About Andrew Wiggins: If there’s one word you could use to describe Minnesota Timberwolves star forward Andrew Wiggins, it would be quiet. But, before we get into his bio, let’s look at why, even in high school, he has a history of leaving other people at a loss of words: (except for maybe, the word, “nasty?”)
Andrew Wiggins: High School Official Mixtape (nasty!)
Andrew Wiggins Biography: Oh, Canada!
Throughout his life, he’s never been one who needed to be the center of attention in every minute of the day. On the contrary, he’d be perfectly happy to be out of the spotlight away from the court. It’s a large part of why he is so reluctant to open up to anyone outside of his inner circle and the Timberwolves’ locker room.
It’s not that the Toronto-born Wiggins is rude to those he doesn’t know or lacks the intellect to hold a conversation. On the contrary, he’s polite and might be one of the NBA’s most cerebral players. It’s that unless the subject is ping-pong, one of his favorite ways to unwind when he’s off the court, he often simply doesn’t have much to say.
Wisdom in silence
“Wise men speak because they have something to say;
Fools because they have to say something.” Plato
There’s a reason for that. While others talk, Wiggins is calculating, learning from the words around him. He doesn’t speak unless he needs to, and more often than not, there’s nothing that needs to be said. His game says all that is necessary and a lot more.
Photo: Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP
Wiggins has been a top contributor from day one in the Twin Cities, scoring 17 points per game as a rookie and claiming Rookie of the Year honors in 2014-15. Two years later, the 6’8″ Wiggins had brought his scoring average to 21.6 points a game and made it clear that the Timberwolves have a blossoming star that they can build around to resurrect their team.
If Wiggins doesn’t want to do much talking about his success, that’s just fine with the Timberwolves. All that matters to them is the performance he gives them on a nightly basis.
“Winners come in all different personality types,” Minnesota coach Tom Thibodeau said. “Some guys are quiet, but they’re fierce inside. Some guys are loud, and you think they’re fierce but they’re not. I watch a player’s actions. They tell me everything.”
Wiggins’ actions have told Thibodeau that his best player flourishes best when he’s allowed to be his quiet self and understand the game around him.
Andrew Wiggins: student of the game
Wiggins has always been a student of the game, dating back to as young as 2 years old, when he would watch his father Mitchell play professional basketball in Greece. That action alone made him different from most kids his age: he would actually watch his father play.
Watching his father helped him learn what he needed to do when he got onto the court himself, and when it was his turn to play, his foundation combined with his natural talent made him one of the most sought prospects at the college level before he signed to play college basketball at Kansas. With both the Jayhawks and the Timberwolves, Wiggins’ approach to the game has been simple: combine talent, hard work and basketball intelligence at once and beat you with an unbeatable combination. In four seasons in the spotlight, it’s never let him down.
It’s why the Timberwolves were willing to package Kevin Love in a deal with Cleveland (kyrie irving approved of the deal) to bring the Canadian big man to Minnesota, and they’ve been pleased with the results. Just as the Timberwolves had hoped, Wiggins has stepped up as a top talent and a leader, albeit a quiet one.
Andrew Wiggins: Quiet man, loud & “crazy explosive” shoes:
Ironically, despite the quiet nature that Wiggins is known for, his shoes from Adidas are anything but. Known as the Crazy Explosive, Wiggins’ signature shoe looks like something you’d expect from one of the flashier stars of the NBA, but a look at the shoe itself reveals why it’s a perfect fit for him.
The most obvious is the choice of the colors, representing the blue and green of the Timberwolves. Beyond that, however, the high-arching ankle support makes it a perfect fit for Wiggins, who showed up on campus at Kansas in 2013 with ankle braces on. Another signature feature on the shoe is the AW logo, featuring a small maple leaf in the center of the A to represent his connection to the Great White North.
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Andrew Wiggins’ Crazy Explosive shoes are also about substance
Check out the “unboxing” of Andrew Wiggins shoes!
Like Wiggins himself, though, the shoe is about substance. Primeknit construction on the top makes the shoe breathable and lightweight, allowing faster movement, while the Boost cushioning allows the heel to recover quickly from the pressure it takes during a game. The finished product is a blend of style and substance, much like what the Timberwolves are hoping Wiggins will be when all is said and done.
He’s showing signs of doing exactly that this year – although his teammates don’t mind if he takes his time on that one.
“Sometimes he doesn’t have to say much when you see him working so hard on something,” Minnesota guard Ricky Rubio said. “That’s the way to lead sometimes.”
Andrew Wiggins Stats & salary
The latest Andrew Wiggins stats & salary from espn.com | more of Andrew Wiggins bio at wikipedia.org