginning of his All-Star bid.
After that November game, Steph Curry joked of plans to send Wiggins photos of that dunk to keep that competitive fire going. Jokes aside, Wiggins acknowledges that his competitive juices flow a little extra against the team that traded him in 2020.
“For sure,” Wiggins said. “It’s always a good time playing former teammates, former city.”
From Kerr’s perspective, Wiggins’ month-long skid is worth as much attention as any of his teammates’ slumps or bumps. Wiggins said he “could be more aggressive” in the next few weeks. But one sagging part of his game stuck out most — he shot 41% from the free throw line in February.
“And I have to knock down my free throws,” Wiggins said. “I don’t know what’s going on.”
