How Aaron Wiggins has remained a 'total pro' despite limited role in OKC's playoffs
· Yahoo Sports
Going through his usual pregame routine, Aaron Wiggins knows what the NBA is about. He's been in the league long enough to know your rotation spot isn't written in Sharpie. You don't work your way up from second-round two-way player to a one-time NBA champion without that sense of self-awareness.
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As of now, Wiggins has been on the outside of OKC's rotation. It's a spot he hasn't been at since his early days on the Thunder. Over the last five seasons, he's become a fixture in their rotation — whether as a starter or bench player. He's developed into an on-ball scorer that shoot well from the outside.
Alas — whether due to injury or added talent or just being on the most stacked team in the league — Wiggins has fallen out of favor in OKC's rotation. The Thunder spent the post-All-Star break portion of the schedule revving up his basketall engine. It just never actually hummed along.
Despite that, Daigneault has respected Wiggins' handling of a less-than-ideal situation. Nobody wants to be parked on the bench during their team's playoff run. They want to be part of a hopeful championship journey. The 27-year-old had his moments in last year's quest — which included a handful of double-digit scoring explosions.
"Like a total pro, just like everybody else. I think all these guys' willingness to accept their role at a given point in time, which is not permanent. It changes constantly," Daigneault said. "But their willingness to accept it and stay inside the team and continue to put the wind at their teammates' backs has applied pressure to everybody to continue to do that. That's the locker room. That's what these guys have built together and that's impressive."
Just watching these playoff games, you can eye OKC's bench and see some sorta reaction. It's a great people-watching spot. Wiggins has had his fair share of positive outbursts as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander yo-yo's a helpless defender or Chet Holmgren muscles his way to the rim for a dunk.
You need everybody on the same page to win an NBA championship. The Thunder had that last year. And with mostly the same group, they continue to have it this year. Even in a downsized role, Wiggins has stayed connected with this group. Which is not the easiest thing to do, from an individual level.
"He and Kenrich Williams, I've said this before, down 2-1 at Indy, down in the fourth quarter. They're both in the game in that situation. When I say I trust them, my money's where my mouth is on that," Daigneault said. "They've been in big situations. He's delivered in big situations. That's not lost on me. But I'm also trying to push the right buttons in each situation, in each series. Every series is different. Those guys need to stay ready because I have the utmost trust in them."
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: How Aaron Wiggins has been 'total pro' despite role in OKC's playoffs