In news that can only be filed under the “Captain Obvious” category, Andrew Wiggins tells ESPN The Magazine that he plans to be one-and-done and expects to be the No. 1 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
“The Philly GM just breathed a sigh of relief,” one NBA executive joked to SNY.tv.
The 6-foot-8 Canadian wing was asked what he’s enjoyed most since arriving at Kansas.
“I would say just being able to enjoy my last year of school,” Wiggins said.
Wiggins said he hopes to follow fellow Canadian Anthony Bennett in becoming the No. 1 pick next June, and also that he wants to win an NCAA championship at Kansas.
“Yeah, if that’s possible if I can, yeah,” he said.
When he does go pro, Wiggins’s sneaker deal could reportedly be worth $180 million.
The past four No. 1 picks were one-and-dones: Bennett, Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and John Wall.
Meantime, an NBA executive told SNY.tv earlier this week that half a dozen teams were tanking the upcoming season — to varying degrees — in order to capitalize on the Draft.
According to DraftExpress.com, six of the top eight projected picks will be one-and-dones: Wiggins, No. 2 Julius Randle, No. 4 Aaron Gordon, No. 6 Joel Embiid, No. 7 Jabari Parker and No. 8 Andrew Harrison.
No. 3 Dante Exum is an Australian guard and No. 5 Marcus Smart is a sophomore at Oklahoma State.
Speaking of Smart, he told ESPN that Wiggins must still prove he’s the best player in the Big 12.
“A lot of people are saying he’s the best player now in college basketball,” Smart said of Wiggins during the Big 12’s media day. “All I’m saying is how can you be the best player in something you haven’t even played yet?”
**For previous articles on Andrew Wiggins, click here.
