Aaron Wiggins is a Basketball Savior
On the OKC Thunder wing's versatile game and why he could excel in a bigger role
Did you know that Aaron Wiggins saved basketball?
Whenever the Thunder wing does something notable on an NBA floor, Thunder fans on X erupt in celebration of how Wiggins rescued the sport. It’s a meme that dates back to when he was drafted in 2021. Aaron Wiggins has been an OKC fan favorite since entering the league, and it’s easy to see why. He’s more than a meme. Wiggins is a key piece of a dominant young Oklahoma City squad.
On January 3rd, the Thunder took on the Knicks in a historic battle between two teams with 9+ game win streaks. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Brunson, and other stars had good games, but it was Aaron Wiggins who unexpectedly stole the show. The Maryland product put up 15 points on 5/5 shooting in the fourth quarter to help his team surge to a win. It was an electric run, one that put him on the radar of the average fan. It was the first shining moment of Wiggins’ season.
The second came under the all-consuming shadow of the Luka Doncic/Anthony Davis blockbuster. On the first night of February, Wiggins poured in a career-high 41 points and 14 rebounds in a win over Sacramento. The masterful performance was a public announcement: Aaron Wiggins deserves the attention of the NBA world.
Wiggins was scouted to be a stereotypical 3&D wing, and the three-ball has been a major driver of the success he’s found in the league. He’s shot 38.4% from three for his career. In 2023-24, he connected on a sizzling 49.2% of his deep tries. Six of his 16 made shots during his 41 point game were triples. Simply put, Wiggins is a sniper. His release is clean, quick, and repeatable. He’s always ready to shoot when he gets a catch. When OKC’s All-Stars attract help defense, Wiggins can be trusted to capitalize on the advantages they create by hitting open shots.
Lacing treys isn’t the only way Wiggins is effective off the ball, though. His cutting instincts are so good that it’s almost a sixth sense. The 26-year-old knows exactly when he should dart to the rim instead of standing around behind the arc, an ability that’s become somewhat rare in the three-point era. It was only fitting that the bucket that completed his 41 piece came off a cut.
Despite his impressive off-ball traits, Wiggins can’t be boxed into that role. He has a lot more to offer. With the ball in his hands, he’s a slick slasher who leverages the defensive attention he gets as a shooter to create lanes to the rim. His handle is above average for a wing and he uses it to dance his way past defenders. Wiggins is also a superb mid-range pullup shooter who is very efficient when he gets to his spots. Modern basketball philosophy forces him to keep his in-between volume down, though.
Wiggins has excelled in a complementary role for the Thunder, but it’s clear that he would be even better with heightened responsibility. He’s averaged 18.0 points in the six games where he’s played at least 30 minutes this season. With his combination of off-ball chops and on-ball prowess, Wiggins would be very capable of playing a role similar to that of Cam Johnson or Mikal Bridges, and we may be able to see the former 55th overall pick get that type of promotion in the near future. Oklahoma City will have to consolidate their roster at some point as big paydays for guys like Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren creep closer. Wiggins will likely become expendable in that situation, as OKC is stacked at his position.
If Aaron Wiggins is traded to a team where he can get more playing time, get ready for him to take his basketball heroism to another level. Until then, keep an eye on him. Wiggins is one of the most underrated players in the league and he will make the whole NBA world learn his name, regardless of what team he’s on.