Booker vs Wiggins

NTB · Post #1 » by **NTB** » Tue Apr 11, 2017 10:01 pm

I've seen this comparison topic in r/nba today and I'm curious about what you think. Who is better now and for the future?

2016-2017 comparison

Devin Booker (20 yo, soph.) 22.1 PPG (FG: 42.2%, FG3: 36.4%, FT: 83.3 %) TRB: 3.2 AST: 3.4
Andrew Wiggins (21 yo, 3rd year) 23.7 PPG (FG: 45.4%, FG3: 35.7%, FT: 76.4) TRB: 4.1 AST: 2.3

Sophomore year comparison

Wiggins (soph.) 20.7 PPG (FG: 45.9%, FG3: 30.0%, FT: 76.1) TRB: 3.6 AST: 2.0
Booker (soph.) 22.1 PPG (FG: 42.2%, FG3: 36.4%, FT: 83.3 %) TRB: 3.2 AST: 3.4

Since I'm a biased homer I'd like to add some extra info and stats about Booker.

-5th 20 year old in NBA history to average at least 22 PPG behind LeBron, Durant, Shaq, Irving.
-4th most points scored under age 21 in NBA history. (Only behind LeBron, Durant & Carmelo)
-6th player in NBA history to score 70 points in a game. (Youngest player to do that by a large margin)
-Most career made three pointers under age 21 in NBA history. (246) (Beal is 2nd with 229)
-With six quarters of 20+ points this season, ranks 1st in the NBA.

Post #2 » by **Texas Chuck** » Tue Apr 11, 2017 10:08 pm

Wiggins is probably still a bit better today? But I'd buy stock in Booker's future over Wiggins no question.

JulesWinnfield · Post #3 » by **JulesWinnfield** » Tue Apr 11, 2017 10:21 pm

Age difference is really closer to 2 years than one

Both guys have talent but neither has a complete game and I'm not sure either ever projects to. The fact that they are roughly on par with eachother at the moment (small edge Wiggins) given their age difference to me bodes well for Booker. I really don't lean strongly here though as of now. But I do lean Booker

Colbinii · Post #4 » by **Colbinii** » Tue Apr 11, 2017 10:49 pm

Booker is currently better (slightly) and will be a much better player down the road.

Since I am a biased "homer" (wolves fan) and I have seen a lot of Wiggins over the past 3 seasons, I feel like I have a strong, yet fair opinion on these two players.

Now, some of your stats are kind of useless, because players now shoot more 3's than ever. The Suns "tried" to get Booker as many points as possible, and even though it is still a great feat, it isn't anything special to me. He also has a green light that no other young player has had (well, LeBron had a green light, but he was a much more impactful offensive player with his playmaking and a good defender).

That said, Booker is a special prospect. His ceiling, to me, is a mixture of Paul Pierce and Kobe Bryant (not as good of a playmaker as Kobe, but a better scorer than Pierce). I don't know if he will reach that ceiling, but he has a very high ceiling regardless, and I expect him to be a multiple time all-star at a minimum barring major injury.

As for Wiggins, I wish I could say more positive things about him. He has some great nights, and his "scoring" post-game is head and shoulders above nearly all players I have seen at his age. When his shot is falling and he is being aggressive (attacking the rim) he is a prolific offensive talent. His 3 point shot has been consistent this season, but most of them are catch and shoot. He leaves a lot to be desired defensively given his "potential" on that end.

heyPlayer · Post #5 » by **heyPlayer** » Tue Apr 11, 2017 11:27 pm

False, Booker is not even on the same level as wiggins.....

YourBuddy · Post #6 » by **YourBuddy** » Tue Apr 11, 2017 11:33 pm

Wiggins now and in the future.

