Andrew Wiggins spent the first five-and-a-half seasons of his NBA career with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 draft was solid during his time in Minnesota, averaging 19.7 points per game while shooting 44.1 percent from the field.
But he never quite lived up to the hype that comes with being a No. 1 pick. Many of Wiggins' issues can be traced back to the Timberwolves, how their offense was set up and the general dysfunction that surrounds the franchise.
Now with the Warriors, Wiggins believes the role Golden State will ask him to play coupled with Steve Kerr's ball motion offense puts him in a superior situation compared to Minnesota.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
“This, for me, is a lot better,” Wiggins said, via The Mercury News. “I don’t have to come off of three pick-and-rolls, two pick-and-rolls. This is more just passing and cutting, and more easy shots.”
With a healthy Steph Curry back, the Warriors will ask Wiggins to knock down open 3-pointers, play great defense on the wing, wreak havoc by cutting off-ball and probably be the primary scoring option when Curry sits.
That's a role the 25-year-old is comfortable settling into and the Warriors' culture certainly is one that is suited to help him reach his potential.
Wiggins heard the chatter all summer and fall, with analysts, fans and talking heads throwing him into every hypothetical trade imaginable in order to get the Warriors another star to put next to Curry. The Kansas product worked hard on his body this offseason, got stronger and knows that he has to be better with Klay Thompson out for the season with a torn Achilles.
Golden State Warriors
Find the latest Golden State Warriors news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Bay Area and California.
Curry has been impressed by Wiggins' game and is excited that his teammate now has the opportunity to silence all of his doubters and show everyone why the Warriors believe he is a piece of their future and not just a trade chip.
RELATED: Defining rotations, roles are Warriors' top camp priorities
Aside from a healthy Curry, Wiggins arguably is the most important piece to a successful Warriors season. Golden State needs him to buy-in on the defensive end of the floor every night in order to guard the opposing team's top wing threat. They also need him to supply offensive firepower both alongside Curry and when Curry sits.
Wiggins was impressive in 12 games for the Warriors last season. But he knows the bar has been raised now that he plays for a team with legitimate title aspirations.
It's a bar he plans to clear now that he's in what he believes is the perfect spot.