As a decided game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Sacramento Kings neared its close, the Paycom Center crowd was on its feet.
Despite OKC’s 32-point lead and an extended stay on the bench for the Thunder’s pair of All-Stars, OKC was abuzz, and it was all for a former 55th overall pick.
As Aaron Wiggins tried to escape a double team, he was forced to give up the ball. A surprisingly rowdy crowd quieted. Just when the hope of one of OKC’s most surprising individual milestones seemed lost, Wiggins did what he has done since arriving in the NBA — he cut. Wiggins caught the ball off a perfect bounce pass from Jaylin Williams before finishing through contact for his 16th made basket of the game.
As he raised his hands in the air, the same Paycom Center that was dormant moments earlier erupted. A bench mob led by OKC’s megastar, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, jumped up and down as Wiggins embraced the roar of the Thunder faithful.
The man who many Thunder fans say “saved basketball”, one of OKC’s most unlikely contributors and a favorite of young and old fans alike, scored 41 points, a feat that few could’ve ever seen coming when the Thunder selected him in the final five picks of the 2021 NBA Draft.
Wiggins’ 40-piece is the current defining moment of his career. The box score justification of the “he’s better than you think” narrative that OKC fans have been pushing for multiple seasons.
“Somewhere in my man cave, for sure,” Wiggins said with a radiant smile when asked where his game ball would go.
Although his career high has grabbed attention, Wiggins has blossomed into a contributor on one of the best regular season teams the NBA has seen in its illustrious history.
Since Jan. 1, Wiggins has averaged 13.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and two assists while shooting 55% from the field and 38% from 3. He has played more than 25 minutes per game during that span.
OKC’s best season has been Wiggins’ breakout year. He is now a fixture of the rotation and a near lock to play 15 minutes or more in any given game.
As much as Wiggins is a story of excellent scouting and unparalleled internal development, he is one of patience and unrelenting will.
Wiggins has gone from undesirable to undeniable, but it hasn’t happened overnight.
From two-way to fan-favorite
Wiggins is one of three players to be converted from a two-way contract to a standard contract, sign an extension with that team and score 40 points in a game, joining teammate Lu Dort and Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers.
It’s clear that OKC and Wiggins found something in one another, but at one point, it seemed likely that he would be nothing more than another guy who came and went during OKC’s rebuild. As recently as last season, Wiggins didn’t receive consistent minutes despite his exemplary performance on the court.
It was clear Wiggins was something, even when he was playing meaningless minutes that would’ve been spent in the G-League had he been on most teams.
Exactly what that “something” was, nobody knew.
Wiggins was a crafty midrange scorer but shot just 30% from 3. It’s a great skill to have, but midrange shooting rarely earns minutes of consequence in the NBA.
Wiggins’ touch from inside the arc and his 72% free throw shooting were indicators that he had the potential to become a consistent outside shooter, but at the time, he had to find other ways to stay on the court.
From day one, Wiggins had an NBA skill in his cutting. Whenever he shared the floor with Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey or anyone with playmaking chops, he seemed to be open at the basket.
Wiggins closed his rookie season with averages of eight points and four rebounds. Solid numbers by any measure for the 55th pick, but few saw a future contributor.
That summer, OKC added Holmgren, but more importantly for Wiggins, it added Jalen Williams and Ousmane Dieng.
OKC’s asset allocation had paid off with three lottery picks in a loaded draft. Williams and Dieng both played on the wing, just like Wiggins.
The team was now substantially more invested in Williams, Dieng, Dort and Aleksej Pokusevski than it was in Wiggins. He had received a standard contract that took him through the end of the 2024 season, but that meant little for his long-term security, especially considering the history of OKC when it came to elevated two-way players.
Dort had become a key part of the Thunder’s future, but the success rate of other two-way players was low.
A revolving door of players that included Josh Hall, Jaylen Hoard and others had all given OKC solid contributions during its tank, only to be released.
Despite the odds being against him, Wiggins’ confidence didn’t waver, at least not publicly.
