Ranking first-time NBA All-Stars by future potential

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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 23: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Golden State Warriors shoots a foul shot against the Utah Jazz during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on January 23, 2022 in San Francisco, California, Ranking first-time NBA All-Stars by future potential. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Ranking first-time NBA All-Stars by future potential: Andrew Wiggins

It should serve as little surprise that Andrew Wiggins is at the bottom of these rankings. Him making the All-Star Game was a bit of a surprise and he’s not even one of the top three players on his own team.

In his second full season with the Golden State Warriors, Wiggins is averaging 17.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. While his 41.4 percent three-point shooting percentage is the best of his career, his scoring average is actually his worst in four seasons.

Wiggins’ play has fallen off slightly in recent games as the team continues to adjust to the absence of Draymond Green and the addition of Klay Thompson. In the seven games Wiggins has played this month, he’s scored more than 15 points just once.

This is Wiggins’ age-26 season, and having been in the NBA since 2014, it’s likely his peak has already come. His All-Star selection had more to do with a voting campaign than it did his actual play this season, even if it has been relatively stellar for a Warriors team outpacing expectations.

Wiggins will probably be able to maintain something close to his current level of play for the next few seasons, but it’s hard to see him improving in any significant way from here. The tread on his body is simply too much to expect a late-career surge to an MVP caliber player.