Aaron Wiggins Reflects on His Journey to NBA Finals with Thunder

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins, proudly wearing a 2025 NBA Finals hat and T-shirt, discussed his unexpected route to the championship stage. Wiggins spoke with Andscape after the Thunder secured a spot in the NBA Finals with a 124-94 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals on May 28. “I sat down for a second because I never thought I’d be able to compete for a Finals championship,” he said. “To have advanced and made it this far alone is a blessing in itself.”

Wiggins has been an essential bench player for the Thunder, averaging 12 points and 3.9 rebounds. Drafted in the second round in 2021, the 6-foot-5 guard faced challenges early in his career, with many doubting his potential to make an NBA roster. “His whole journey here has been a lot of ups and downs,” said Thunder teammate Luguentz Dort.

Wiggins, who played for the University of Maryland during the 2020-21 season, had his share of doubts when he entered the draft. He averaged 14.5 points and 5.8 rebounds but was not predicted to be a top pick. A strong performance in the G League Select Camp led to an invitation to the NBA Pre-Draft Camp, where he made an impression.

On draft night in 2021, Wiggins hosted a party, expecting to hear his name called in the second round. He was chosen 55th overall by the Thunder. “We were sitting there watching the draft and there were mixed emotions,” Wiggins recalled. After receiving a call from his agent about the selection, he felt blessed but also uncertain about his future.

Initially signed to a two-way contract, Wiggins was determined to prove himself with the Thunder. He focused on adapting to the NBA and earning minutes, maintaining confidence despite facing hurdles. Remarkably, he didn’t play in the G League during his rookie season, averaging 7.4 points and 3.5 rebounds.

In 2022, Thunder general manager Sam Presti promoted Wiggins’ contract to a standard NBA deal due to his impressive play. Wiggins’ success continued, and in the summer of 2024, he signed a five-year, $57 million extension, surprising even himself. “If you would have told me that three years later I’d be signing a four- or five-year deal, it was just a lot to intake at once,” he said.

This season saw Wiggins reach career highs across multiple statistics, but his role fluctuated throughout the playoffs. He managed a strong performance in the first round against the Memphis Grizzlies with 21 points but struggled in the Western Conference Finals, averaging just 1.75 points against the Timberwolves.

Despite these ups and downs, Wiggins remains focused on the bigger picture. “I’m just doing the same thing I’ve done for the last couple of years,” he stated. “Trust in our coaching staff. Buying into the team first and understand that success will come.”

Thunder teammate Luguentz Dort has faith in Wiggins, asserting that he will always be ready when called upon. “He’s always been about the team first,” Dort said. “When his name is called, he is always going to be ready.”

As the NBA Finals approach, Wiggins offers encouragement to future draftees facing uncertain paths. “Just trust in God. Do not take things for granted and trust in the process,” he advised.