“The year went by so fast, rookie season is already done for me,” Wiggins said in his exit interview after his first season. “It went by fast, but it was super fun and I’m excited for the years to come.”
Those years to come were far from a guarantee, but Wiggins managed to differentiate himself from Hall and Hoard and stick around through his first summer.
Then, Wiggins survived training camp with OKC and Holmgren suffered a season-ending injury in the offseason, opening a spot at the bottom of the rotation that Wiggins sometimes filled.
Throughout his second season, Wiggins’ minutes were volatile. In some games, he played less than 10 minutes; in others, he started and played more than 25.
Wiggins’ minutes and points decreased to 18 and six per game, respectively, but he established himself as an NBA player.
He eclipsed the level of the Moses Browns and the Vit Krejcis. As OKC made its way to the play-in tournament, it was clear that Wiggins was more than just a good-stats/bad-team guy. He had functional NBA skills. His 3-point shooting jumped to 39%, making him a seamless fit with a blossoming Gilgeous-Alexander, a shockingly good Williams and an evolving cast of characters around them.
Wiggins played 14 minutes in OKC’s first play-in game and 15 in its second, firmly establishing himself as more than the “something” he appeared to be just 12 months earlier.
OKC lost to Minnesota with the eighth seed and a playoff berth on the line. The Thunder weren’t ready. Even Gilgeous-Alexander, coming off his first All-Star appearance, underperformed as the all-in Timberwolves easily disposed of the plucky Thunder.
Wiggins, like the rest of his teammates, looked overwhelmed by the first chapter in what would quickly evolve into a book of NBA success that has the potential to be as long as the “A Song of Ice and Fire” series.
Everyone knew the Thunder were coming. Sam Presti had found a gem in Williams. Gilgeous-Alexander was gradually scaling the NBA ladder, slowly turning into the perennial MVP candidate that OKC fans know and love today. And, contrary to the first potential dynasty that Presti had built, the role players were coming into their own as well.
Dort, in what has now become one of the most shocking shooting turnarounds in NBA history, had raised his 3PT% from 29% as a rookie to 33% on more than six attempts per game. Holmgren’s absence had forced Jaylin Williams into a starting spot as a second-round rookie. Presti had scooped Isaiah Joe off the scrap heap only for him to become one of the NBA’s best 3-point shooters.
Wiggins, like Dort, had rapidly ascended above expectations, but even after fixing his glaring outside shooting issues, he was low in the pecking order in OKC, which, of course, had another lottery pick coming that would certainly leap Wiggins in the rotation.
Despite all of these forces converging against Wiggins, his status felt secure.
He may not have been the first man off the bench or on an iron-clad contract, but he was likely to remain in OKC, at least until the inevitable trade for another star came.
What happened next, nobody could’ve predicted.
Wiggins garnered the support of OKC fans everywhere. Online, in the arena, at school or at the office, it didn’t matter. Wiggins had become beloved to a level that few role players see.
Fans loved themselves some Wiggins, and as the next season approached, their love would only grow.
Locking in long-term
On the surface, Wiggins’ third season was his worst.
His minutes dropped to 16 per game, his scoring plateaued at seven points per game and Cason Wallace, Joe and Holmgren all unquestionably jumped him in the rotation.
Still, the eye test and his 3-point shooting not only suggested but screamed otherwise.
Wiggins’ 3PT% jumped to 49%. Fans clamored for more Wiggins minutes despite OKC finding unprecedented success for its age with him playing spot minutes or sitting at the end of the bench.
In his lesser minutes, Wiggins was forced to do something he had become familiar with — playing a different role.
In his first season, Wiggins earned most of his buckets in the paint with his cutting, but he was shooting 3s on 40% of his shot attempts while shooting just 30%. In his second season, he was more selective with his 3-point attempts and leaned into his cutting, which led to a 14% increase in shots at the rim. And now, in his third season, Wiggins was tasked with being an all-around creator in his limited minutes. As a result, Wiggins nearly quadrupled his midrange attempts and shot a lesser percentage of his shots from 3, all while remaining lethal whenever he got close to the basket. Wiggins looked more comfortable than ever on the court; until OKC brought in another wing for him to compete with.
