During the trade deadline of the 2019-2020 season, the Warriors sent D’Angelo Russell, Omari Spellman and Jacob Evans III to the Timberwolves for Andrew Wiggins and a protected first-round pick.

At the time, fans were less than enthusiastic about the move. Wiggins, though talented, was known to have a reputation of being passive on both sides of the ball.

Fast-forward to the 2021-2022 season, Wiggins has changed that narrative completely and is now in the discussion of potentially becoming an all-star.

“It would mean a lot,” Wiggins said. “It’s something that I strive for, something I work for, something I dream of. I’m going to keep working towards it and hopefully get an opportunity to play. I’d love that.”

Since his move to the Bay Area, Wiggins has been steadily improving year after year. Last year, he averaged 18.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists.

This year, he is currently averaging 19.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting a ridiculous 43.5% from three – a career-best.

He’s also leading the league in 3-point percentage in the month of December by a wide margin, shooting at a scorching 54.1% clip.

The fit between the Warriors and Wiggins has been a two-way street. The Warriors needed a wing player, and Wiggins needed a fresh start.

Wiggins was unable to live up to the expectations as the No.1 overall pick in Minnesota, but with the Warriors, he no longer had that burden and could play freely while feeding off Stephen Curry’s gravity.

With Warriors guard Klay Thompson sidelined for the past two years, Wiggins was forced to become the secondary scorer, a role in which he flourished in.

“The thing about being on this team, you play with someone like Steph and Draymond, they’re going to get you open shots and good looks,” Wiggins said. “In my career, this is the most open looks I’ve gotten”

Playing on the Warriors also meant he was going to take Klay’s duty of guarding the opposing team’s best offensive player, a challenge in which he excepted.

His defensive development has been a key revelation. Using his 7’0” wingspan, he can read the passing lanes and go for steals and use his athleticism to block shots.

According to StatMuse.com, Wiggins has a defensive rating of 105.3 this season.

Additionally, Wiggins was reliable, as he appeared in 71 of the 72 games last season and all 32 this season.

His breakout game of the season came ironically against his former team, where he posted an impressive 35-point performance while going 14/19 from the field, 3/6 from three, and had two thunderous poster dunks on his former teammate Karl Anthony-Towns.

Since then, Wiggins has always been consistently putting up numbers and his teammates have noted his development.

“I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but No. 22 should be in Cleveland this year with the way he’s hooping,” Curry said.

(Photo credit: Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)