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[Saba Sports News] Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault had high praise for Aaron Wiggins after the fourth-year guard delivered a standout performance off the bench in Sunday’s historic 51-point Game 1 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Wiggins led the Thunder with 21 points in the blowout win, shooting 8-of-15 from the field and 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, while also adding four rebounds and three assists. After the game, Daigneault reflected on Wiggins’ steady development and his value as one of the team’s most dependable bench contributors.
“He’s got great readiness and professionalism,” Daigneault said. “You can put him into any situation and he’ll figure it out. He’s been excellent in those second units all season. This is the rotation we wanted for tonight, but we’ll adjust if the game calls for it. He’s been building this muscle for a long time.”
Wiggins’ growth and consistency have given Daigneault more flexibility with lineup combinations throughout the season.
“When you’ve seen a guy like Aaron in enough situations—over 82 games, and really over multiple seasons—it builds trust,” Daigneault added. “You see that reliability across different lineups, roles, and game contexts. That’s what being a pro is about, and nobody embodies that better than him.”
Daigneault was particularly pleased that Wiggins was able to shine on the postseason stage.
“He’s done this for a long time and done it well,” he said. “It’s great to see him get his number called and be ready to deliver in a moment like this.”
Looking ahead, Daigneault expects a stronger response from the Grizzlies in Game 2, noting that Memphis was coming off a short turnaround after an emotional win just 36 hours before Sunday’s tip.
“We were locked in early. I thought our tone was great from the start,” Daigneault said. “But they just played an emotional game and had to turn around and play at noon—that’s tough. They’ll be better on Tuesday.”
Game 2 of the series will take place at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, where the Thunder will look to build on their 1–0 lead.