Although the Minnesota Timberwolves had their most successful season in 20 years, winning 56 regular-season games and reaching the Western Conference Finals, it still felt like they left something on the table.
The Dallas Mavericks were a difficult schematic matchup for Minnesota. However, the Wolves didn’t help themselves by having inconsistent offensive creation. Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns struggled, but more pertinently, they had no one else to help them out. The offense could not sustain itself whatsoever when the stars could not find any rhythm or had to rest.
That priority remained on Minnesota’s mind as they headed to the draft. They were searching for instant impact at pick 27 or 37. Despite no pre-draft link, the Wolves traded first-round picks in 2030 and 2031 for Kentucky’s polarizing freshman Rob Dillingham, the best shot creator in the class.
Dillingham has been a known commodity for a couple of years now, being ranked as a 5-star prospect across high-school recruiting boards and earning offers from North Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, and Kansas. However, he may be most known for his tantalizing clips across social media, where he showcased his electric style of play. He often goes viral for his free-flowing streetball possessions, pull-up shooting, and pure shiftiness on the court, fully living up to his Instagram handle, “Robwitdashifts.”
However, Pundits didn’t see Dillingham as a top prospect. He was the third highest-ranked prospect on his Kentucky team in the pre-season. But Dillingham would prove all analysts wrong, certifying himself as one of the highest-ceiling players as the season progressed. Averaging 15.2 points and 3.9 assists on 47.5/44.4/79.6 shooting splits for a 23-10 Kentucky side that finished second in the SEC.
That high ceiling that began to tantalize analysts is all predicated on Rob’s shot and space creation. Dillingham loves his dribble pull-up jumpers, shooting 46/117 (39.3%) on off-the-dribble jumpers, having those account for 32.3% of his shots all season. His love for this shot is partly due to his slight frame of 6’1” and 164 lbs, although it is all counteracted by his supreme quickness.
Traditionally, young players are likely to develop similarly to their stature, and Rob has found a balance. He made up for his shortcomings in height offensively while finding ways to break down every defender at the high school and collegiate levels.
Dillingham also does a fantastic job controlling his pace of play. He can get to his spots quickly but still has a sense of command, offering optionality and countermoves. Size-up dribbles look smooth and simple with him, even if he is flowing into difficult moves. Overall, Dillingham effectively transfers his energy on the ball into the flow of his jumper.
Rob is detail-oriented with his creation, which makes him more unpredictable. You can never tell when he will shoot. Sometimes, it’s too late for the defense to react, especially when teams must respect his shot from all across the court.
Primarily relying upon dribble pull-up jump shooting can be a challenging route to success. However, Dillingham made it look easy at Kentucky. He adapted his role around Kentucky’s immense talent and loaded guard room. Rob had to share the floor and minutes with third-overall pick Reed Sheppard, second-round prospect Antonio Reeves, and highly touted 5-star freshman D.J. Wagner. Someone had to be the odd man out who came off the bench. Rob accepted his bench role and starred in it. He only started one game but was named SEC Sixth Man of the Year.
That offensive logjam at the guard spot forced him into more creative off-ball creation duties. His willingness to adapt and adjust to what Kentucky asked of him throughout the season stood out despite clearly deserving the starting nod over Wagner as the season progressed. While it is always beneficial to have elite creation on the ball, having second-side creators to keep the ball moving and always keep the defense on their toes for the entirety of the shot clock is also beneficial.
That overall chemistry with his backcourt partners was evident as the season continued. Dillingham always found ways to be involved as a creator, even when he did not have the ball in his hands, which will dovetail with Chris Finch’s flow-style offense.
Most importantly, Dillingham was an exceptional shooter from three for Kentucky. He shot 44.4% on 4.5 attempts overall but an impressive 22/58 (37.9%) on pull-up threes. Hypothetically, Dillingham should simultaneously improve Minnesota’s shooting and spacing woes and their creation hole. Even if he takes time to become a more consistent piece, the flashes and microwave ability should offer plenty of use.
Dillingham still needs to develop, though. The biggest uncertainty with his creation is the translation of his ability to attack the rim. While he did a great job attacking the rim with Kentucky, the level of physicality and rim protection of the NBA could give him some trouble. Although Rob showed plenty of crafty finishes around contact and runners/floaters, he still will need to find an effective driving consistency at the next level.
It will take time for Dillingham to adjust, as with any other rookie. However, his quickness and shot-making abilities give him a pretty clear route to bench minutes in his rookie season. Dillingham is a bit of an unorthodox fit; players with this much talent often do not end up on a Western Conference Finals team in Year 1. The Wolves will need his scoring ability because it will be vital to their bench units. Therefore, the pressure to impact the game will not be as high as if he were on a non-playoff team, giving him a more calculated route to success.
In recent history, the Wolves have not had much of a scoring punch from their bench guards. Therefore, if Dillingham can instantly translate his shot-creation ability, the Wolves will already be reaping the benefits of their bold trade. His ability to adapt, grow, and decisively take over games will be a luxury off the bench for the Wolves. And it can only get better, especially with the veteran presence of Mike Conley leading the way. There is a lot to be excited about with Rob Dillingham.
