With headphones placed firmly over his ears, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins stared intently at the scouting report.

That pre-game prep went beyond studying just opposing player tendencies or observing the coaching staff’s notes. As the Thunder strive to become the first NBA team in seven years to defend their championship, an increasingly valued rotation player also tries to anticipate which character he will play in his next appearance.

“He can wear a lot of different masks,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said.

If only it were as easy to figure out which Halloween costume to wear. Only eight games into the regular season, Wiggins has stepped on stage and excelled in various roles: starter or reserve, complementary scorer or defender, stabilizer or energizer.

Not surprising then that Wiggins once again mastered his latest job description in the Thunder’s 126-107 win over the LA Clippers on Tuesday at Intuit Dome.

Yes, the Thunder (8-0) remain undefeated mostly because Shai Gilgeous-Alexander performed like an MVP candidate (30 points, 12 assists) while Chet Holmgren (11 points, five rebounds) and Isaiah Hartenstein (10 points, seven rebounds) provided frontcourt depth. OKC also stemmed the Clippers’ hopes to secure a marquee win even without Kawhi Leonard (sprained right ankle) and Bradley Beal (right knee injury management) with Isaiah Joe (22) and Cason Wallace (12). But Wiggins also made critical plays with 12 points on 5-for-10 shooting and two assists in 26 minutes off the bench. Wiggins threw down a one-handed dunk. Wiggins connected with Hartenstein for a lob. Wiggins sank a key 3 that gave the Thunder an 81-78 lead with 3:34 left in the third quarter. Afterwards, Wiggins sat by his locker with ice bags around both legs in hopes to expedite recovery before Thursday’s game in Portland (4-3).

“That’s one of his best skills,” Daigneault said. “He’s unbelievably adaptive.”

Consider the different ways that Wiggins has adapted. He has started at guard for an injured Wallace and at center for an injured Holmgren. He has helped the Thunder’s top-ranked defense as both a perimeter and interior defender. He has switched identities as quickly as it takes for him to check into the game, make a timely bucket or a well-needed stop.

Not bad for a player that the Thunder selected with the No. 55 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft after starring for three seasons at the University of Maryland. Four years later, Wiggins played critical roles in the Thunder’s NBA Finals win over Indiana in Game 2 (18 points on 6-for-11 shooting, 5-for-8 from 3, four rebounds) and Game 5 (14 points on 4-for-10 shooting, 4-for-7 from 3, five rebounds).

“He’s just literally able to pivot to anything that we do with him, including the role on the team,” Daigneault said. “He’s got some creation opportunities and has the ball in his hand more. But he also can blend back into system stuff pretty seamlessly.”

Wiggins spoke to EssentiallySports about his adaptability and other topics. That included the Thunder’s best start in franchise history, Gilgeous-Alexander’s enhanced leadership, and how the team has absorbed injuries to Jalen Williams (right wrist) and Nikola Topić (testicular cancer).

Editor’s note: The following one-on-one conversation has been edited and condensed.

You’re coming off a championship season. But how do you explain the 8-0 start given you’re all getting everyone’s best shot and you have some key injuries?

Wiggins: “Man, obviously the championship is special. But the hunger from our guys is still there. We got a couple of injuries and guys aren’t able to play back yet. They’ll be back hopefully soon. But the hunger one through 18 on the roster is still there. Guys are eager to get wins and eager to put ourselves in a position to be contenders toward the end of the season. Guys are locked in. From the jump, we’ve been like that.”

The record is an example. But what other examples do you see that show you all are pretty hungry?

Wiggins: “Our approach to every game is one thing, regardless of the team. With the personnel, I think we’ve done a good job with being ready for the most part. Even against the Clippers, we had a slow start. But we course-corrected in the second half with the way we came out. By late in the third [quarter] and early in the fourth [quarter], we put ourselves in a position to win games. We’ve done a good job with being in control of games, for the most part. We’re putting ourselves in positions to win. I think that shows the hunger that is there. Guys are talking in the timeouts and the huddles. Everybody is always engaged. There’s a level of assertiveness and readiness from guys who are stepping up. Ajay [Mitchell] has been big for us. Guys are ready.”

Shai is coming off an MVP season. But what is he doing to maintain that?

Wiggins: “I think part of him coming off such a big year is that you see a little bit more of a leader in him. So far in this season, he has been very vocal in the games, in huddles and during timeouts. He’s vocal on and off the court. Our leader isn’t all about himself, especially after having a year as his. He’s still pouring into the team and is as engaged as everybody is. That adds fuel to the team. He’s been huge for us. He’ll continue to pour into us and make sure we’re continuing to get better.”

How is he pouring into the team?

