Aaron Wiggins

Wiggins grew up playing basketball, football and running track. Through his childhood, he played the piano and trombone, acted in plays and danced.^[1] Wiggins played basketball for Grimsley High School in Greensboro, North Carolina before transferring to Wesleyan Christian Academy in High Point, North Carolina.^[2] As a senior, he was an NCISAA Class 3A All-State selection.^[3] Wiggins competed for Team Charlotte on the Amateur Athletic Union circuit.^[4] A consensus four-star recruit, he committed to play college basketball for Maryland on June 3, 2017.^[5] He had drawn the attention of Maryland's coaching staff while they were visiting Wesleyan to watch his teammate Jaylen Hoard.^[1]

Wiggins began his freshman season as a starter, but later told coach Mark Turgeon that he was more comfortable coming off the bench.^[6] As a freshman at Maryland, he played the most minutes among his team's reserves.^[7] He led Maryland with a season-high 15 points in losses to Michigan and Michigan State.^[8] He finished the season averaging 8.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in 23.5 minutes per game, shooting a team-high 41.3 percent from three-point range.^[9][6] On February 23, 2020, Wiggins scored a sophomore season-high 20 points, recording six three-pointers, in a 79–72 loss to Ohio State.^[10] As a sophomore, he averaged 10.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game and was named Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year.^[11] In the final game of his junior season, Wiggins scored a career-high 27 points in a 96–77 loss to Alabama in the second round of the NCAA tournament.^[12] As a junior, he averaged 14.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, earning All-Big Ten honorable mention. On April 9, 2021, Wiggins declared for the 2021 NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility.^[13] He later decided to remain in the draft.^[14]

Wiggins was selected in the second round of the 2021 NBA draft with the 55th pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder. Wiggins had a very productive NBA Summer League with the Thunder averaging the second most points on the team with 11.2 PPG.^[15] On August 15, 2021, he signed a two-way contract with the Thunder. Under the terms of the deal, he split time between the Thunder and their NBA G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue.^[16] On December 26, 2021, Wiggins scored a then career-high 24 points against the New Orleans Pelicans. He shot 8 for 10 from the field and 2 for 4 from three in Thunder's 117–112 win. On February 12, 2022, the Thunder converted Wiggins two-way contract into a standard NBA deal.^[17]

On July 7, 2024, Wiggins re-signed with the Thunder.^[18] On February 1, 2025, Wiggins registered a career-high 41 points and 14 rebounds against the Sacramento Kings.^[19] Wiggins became an NBA champion when the Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers in game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals.^[20]