“Ain’t nobody’s gonna be the next LeBron!” Andrew Wiggins talks about the high expectations attached to him being the No.1 pick from Canada


“Ain’t nobody’s gonna be the next LeBron!” Andrew Wiggins talks about the high expectations attached to him being the No.1 pick from Canada

Andrew Wiggins

Golden State Warriors won the 2022 NBA Championship, and Andrew Wiggins proved to be the difference-maker for the franchise. While Stephen Curry, Jordan Poole, and Klay Thompson were firing on the offensive end, it was Andrew Wiggins who played a huge role on both sides of the field. “Wiggs”, as famously known was arguably the second-best player in the championship series after Stephen Curry and was in the MVP conversation too. His performance turned many heads, as the project “post-Durant” with Wiggins proved beneficial for the franchise. He was “again” compared with Los Angeles Lakers star player LeBron James.

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Before being dubbed “the Warriors’ reclaim project,” Wiggins was a highly-touted freshman out of Kansas. Heading into the 2014 NBA draft, he was heralded as the next LeBron James. He was drafted as the top pick, ahead of future superstars Joel Embiid and reigning MVP Nikola Jokic. But in the recent podcast “Point Forward” by Andrew Iguodala and Even Turner, Wiggins recalled the comparison made.

Andrew Wiggins after his poster dunk on Luka Doncic
Andrew Wiggins after his poster dunk on Luka Doncic

Wiggins on the pressure of being the number 1 pick said“There was definitely pressure, especially being from Canada, just knowing the whole city is watching, the whole country is watching, the whole country wants you to do good. They’re calling you the next LeBron, stuff like that. Ain’t nobody’s gonna be the next LeBron! That’s 1 of 1. I’m there, trying to do the best I could in Minnesota.”

The reference was with the fellow Canadian Anthony Bennett, who was also the top pick in 2103 but proved big-time burst. Ironically it was Cleveland Cavaliers who drafted Bennett and selected Wiggins as their 1st pick in 2014 also. But then he was traded to Minnesota in the mega-deal for their Champion Kevin Love.  

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Also, LeBron James – with whom Andrew was compared in his early years, made his return to his hometown team, and it seemed he and Wiggins would be teammates. But a rather talented Canadian started his career with the Timberwolves.

Andrew Wiggins performed better with the Golden State Warriors

Andrew Wiggins
Andrew Wiggins

2015 Rookie of the year, Andrew Wiggins averaged 19.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists with the Timberwolves. He also gained the reputation of being a good scorer who couldn’t be the franchise player of the team. And then he was traded to the Golden State Warriors, in the deal that sent D’Angelo Russell to the Wolves.

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Playing alongside Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green has unlocked the player many thought he would become. He may not be the LeBron James material, but he is certainly an elite talent who just got his first All-Star start. In his last two full seasons playing under Steve Kerr, Wiggins might have scored lesser than his usual average, but his outside shooting has significantly improved. He now shot 38% last year and 39.3% this year.

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The Kansas Star saw the most improvement at the defensive end, where “Two-Way Wiggs” was able to showcase his defensive skills against some of the elite shooters like Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, and Ja Morant.

After incredible playoffs and even better NBA Finals, Andrew Wiggins’ confidence is at an all-time high with the 2022 Championship ring on his finger. He has found a niche in Golden State that he never had with the Minnesota Timberwolves. 27-year-old Wiggins is the latest in a long line of NBA “nexts.”

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