Wiggins: “It’s small things. He’s giving little reminders. He’s giving encouraging words to teammates. He’s saying, ‘I’m coming back to you.’ If you miss a shot, he’s letting you know, ‘Be ready, they’re doubling. I’m not hesitating. I’m going to make this.’ So it’s little things that help keep guys engaged and always ready.”

It’s early. But Shai said recently that the team is better than it was to begin last season. What do you see?

Wiggins: “Yeah, I think there’s improvement from a togetherness standpoint. We’ve continued to carry on where we left off coming off of last season. So we’re all on the same page. And that hunger is still there. Having done it once and knowing what it takes to win, we’re just as hungry coming into the season. Regardless of what games look like, guys are putting their bodies on the line. They’re walking out with bumps, bruises and black eyes. But they’re making it work. Guys are hungry. Having been together for so long, it just adds. There is an understanding about needing to get better. So everybody’s working.”

It looked like Chet jumped right back in where he started after missing the past few games. What enables him to do that?

Wiggins: “With our team, it makes it easy regardless of how much time he misses or regardless of the minutes that he’s played. I think it’s pretty easy to kind of step into any role and be able to play well. As a team, we’re so connected and understanding of what it takes to be good. We understand that there are different players that are going to have big nights every single night. Regardless of that, we’re focused on being a great team. That allows for guys to feel comfortable, regardless of how much time they missed. It allows for guys to be able to come in and be like themselves.”

How are J-Dub’s spirits through his injury?

Wiggins: “He’s been great. He’s always been a huge presence in our locker room on and off the court. His personality is loud. It’s something that brightens everybody’s moods and days coming into practices and arenas. Regardless of what it is, he is a positive energy guy and obviously a great player. I know that he’s dying to get back on the court and is ready to get back into it. But in the same sense, he hasn’t been shy of who he is as a person so far this season, either.”

How about Nikola?

Wiggins: “Yeah, he’s obviously been through a lot in the last two years alone at such a young age. So you feel bad for him. But in the same sense, he doesn’t want any pity. He doesn’t want anybody feeling bad for him. It’s been great seeing him be around the facility and coming around. Guys are loving and encouraging to him. He wants to be around us. We love him. We have guys take care of him. So we’re just wishing him the best and making sure that he’s good.”

Mark has often praised you for how adaptable you are. What has made you prepared to start or come off the bench in different positions?

Wiggins: “I’ve seen it all now in my time here. In my five years, at every position I’ve almost been thrown into a firepit. So my readiness doesn’t change. Knowing the talent that we have and the group that we have and eagerness to be a great team, it’s easy for me to come in every day and plug in. I have the mindset to make things happen. I want to continue with that same thing. I want to continue to improve as a player, obviously. That helps me in those different positions. That mindset has helped a lot.”

What do you want to improve on?

Wiggins: “Everything. There’s not one thing where I go into a summer and say, ‘This specifically.’ There are obviously things for the team that would help with the improvement of the team overall. But in terms of my individual growth, I do focus on some of the team things that will make the group better. For me as a player, I’m not limiting how great I can be. So I work on anything.”

What are the team and individual things?

Wiggins: “A lot of them in the last two or three years has been moving shooting, defense and on and off-ball and the physicality. It’s things of that sort. I’m trying to always expand my game offensively to be able to handle the ball in situations and create my own shot with spotting up and movement. Those have been the biggest focuses in the last couple of years. I feel like I’ve done a good job progressing year by year. Hopefully I can continue to improve in those aspects.”

You’re all ranked pretty high on defense. What have you done to enhance the team defense and thrive on individual matchups?

Wiggins: “There is so much versatility in our roster. Guys are ready regardless of what things look like on the court. Regardless of who’s on the court, guys are understanding of how things should look. So for the most part, it’s easy to plug in. You expect the unexpected. That allows everything to be smooth flowing. That’s huge for us.”

You look back at last year’s Finals run. What was key to having the big performances you had in Game 2 (18 points on 6-for-11, 5-for-8 from 3, 4 rebounds) and Game 5 (14 points on 4-for-10, 4-for-7, 5 rebounds)?

Wiggins: “It was the guys. The guys were always encouraging me. They were giving me comfortability in knowing that we have a great team and guys believe in each other. That makes it easy. That makes it easy to go out there and be ready for any shot that you get and just making plays. That was a huge moment, obviously. But guys found me, and that made it easy.”

What was your reaction when you first saw the meme that you’re “the man that saved basketball”?

Wiggins: “I don’t remember my initial reaction. But I do know that I didn’t think it would become something like this. But it’s a blessing. It speaks volumes to the fans behind our organization in Oklahoma. It started when I was at Maryland. So that alone is a special thing. I’m grateful. I’m super grateful for it.”

Mark Medina is an NBA insider for Essentially Sports. Follow him on X, Blue Sky, Instagram, Facebook and Threads.