On December 14, Kobe Bryant passed Michael Jordan for third all-time on the NBA scoring list. “I witnessed greatness. A living legend passing Michael Jordan, who everyone thinks is the best of all time.” A quote from 2014 first-overall pick Andrew Wiggins after falling to the Lakers 100-94. Wiggins who guarded the “living legend” for a majority of the game received the honors to be a part of such a historic game. Wiggins as well came away with a high praise from Bryant.

“Like looking at a reflection of myself 19 years ago,” said Bryant regarding Wiggins. Toronto, Ontario born Wiggins scored 16-points on 4/12 shooting, and 8/8 from the free throw line in a night the world watched Bryant do what we all knew was coming. It’s a milestone that Wiggins hopes to reach one day in his career as well, but has still a lot of growing to do.

Bryant and Wiggins rookie seasons got off to similar starts. Bryant was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th pick in the 1996 NBA draft, but was quickly traded to the Lakers. Bryant appeared in 71 games in his first season, starting in only six of those games.

After being drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Wiggins was not traded on draft night like Byrant but rather held onto for quite some time. The Cavaliers even signed the highly touted Canadian to his first NBA contract, which meant Wiggins could not be traded for 30-days. But the signing of free agent LeBron James turned the Cavaliers from a grow-for-the-future team to a win-now team. James and Wiggins would have been a fun duo to watch, but the Cavaliers had no intentions of having Wiggins grow under James wing.

As soon as the 30-days were up Wiggins packed his bags from Cleveland, if they even got there, and headed towards Minnesota with 2013 first-round pick Anthony Bennett. The Cavaliers in return got the Timberwolves long-time franchise player Kevin Love. It was a start to his NBA career that Wiggins did not expect, but could quickly put to the side and begin to look forward to his first season.

It was then on Tuesday night when Wiggins and the Wolves came to Cleveland for a matchup versus James, Love and the Cavaliers. Wiggins was never a part of the Cavaliers plans when James signed, that was an obvious. The Wolves were never part of Love’s future, as he informed them prior to being traded.

Tuesday night was “just another game” for Love. “It always is a different feel, but I told [a reporter] the other day, it will probably be even more different when we head back and play them at Target Center,” Love told ESPN after shoot-around on Tuesday. Love had nothing to prove on a night the Wolves were welcomed into his new home. It will be different when Love heads back to Minnesota for his return, as he mentioned.

James also had nothing to prove. When he returned to Cleveland this past summer it was a no-brainer that the Cavaliers were his team.

For Wiggins, it was a statement game. He was drafted by the Cavaliers. He signed his first rookie contract with them, only to then be part of 30 days of rumours. Some may even say those rumours started as soon as Commissioner Adam Silver called out Wiggins name as the first selection. The Cavaliers had no intentions of keeping Wiggins after drafting him. Those intentions became clear when James came back, and Wiggins had the right to show them that was a mistake.

The Cavaliers downed the Wolves 125-104. It was a one point difference early in the third before James and his teammates would have no more. The difference in this game was the Cavaliers are a playoff team and the Wolves are far from it. Everyone knew that, but Wiggins still wanted to prove to James and the Cavaliers that they traded away a future superstar. He wanted to prove that when Bryant in the summer said, “Cleveland is making the same mistake that Charlotte made with me,” that Bryant indeed was right.

Wiggins was impressive Tuesday night, scoring 27-points – two shy of tying his career high. He shot 9/16 from the floor going 3/3 from beyond the arc. Wiggins like he did against the Lakers guarding Bryant, also guarded James for a majority of the game. Wiggins’ most impressive two-points came with 7-minutes left in the third as he drove to the rim, saw Love’s face, and slammed it home over the big man.

Through his first handful of games Wiggins is averaging 12-points, 4-rebounds and 1-steal. He has scored 16 or more points in five of his last eight games, giving him a clear path to the Rookie of the Year award. One thing to take into consideration is four of the top seven 2014 first round draft picks have been injured this season, and three of those four guys are out for the year.

The 19-year old has shown signs of future stardom this season and continues to grow in front of our eyes. James and the Cavaliers decided to go for the win-now mode, thinking Wiggins didn’t fit that motto. Bryant feels the Cavaliers blew that decision and see’s similarities between him and Wiggins. Only time will tell, but Wiggins defiantly made a statement on Tuesday night proving to Cleveland and the rest of the NBA world that he can be the real deal.