At the trade deadline, OKC acquired Gordon Hayward — another speed bump.
Every time Wiggins gained traction, a new acquisition seemed to change his role.
“There are a number of things that the team may be lacking, but I just try to be prepared for whatever situation I’m put in. Coming into the game, I’m not looking for or thinking about maybe scoring a certain number of points or anything. I’m going in there with the mindset to help the team get the outcome that we want, which is a win,” Wiggins said.
“Regardless of what that looks like, I’m willing to go out there and put forth my best foot and hopefully help my team get a W.”
Despite the addition, Wiggins continued to excel in his minutes. The inevitable drop-off in outside shooting never came, his NBA superpower of cutting remained a strength, and he had developed into a good enough defender to stay with opposing wings.
“This being my third year in the league, just kind of learning the ways of the NBA, learning individual players,” Wiggins said of his growth following the 2023-24 season. “How guys play, how teams play, certain strategic ways of playing games. I think I grew in a lot of those facets.”
As the playoffs approached, fans’ prayers were answered. Wiggins became a key part of the OKC rotation, playing at least 15 minutes in 17 of OKC’s final 21 games, with the best of them coming with just four games before the playoffs when he scored 26 points and had six steals against the Charlotte Hornets.
Heading into the first round, Wiggins appeared to have finally elevated into the spot that many OKC fans felt he had deserved for two seasons.
But when the playoffs came, the rotation tightened and Wiggins’ minutes shrunk. To the aggravation of Thunder fans, Hayward was still getting time while Wiggins continued to be more efficient in his minutes.
Wiggins’ minutes weren’t affected in the first round, as the Thunder easily dismantled New Orleans in a sweep, winning the four games by an average of 16 points and leaving plenty of time for players like Wiggins to get in the game.
When the second round arrived, things got harder. OKC found itself in a dog fight with Dallas, and Wiggins’ minutes declined as the series went on, headlined by game six when the Mavericks sent OKC packing and Wiggins played just seven minutes. In those minutes, OKC was +11. +/- can be deceiving at times, as it often rewards role players who play with stars, but everything seemed to operate a bit smoother whenever Wiggins was on the court.
OKC would eventually lose to Dallas unceremoniously, with P.J. Washington at the free-throw line. Wiggins watched from the bench and OKC fans would ponder if a few more minutes for the fan favorite could’ve forced a Game 7.
Hayward would retire after letting the world know how disgruntled he was during his half-season as a member of the Thunder. Giddey would be dealt for Alex Caruso, another wing whose skillset and position overlap with Wiggins’.
The acquisition of Caruso could’ve easily been the final nail in the Wiggins’ coffin. One last guy who would finally make Wiggins disposable and movable as a part of a package for a bigger star.
Like he often does, Presti zigged when everyone thought he was going to zag.
Presti declined Wiggins’ team option, making him a free agent, and rewarded him with a five-year, $45 million contract.
“It was awesome. When all that went down, you know, my family, they were with me. They were all by my side. That’s just an exciting moment,” Wiggins said. “Everything that a lot of guys kind of dream for, getting here, coming as the 55th pick, two-way contract, and you are trying to fight for an opportunity. To be able to kind of live that out is a dream come true. It was awesome being able to just be with my mom, my dad, and my siblings during that time.”
The contract was still tradable, and it was likely that, with the pressure cooker now on, fans would be more willing than ever to see Wiggins for a more proven commodity. That said, Wiggins was now locked in for five years. From 55th pick to $45 million, Wiggins had already done the improbable. Now, it was time for him to earn a permanent spot in the rotation.
“Every team could use Aaron Wiggins”
Hayward and Giddey were gone. OKC used yet another lottery pick on Nikola Topic, a player with the size and skill to challenge Wiggins’ spot in the rotation, but he was set to miss his rookie season with an ACL injury.
