Selecting the NBA All-Rookie Team

Guard – Andrew Wiggins, Minnesota Timberwolves

In my mind, Andrew Wiggins is the Rookie of the Year. I wrote as such just a few days ago, and with four straight games with 20-plus points at the time of this post, Wiggins is making me look intelligent (a stretch, I know).

The workload handed to the number one pick has been monstrous, as Flip Saunders deploys Wiggins for 35.9 minutes per game on the season. For context, that places Wiggins sixth in the NBA in minutes per game, and for a player who operated at 19 years old for much of his rookie season and appeared in every single Minnesota game, that is a tall ask.

“Maple Jordan” has responded, however, as Wiggins is averaging 16.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game on the season. Concerns about his shooting consistency were there in the draft, and with good reason, but Wiggins has shot a respectable 43.8% from the field and 31.7% from three to quiet those critics, and given that he is carrying the load as a primary option offensively, it is reasonable to expect an uptick in year two.

Defensively, Andrew Wiggins is already quite good. Again, the caveat of extended playing time must be given (and that can account for some lapses), but for the most part, Wiggins has taken the assignment of guarding the opposition’s best wing player on a nightly basis. It would be a big stretch to call him a very good defender, but he is (at worst) a solid one, and given his age, that is all you can ask for, even from the top pick.

There is a case to be made against his efficiency and in favor of a few players on this list, but no one has operated with the degree of difficulty of Andrew Wiggins, and he is the Rookie of the Year in addition to being a potentially unanimous choice for first team All-Rookie honors.

Next: Nikola Mirotic