Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 takeaways vs. Washington

3. Andrew Wiggins

Whatever has gotten into Andrew Wiggins these last few games, Timberwolves fans hope that it doesn’t leave any time soon.

Over these last three games, Wiggins has ranked 24th in points per game (21.7), with 5.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 0.3 steals per game on 44.0 percent shooting from the field.  These numbers, whether or not Minnesota fans want to admit it, have gone a long way towards helping the Timberwolves go 2-1 in their last three games.

Against the Wizards, Wiggins recorded 21 points, six assists, five rebounds, and one block on 7-of-16 shooting from the field and 4-of-9 from 3-point range. This is the type of game Wiggins needs to be playing day in and day out if he wants to prove that there aren’t 100 players in the league better than him.

One reason that Wiggins could be stepping up right now is that, for the first time since the 2015-16 season, he is the undeniable first offensive option on the perimeter. Another reason could be that he’s starting to realize his actual value to the team is diminishing. With Josh Okogie molding into a starting-caliber forward and Jarrett Culver looking like the two-way combo guard of the future, Wiggins might now be starting to see that his place in the organization is finally being threatened.