Minnesota Timberwolves: Time for Andrew Wiggins to change

Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images /
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Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images /

Defensive rebounding

In Minnesota’s win against the Toronto Raptors last weekend, Wiggins played a great all-around game. Despite his 29 points in the Jimmy Butler-less victory, his five rebounds were what impressed me the most.

With under a minute left, and the Timberwolves up by three, Wiggins grabbed a massively important, contested defensive rebound on a Kyle Lowry miss. On the play he soared over both Toronto’s Delon Wright and his own teammate Marcus Georges-Hunt. This led to free throws for Minnesota that effectively sealed the win.

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The reason this play was so big for him was the fact that it was a high-effort play and tough rebound. These are precisely the type of rebounding opportunities that — despite having a 40-plus inch vertical leap — he would’ve turned down in the past.

Wiggins should focus more on defensive rebounding for a few reasons. First, it would help his team in an area where they struggle. Of the top-15 teams in total rebounding rate, Minnesota is tied for the worst defensive rebounding rate of the bunch.

Second, Towns, Gorgui Dieng and Taj Gibson are some of the more active offensive rebounders in the league. They don’t need help from the wings on the offensive glass. The final reason is getting back on defense should be priority No. 1 for Wiggins. Rather than crashing the offensive boards or watching the flight of the ball, he needs to make sure he runs back on defense with the same speed he does when leaking out for a fast break bucket.

Currently, Wiggins’ defensive rebounding percentage of 10.2 is by far the highest of his career. His newfound commitment to defensive rebounding helps the T-Wolves finish defensive possessions off, and it has been a big part of him becoming an improved defensive presence.