The Miami Heat traded for Giannis Antetokounmpo with the hope of winning an NBA Championship one day. If they are eventually going to get there, it's very likely they'll have to get through some of the best players in the league to achieve that.
Thankfully, the Heat may already have the secret weapon to stop arguably the best player in the game, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Per Basketball University, from 2024-26, Andrew Wiggins has been the most effective defender on SGA. Against Wiggins, SGA averages just 14.9 points per 75 possessions and has a 38 true shot percentage. That's from a sample size of 181 possessions in which Wiggins has been matched up with SGA. More specifically, Wigges held SGA to under 30 percent shooting from the field this past season.
Andrew Wiggins is more valuable than many Heat fans realize
The analysis from BU does speak to what makes Wiggins so valuable, and how much of the time his significance can't be read off a stat sheet.
"Perfect mix of size, strength, length, quickness, recoverability, and discipline to mirror a big shifty ball handler like Shai. Really impressive skillset."
Objectively speaking, this is part of the reason why the Heat felt so strongly about re-signing him this summer. And not only did the Heat re-sign him, but they got him on an extension that is going to look like a real steal. Getting this type of value (three years, $64 million), especially considering how good he's been offensively for the Heat, too, is going to come in handy for Miami, both on and off the floor.
Even though Wiggins is not in the prime years of his career any longer, he still has the potential to be one of the biggest factors in the Heat's success this season. Especially if another splash isn't coming, the Heat is going to need a third option to arise from what they already have on their roster.
Andrew Wiggins can play a key role for the Heat this season
Wiggins can absolutely be that player. It's a role he excelled in with the Golden State Warriors on their championship run, and the hope is that he can do something similar with the Heat alongside Giannis and Bam Adebayo.
Even if that is at the heart of an elite defense. Because if Wiggins has already proven (in spurts) that he can put the clamps on an offensive player as dynamic as SGA, it should give the Heat confidence heading into any playoff series.
If Wiggins can emerge as the "star-stopper" for the Heat this season, it's certainly going to change the dynamic of the team. It will also alter their ceiling. Miami's most dangerous defensive weapon may not be Giannis or Bam after all. It may be Wiggins' versatility and length on the wing, especially against some of the most talented scoring wings in the league.
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