Post #7 » by **lilfishi22** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 1:04 am

I'm a fan of Wiggins but I have expected more from him considering the amount of hype surround him leading up to being drafted. Comparatively, Booker came in with very little fanfare and many expected him to take a few years to get into the groove of the game considering his age and relatively understated athletic profile. Booker imo has blown away all expectations of him. I think their scoring ability is comparable and while Wiggins defense is nothing to write home about, Booker's defense is currently atrocious.

Booker is my guy being a Suns fan, but I still buy into the potential that Wiggins has and because of that, I'll give Wiggins the very slightest edge over Booker.

Post #8 » by **Prez** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 1:12 am

I'll take Booker. There's not a big gap between either at this point, though Booker is almost 2 years younger. I like his motor, aggressive/competitive mentality a bit more too and I also think his offensive game projects better. Both are terrible defenders, it's a wash there.

Post #9 » by **bondom34** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 1:15 am

Booker here too, Wiggins hasn't impressed me a ton and in a league needed shooters Booker's skillset is fantastic. He's looked better since Knight was benched, can handle and shoot well and is younger. Take him now and future.

cpower · Post #10 » by **cpower** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 1:21 am

Devin Booker -1.63 RPM 53%TS
Andrew Wiggins -1.20 RPM 54%TS
Not the best comparisons you want to make here. Booker seems to be the better offensive player but nothing to write home about. I don't see neither makes all star team in the future.

clyde21 · Post #11 » by **clyde21** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 1:22 am

Wiggins for the defensive potential.

Booker is silky smooth though and I love watching him.

Ron Swanson · Post #12 » by **Ron Swanson** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 1:32 am

Said last year that I think Booker has Ray Allen potential, but......I'll still take a chance and bank on Wiggins eventually using his freakish physical tools and figuring it out on the defensive end. He's still got the potential to be one of the best two-way wings in the league if he can just realize it.

JulesWinnfield · Post #13 » by **JulesWinnfield** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 1:41 am

clyde21 wrote:Wiggins for the defensive potential.

Booker is silky smooth though and I love watching him.

Wiggins has all the tools to be a terrific defender (aside from the fact that he is pretty weak physically) but we are going on the end of year 3 and he's still a deplorable defender. Not a bad one, a deplorable one. He's just brutal. Literally one of the worst in the league. I figured Thibs could help in this area, but he has not. This is just one area where he is simply not progressing

I've never seen scouts whiff of anything more in my life than Wiggins supposed "nba ready" defense. He was billed as ready to come into the league and be an impact defender from day 1 if nothing else. Couldnt be further from the truth. He's one of the worst defensive players in the game. He does have the tools to be better. But he's going to have to get waaaaaaaay better and fast before we just come to the conclusion that he's just not going to be that guy

Colbinii · Post #14 » by **Colbinii** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 1:44 am

JulesWinnfield wrote:
clyde21 wrote:Wiggins for the defensive potential.

Booker is silky smooth though and I love watching him.

Wiggins has all the tools to be a terrific defender (aside from the fact that he is pretty weak physically) but we are going on the end of year 3 and he's still a deplorable defender. Not a bad one, a deplorable one. He's just brutal. Literally one of the worst in the league. I figured Thibs could help in this area, but he has not. This is just one area where he is simply not progressing

I've never seen scouts whiff of anything more in my life than Wiggins supposed "nba ready" defense. He was billed as ready to come into the league and be an impact defender from day 1 if nothing else. Couldnt be further from the truth. He's one of the worst defensive players in the game. He does have the tools to be better. But he's going to have to get waaaaaaaay better and fast before we just come to the conclusion that he's just not going to be that guy

Honestly, he is lazy. I hope he picka it up, because KAT did this season and if Wiggins is going to chuck, not pass, and not play defense KAT is going to want out.

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JulesWinnfield · Post #15 » by **JulesWinnfield** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 1:49 am

Colbinii wrote:
JulesWinnfield wrote:
clyde21 wrote:Wiggins for the defensive potential.

Booker is silky smooth though and I love watching him.

