Player Name: Andrew Wiggins (Minnesota Timberwolves)
Position: Forward
Height/Weight: 6-foot-8/199 pounds
Why you need to watch him on NBA League Pass: Some players on this list you need to watch to see if the analytics match the old eyeball test. Others you need to watch just to see if all of the highlight hype is worthy of further investigation. And then there are those who serve simply as a guilty viewing pleasure for those of us who enjoy seeing a human being do things (most) of the rest of us cannot. Wiggins checks all of the above boxes, and then some.
He won’t be the only young star worth keeping your eyes on this season in Minnesota. He’ll have to share the spotlight with rookie Karl-Anthony Towns and Mr. Above-The-Rim (and the reigning Sprite Slam Dunk champ) himself, Zach LaVine. Towns will be the 7-footer getting an earful from Kevin Garnett and LaVine will be doing his best to expand his game and solidify his spot as the Wolves’ new starting shooting guard. Wiggins will get his fair share of highlights, too. But that’s only a part of what the Timberwolves need from him this season.
Wiggins has pressure his counterparts either don’t have to worry about now or ever. He has to continue that momentum from late in his Kia Rookie of the Year season — he averaged 23.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists in the final 13 games — and continue polishing his game the way he did with the Candian National Team over the summer. Based strictly on what we’ve seen so far, Wiggins is much more than just an athletic marvel, he warrants all of the hype.
— Sekou Smith, NBA.com