Wiggins had gotten his money and security, now it was time to prove he was more than a fun story and a fan favorite on a team with championship expectations. He hit the ground running.
Wiggins, like OKC, got off to a terrific start. He began the season as a key part of the rotation, playing more than 15 minutes in 19 of OKC’s first 20 games. His 3PT% fell from 49% to 39%, but he more than doubled his attempts from deep.
As the trade deadline approached, some OKC fans threw his name into hypothetical trades for proven starters and veteran players, but the deadline came and went.
For now, Wiggins is finally in the role so many have wanted him to play for years. He is up to a career-high 22 minutes per game. He is scoring in double figures for the first time since his junior year at Maryland. He has made strides as a rebounder from the wing and he is now, at least in the minds of OKC fans, a knockdown outside shooter.
His hot start went from an extended aberration to an expectation. When Wiggins is open from 3, everyone in the Paycom Center thinks it’s going in. He has carried the cutting that first got him on the court in the NBA into what has turned into a career season, and his midrange ability has gotten better with his outside shot. On the defensive end, Wiggins has continued to ascend and he is now capable of guarding opposing scorers in a bind, although, with the defensively gifted fivesome of Gilgeous-Alexander, Dort, Wallace, Williams and Caruso, he is rarely asked to do so.
As the season has progressed, Wiggins has only gotten stronger.
His averages since 2025 started are that of not only an elite role player but also a Sixth Man of the Year candidate.
Williams, Holmgren, Caruso, Wallace and Isaiah Hartenstein have all missed multiple games, yet OKC is on track for the best record in franchise history.
A big part of that is Wiggins. His experiences playing different roles and getting his minutes jerked around for the first three years of his NBA career have expertly crafted him to serve as OKC’s Swiss army knife.
“He’s the definition of somebody who doesn’t let his situation affect his mindset,” Holmgren said.
When the Thunder needs elite shooting off the bench, Wiggins is there, now shooting a career-high four 3s per game and maintaining the 39% mark that places him well above league average. One could easily argue that Wiggins is the team’s third-best non-big rim-finisher, bested only by Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams, although, in terms of percentage, Wiggins is better than Williams in terms of shooting from 0-3 feet by 4%. Wiggins has never lost the midrange ability he honed at Maryland and with each passing season is shooting from that spot with more frequency.
The long spells of inconsistent minutes that caused an uproar from OKC fans are what forged Wiggins for this moment.
He does everything well. A trait that is often demonized in the scouting process is the very thing that has transformed Wiggins from an afterthought on a team headlined by stars to an indispensable role player who is the sixth man on one of the most statistically dominant teams in NBA history.
Defining Wiggins’ ceiling is impossible. Is it likely he will ever surpass his current standing as a high-level role player on an elite team? Probably not. But, it wasn’t likely his contract was converted into a long-term deal. It wasn’t likely a three-year, non-guaranteed deal would turn into a $45 million payday.
Nothing about Wiggins is likely. He has that in common with most of his teammates, but his path to becoming a starting-level wing in the NBA may be the windiest of any of the Thunder.
It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what Wiggins is because he is, and has been so many things.
Second-round pick, two-way player, end-of-the-bench guy, spot minutes receiver, consistent part of the rotation, spot starter, fan-favorite. The list feels endless and Wiggins is only 26, with what looks to be a long, fruitful career ahead of him.
Maybe Wiggins’ legacy will be in line with the do-it-all swingmen of the past. It’s also possible he becomes a starter for the next half-decade, in OKC or elsewhere. It is a pointless task trying to guess.
Holmgren said it best after Wiggins scored 24 points against New Orleans just nine days after his 41-point explosion.
“Every team could use Aaron Wiggins,” Holmgren said. “I don’t think there’s something out there he can’t do at a really high level. He’s been playing incredibly well the last few weeks, above even what he probably thinks his standard is but now that bar has been raised. It’s not unexpected from us, we see how hard he works. This is just a culmination of all that.”