Wiggins has all the tools to be a terrific defender (aside from the fact that he is pretty weak physically) but we are going on the end of year 3 and he's still a deplorable defender. Not a bad one, a deplorable one. He's just brutal. Literally one of the worst in the league. I figured Thibs could help in this area, but he has not. This is just one area where he is simply not progressing

I've never seen scouts whiff of anything more in my life than Wiggins supposed "nba ready" defense. He was billed as ready to come into the league and be an impact defender from day 1 if nothing else. Couldnt be further from the truth. He's one of the worst defensive players in the game. He does have the tools to be better. But he's going to have to get waaaaaaaay better and fast before we just come to the conclusion that he's just not going to be that guy

Honestly, he is lazy. I hope he picka it up, because KAT did this season and if Wiggins is going to chuck, not pass, and not play defense KAT is going to want out.

Sent from my SM-G920P using RealGM mobile app

One of the big red flags about Wiggins from day 1 was all the coaches that have publicly called him out for effort. Coaches tend to not go down that road publicly with their own players if at all possible.... but we saw bill self do it at Kansas. Then we saw flip Saunders do it in Minnesota. He literally came out and said "Andrew needs to learn to play harder". When do you ever hear that?

They don't bite as puppies they probably won't when they grow. Part of Wiggins DNA is to slack. At some point people are just going to have to accept that's what he is. I don't know if we are there yet, but it's close

clyde21 · Post #16 » by **clyde21** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 1:51 am

JulesWinnfield wrote:
clyde21 wrote:Wiggins for the defensive potential.

Booker is silky smooth though and I love watching him.

Wiggins has all the tools to be a terrific defender (aside from the fact that he is pretty weak physically) but we are going on the end of year 3 and he's still a deplorable defender. Not a bad one, a deplorable one. He's just brutal. Literally one of the worst in the league. I figured Thibs could help in this area, but he has not. This is just one area where he is simply not progressing

I've never seen scouts whiff of anything more in my life than Wiggins supposed "nba ready" defense. He was billed as ready to come into the league and be an impact defender from day 1 if nothing else. Couldnt be further from the truth. He's one of the worst defensive players in the game. He does have the tools to be better. But he's going to have to get waaaaaaaay better and fast before we just come to the conclusion that he's just not going to be that guy

Well, both Wiggins and Booker are terrible defenders, but at least Wiggins has the potential to be a very good one. He just needs to get his head out of his ass.

Zelaznyrules · Post #17 » by **Zelaznyrules** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 2:06 am

I'll take Booker, no contest. But it's head and heart that separates them. No way does Devin match the athleticism and physical gifts that Wiggins possesses. If someone can ever ignite that Jordan/Kobe spark in Andrew, watch out league.

Post #18 » by **Texas Chuck** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 2:48 am

Colbinii wrote:
Honestly, he is lazy. I hope he picka it up, because KAT did this season and if Wiggins is going to chuck, not pass, and not play defense KAT is going to want out.

The Wolves would show Wiggins the door if they got any sense Towns didn't want to play with him. I wouldn't worry about it. The Wolves FO has to know who the franchise is.

DoubleO8 · Post #19 » by **DoubleO8** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 4:40 am

What is the deal with Wiggins? He looks pretty fluid as a scorer when he's on. will he figure it out on defense? Does he care? I'd also take him going forward but, Booker being younger makes this interesting.

Zeitgeister · Post #20 » by **Zeitgeister** » Wed Apr 12, 2017 5:19 am

I'm a Wolves fan and I'm not very high on either of these guys. Booker and Wiggins can drop a big scoring game as well as any young player we've had but they are not very efficient consistently and they don't have very well rounded games. I suppose Booker has the slight edge here because he's younger.

DoubleO8 wrote:What is the deal with Wiggins? He looks pretty fluid as a scorer when he's on. will he figure it out on defense? Does he care? I'd also take him going forward but, Booker being younger makes this interesting.

Who knows? He either doesn't care or he simply doesn't have a good feel for the game.