It’s great I’m in this city, it’s a great situation for myself.
— Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Justin Patton after his introductory press conference
Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Justin Patton has insisted since Day 1 that the Twin Cities were a fit for him. His hometown of Omaha is only a six-hour drive away. He didn’t have to toss his snow boots. He went to a Wolves exhibition game as a kid and fell in love with Kevin Garnett. His mother listened to Prince when she cleaned the house on Sundays, and he loves The Great Gatsby.
For a player who was 6-foot-2 as a high school freshman and grew to be 6-foot-9 by his sophomore season, comfort is vital in his development. He’s gone from a point guard to a center, an unknown recruit with one offer from Creighton. A redshirt freshman to a first-round pick.
“I went all the way from the point guard to the center, so I had to learn how to do that, and coach Mac [Greg McDermott] wanted me to learn how to be a back-to-the-basket 5 also,” said Patton, the No. 16 pick in this year’s draft. “It was pretty fun, learning all the nuances of that, and learning how to be a 5-man.”
Thibodeau credits Patton’s work ethic and McDermott’s coaching in explaining Patton’s rapid ascent.
“I was talking to Greg McDermott, he was telling me today he was 6-foot-1 when he was a freshman in high school, so that’s quite a growth spurt there. And obviously he’s thin, he’s put on 30 pounds and he’s really worked at it,” said Thibodeau. “But it’s the way he’s worked, the way he’s picked up things very quickly.
“He’s shown that he’s committed to improving, and so those are the characteristics that you look for when you study guys that improve in the NBA. You look at Jimmy for an example (No. 30 pick in the 2011 draft), they come in, but if they have that drive, that passion, to grow along with the talent, they usually get a lot better.”
“We look at more growth from him”
In fact, Thibodeau said Patton’s growth spurt has actually made his game more dynamic. Even considering the drawback that Patton has to add size, something most 20-year-old players have to anyways, the skills he developed as a guard — passing, court vision, basketball IQ — translate well to the modern NBA, where bigs no longer just post-up and protect the rim, but also stretch the floor with shooting, passing and an understanding of what to do outside of the paint.
“That’s how he grew up, playing the game as a guard, so I think that vision doesn’t change,” said Thibodeau. “And the playmaking ability, knowing how to read a play, and is the guy being overplayed? Should he go backdoor? Can you deliver the ball? Will it be on time and on target?
“Those are things that he’s already shown. And then, of course, the ability to change ends, he’s got great speed, and we think that’s a big plus.”
Even in a comfortable situation — living a Midwest city and low pressure because of the Jimmy Butler trade and presence of Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins — Thibodeau and his coaching staff will push Patton. His potential, or at least best-case scenario, is a high-upside player that will one day start alongside Towns, protecting the rim, darting up and down the court and setting up his teammates.
“We look at more growth from him,” said Timberwolves general manager Scott Layden. “You look at where he came from the redshirt year to the development he made this year. We talked earlier about the high shooting percentage that shows a concentration and good feel and touch and good hands, which is so important. But he can grow from there.”
Thibodeau lists being able to spread the floor, put pressure on the rim and execute in a pick-and-roll offense as NBA-ready skills for Patton. He’ll have to add strength, the shooting is an open question — as it is for many young players who have to go from the college three-point line to the longer one in the pros — and projecting a player that underwent a growth spurt as large as he did is always tough.
Finding the balance between comfort and pressure will be key. Thibodeau has a track record of managing each player differently, and will likely do so with Patton. Last year he was tough on Towns while giving him space as needed, pulling him into the office for long talks after tension during games. He doesn’t yell at Wiggins, a quieter player, like he does at some of his other players or, especially, the referees. Butler actively sought out his hard-edged style after being coached by the laid back Fred Hoiberg, Thibodeau’s replacement in Chicago.
Towns and Wiggins took a step forward under Thibodeau last year, despite the team’s poor record and both players’ need to improve defensively. Butler, in many ways, embodies Thibodeau’s ethos on the court. Perhaps the work ethic that turned Patton from a lightly-recruited high schooler to a first-round pick will allow him to become a star in the NBA under Thibodeau one day.
“You know, you just have to be patient. As long as you’re willing to work,” said Thibodeau. “You throw him out there, and you learn a lot in practice about whether they’re ready or not. And you’re not looking at it as one day or a one-year thing, you’re trying to project over time. Whether it’s a young guy or a veteran or someone in the middle, you want them to have that commitment and drive to continue to get better and learn and improve.”
Patton’s twin brother, Kendall, was sitting in the first row of his brother’s press conference. He had a growth spurt too, albeit a smaller one (he’s 6-foot-7), and he claims he’s the better player. While Patton won’t cede that (“He’s not the one playing for the Timberwolves”), he credits him with helping him become the player he is today, in addition to his Omaha roots and college experience.
“Part of it is having a twin brother, having to battle every single day,” said Patton, when asked where his confidence comes from. “And part of it is just where I’m from. It’s a great place, North Omaha, and people are built different there, so it’s great.”
Patton is starting in a good place. In time, we’ll find out if that’s enough for him to reach his potential as a player.
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