The Andrew Wiggins Thread

[Takingbaconback]

lul raptors

[wildvikeswolves]

Wiggins will break out this year and they will forget they ever said that

[Ranger]

Man, they're saying some really hateful **** over there. It's actually surprising.

[Mattya]

Someone should save that thread for when Wiggins becomes an unrestricted free agent and then tweet it to him. I'm sure now that their hearts are broken they don't even want him anymore.

[breatnach]

The real question will be if he plays for Canada during the Olympics, should they qualify? Of course the odds of them qualifying are lessened without him, but the actual Olympics are closer to the season and any injury or fatigue would be much worse.

[Klomp]

The real question will be if he plays for Canada during the Olympics, should they qualify? Of course the odds of them qualifying are lessened without him, but the actual Olympics are closer to the season and any injury or fatigue would be much worse.

Doubtful

[TaylorTag]

I love Andrew Wiggins and hope he helps lead the Wolves to a championship

But there is a very, very, very tiny part of me--a part of me that I hate--that thinks if he had the competitive drive of Kobe, he would play in the Olympics. This is the best chance in years that Canada could have made some noise in the Olympics.

Having said all that, I love Wiggins for making this decision. It shows that he cares about the organization and has a desire to get better this offseason (hopefully he will be in MN a lot).

I also hope Andrew enjoys his summer. Dude is 21 and should not forget to have some fun (don't think I have to remind him to do that)

[Steve_Holiday]

If he were an American turning down a chance to play with Team USA and the great players and coaches there, I'd question the move. But it's team canada. This decision totally makes sense. Olympic basketball doesn't mean a whole lot in my eyes.

[urinesane]

If he were playing for Canada instead of fixing his handles, we would all be pissed next year.

[Grits n Gravy]

I love Andrew Wiggins and hope he helps lead the Wolves to a championship

But there is a very, very, very tiny part of me--a part of me that I hate--that thinks if he had the competitive drive of Kobe, he would play in the Olympics. This is the best chance in years that Canada could have made some noise in the Olympics.

Having said all that, I love Wiggins for making this decision. It shows that he cares about the organization and has a desire to get better this offseason (hopefully he will be in MN a lot).

I also hope Andrew enjoys his summer. Dude is 21 and should not forget to have some fun (don't think I have to remind him to do that)

Steven Adams hasn't played for us yet and has decided to work out with coaches in America and while it is disappointing he hasn't suited up for us yet I think it has payed of for his progress as a player. I hope that's the case with Andrew and that dedicating himself this off season will propel him to a break out season. No doubt he will be playing for Canada in the years to come and they will be a force on the international stage.

[Crazy-Canuck]

I think there should be some concerns of him burning out. He stepped into the gym as soon as the season ended. He hasnt taken a break in a few years and he will likely continue to see close to 35 minutes this season.

[Ferulci]

I love Andrew Wiggins and hope he helps lead the Wolves to a championship

But there is a very, very, very tiny part of me--a part of me that I hate--that thinks if he had the competitive drive of Kobe, he would play in the Olympics.

Kobe didnt play for U.S olympic team until 2007. Did he discover his competitive drive by age 29 ?

[breatnach]

I love Andrew Wiggins and hope he helps lead the Wolves to a championship

But there is a very, very, very tiny part of me--a part of me that I hate--that thinks if he had the competitive drive of Kobe, he would play in the Olympics.

Kobe didnt play for U.S olympic team until 2007. Did he discover his competitive drive by age 29 ?

I get what you're saying, but the comparison is lacking. The US could win a medal with or without Kobe. The only tournament they didn't win a medal was 1980 - and that's because they decided not to participate. Canada winning a medal even with Wiggins is very unlikely. Without him, though, it is impossible. The last time Canada won a medal, they still had the Union Jack on their flag (1936).

Don't really know why I am arguing though, I don't really care if he participates or not, as long as he doesn't get injured. But that could just as easily happen playing pickup ball or doing knuckle push ups

[southern wolf]

I don't see how working one on one with coaches is going to improve your game more than playing real games at the Olympics, but I get the worry about injuries if Wiggins did choose to go over there.

[Ferulci]

I get what you're saying, but the comparison is lacking. The US could win a medal with or without Kobe. The only tournament they didn't win a medal was 1980 - and that's because they decided not to participate. Canada winning a medal even with Wiggins is very unlikely. Without him, though, it is impossible. The last time Canada won a medal, they still had the Union Jack on their flag (1936).

It's not even about a medal, Canada chances of going to Olympics even with Wiggins are very very complicated. Early July, they have to win the pre-olympics tournament (and go through superior teams like France or Turkey) which is close to impossible.
Wiggins choice to spend the offseason to work on his strengths is incredibly good for the Wolves, for Thibs and probably for Canada in the long-run. Kristaps also took the same decision with Latvia.

[urinesane]

I don't see how working one on one with coaches is going to improve your game more than playing real games at the Olympics, but I get the worry about injuries if Wiggins did choose to go over there.

Do you understand how players actually add pieces to their game though? It's not from playing, it's from drilling those skills over and over until they are second nature. Then you bring that to real games.

It's difficult to add those pieces under the pressure of high level competition. It's pretty much common knowledge that players add parts to their game in the offseason, so can we move past this false narrative (that some how real games are better for adding pieces to your game)?

[southern wolf]

I don't see how working one on one with coaches is going to improve your game more than playing real games at the Olympics, but I get the worry about injuries if Wiggins did choose to go over there.

Do you understand how players actually add pieces to their game though? It's not from playing, it's from drilling those skills over and over until they are second nature. Then you bring that to real games.

It's difficult to add those pieces under the pressure of high level competition. It's pretty much common knowledge that players add parts to their game in the offseason, so can we move past this false narrative (that some how real games are better for adding pieces to your game)?

The Olympics will be all finished up by mid-late August though. The NBA season doesn't start till November. Still plenty of time for him to come back to Minny and work on those things in the lead up to the season.

[King Malta]

Am not Canadian. Am a Timberwolves fan. I fully support this move.

For the record though, I wouldn't care if he made this decision if he was Australian either. But unlike Football (or Soccer to you guys), I actually couldn't give a rats either way about International basketball or the Olympics in general.

[Mattya]

Forgot to post this yesterday when I listened to Doogie's most recent podcast, but apparently Wiggins during his training with Drew Hanlan last week he mad 250/351 threes.

[Crazy-Canuck]

He sounds depressed. From his instagram:

22wigginsThey kick you when you down, but wanna kick it when you up...