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Reading: 5 Years Ago, NBA Fans Believed Andrew Wiggins Would Be A Better Player Than Kawhi Leonard
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Home > NBA News & Analysis > 5 Years Ago, NBA Fans Believed Andrew Wiggins Would Be A Better Player Than Kawhi Leonard

5 Years Ago, NBA Fans Believed Andrew Wiggins Would Be A Better Player Than Kawhi Leonard

Nico Martinez
Apr 13, 2020
3 Min Read
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Believe it or not, it’s hard to predict the future. No matter how certain things seem now, there are always unforeseen factors that impact the outcome of any given thing. Sometimes, things just don’t go how you expect.

Five years ago, if I would have told you that Andrew Wiggins would be better than Kawhi Leonard, you probably would have believed it. Despite what we know about them now, things were different back then — and so was our perception of the two players.

Still sounds ridiculous? In 2015, a question was posted to the NBA subreddit that asked which player people would rather have: Kawhi Leonard or Andrew Wiggins. The responses will surprise you.

(via Credit: Reddit NBA)
(Credit: Reddit NBA)
(Credit: Reddit NBA)
(Credit: Reddit NBA)
 (Credit: Reddit NBA)

It’s easy to forget how good Wiggins was projected to be back then. When he was drafted #1 overall by the Timberwolves, there were talks that he was going to be the next great NBA superstar. Even after his rookie year, there were no indications that he would fall short of expectations. Right around these posts were made, he was averaging 16.9 points, and 4.6 rebounds in just his first season.

Back then, Kawhi Leonard wasn’t considered the elite talent he is now. During the 2014-15 season, Kawhi was still with the Spurs, averaging 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds. He was dominant defensively, but nobody knew how good he would become.

It’s easy to see how anyone could be fooled and the NBA community back then was definitely a prisoner of the moment.

(Credit: Reddit NBA)
(Credit: Reddit NBA)
(Credit: Reddit NBA)
(Credit: Reddit NBA)
(Credit: Reddit NBA)

The reality of how things turned out may be more a testament about Wiggins and Leonard than the fans. It seems Wiggins, for all his potential, was never able to become the player so many people thought he would be. After the 2016-17 season, his numbers dipped as did his following. It seems distractions and an inferior work ethic got in the way of his path to superstardom. He has yet to establish himself as an elite defender.

Kawhi, meanwhile, emerged as one of the best players in the game. He maintained his defensive edge while expanding his offensive game. He led the Raptors to a Championship in 2019 and has been in the MVP conversation for the past few years.

We couldn’t have been more wrong about the direction of these players back in 2015. But, as they always say, hindsight is 20/20.

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ByNico Martinez
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Nico Martinez is a veteran staff writer for Fadeaway World from Brooklyn, New York. He joined Fadeaway World in 2016 and is currently residing in Columbia, South Carolina. Nico holds a degree in Sports Management from Columbia International University where he built a strong foundation in the inner workings of sports media and management. Nico's contributions have significantly enhanced the credibility and depth of Fadeaway World's content, earning him recognition across the sports journalism community. His work has been discussed in prestigious publications like Sports Illustrated. A dedicated follower of LeBron James, Nico often leads coverage on news related to the basketball star. With nearly a decade of experience in sports journalism, Nico consistently provides comprehensive and timely basketball news, engaging a wide audience of basketball enthusiasts.Nico's most desired player to interview, past or present, is Kevin Durant. He is particularly keen on asking Durant if he has any regrets about his career, especially concerning his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and why he engages so much with fans on social media. 
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