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6 days ago
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Rob Dillingham On His Strong Mentality As An NBA Player
Rob Dillingham On His Strong Mentality As An NBA Player originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Minnesota Timberwolves have been successful in the 2025 NBA Summer League, as most of their players are performing well. Chief among them is point guard Rob Dillingham, a player who had limited opportunities during his rookie campaign in the 2024-25 season. With his performance at NBA Summer League, Dillingham has proven he can be a high-level point guard. He is not staying as a scoring guard, as he is growing as a playmaker. That is optimal for the Timberwolves, as a dynamic guard alongside Anthony Edwards in the long-term future is the best-case scenario. As the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, most people thought the Timberwolves would trust Dillingham to adjust to the league quickly. That was not the case, as Dillingham took a lot of time to get comfortable due to his smaller physique and the short turnaround from his season with the Kentucky Wildcats. Despite that, he has always been working hard behind the scenes with his mentor, Mike Conley Jr., and the coaching staff. That has been valuable for him, as he learned his lessons. Of course, his confidence took a hit, but that has been revitalized with his stint in the 2025 NBA Summer League. Dillingham Is Confident And Ready For The 2025-26 Season For a talented player like Dillingham, sitting on the bench for most games can be tough. He has become accustomed to being the cornerstone of a team's offense, but since this is the NBA, he must adjust. Dillingham has taken that in stride, as he has developed under mentors and coaches. With that work, Dillingham has remained confident and ready for any opportunity. The 2025 NBA Summer League is one of them, and he has done well as a scorer, playmaker, and leader. That is significant for Dillingham, as he can translate that to the main Timberwolves team for the 2025-26 season. "I'd say it's more of a mental thing, like not getting down on yourself when stuff isn't going your way, and you keep thinking negative, nothing good is going to happen for you," Dillingham said about avoiding negativity. "I'm the biggest critic of myself, so I'm big at that. Now I'm just looking at it, trying to get past it. If I mess up, I mess up. Move on to the next play, and that's what's been helping for sure." With this healthy approach, Dillingham is ready to play under head coach Chris Finch. As long as he is prepared, he can make an impact. With his explosive scoring and ceiling as a playmaker, he is in the right place in Minnesota. Dillingham Will Keep Working Hard For An Opportunity Dillingham is one of the hardest-working players on the Timberwolves roster, which is reflected in his hard work with the assistant coaches to develop his game. He has a relationship with assistant coach and former NBA player Pablo Prigioni, who was a reliable veteran for most of his career. With that kind of guidance alongside Conley, Dillingham is in the right space. He wants to learn, and he is a student of some smart basketball minds. If he continues on this path, Dillingham can be a more mature lead guard who will be the perfect complement to Anthony Edwards. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
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16-07-2025
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Rob Dillingham On Adjusting To Being An NBA Point Guard
Rob Dillingham On Adjusting To Being An NBA Point Guard originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Minnesota Timberwolves have a stacked roster, but they are lacking in the point guard department. Mike Conley Jr. is a fantastic player, but his age has become a detriment to the team because he doesn't play as fast as they would like. Conley is still a magnificent playmaker and leader, but Father Time is always undefeated in professional sports. Advertisement Tim Connelly and the front office aim to future-proof the team, which is why they selected Joan Beringer as a potential successor to Rudy Gobert in 2025, while selecting Rob Dillingham as the long-term point guard in 2024. He might not have played heavy minutes, but Dillingham is glad to learn behind the scenes. Feb 6, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Rob Dillingham (4) works around Houston Rockets forward Cam Whitmore (7) during the third quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn ImagesCredit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images After a standout freshman year at Kentucky, Dillingham only played 49 games in his first NBA season. It was an underwhelming rookie campaign, but it was clear that the Timberwolves had big plans for him. Conley was his mentor, while assistant coach and former NBA guard Pablo Prigioni helped him behind the scenes. Dillingham entered the 2025 NBA Summer League extremely motivated. He wanted to prove that the Timberwolves need to play him in the regular season. The former Kentucky Wildcat is doing well, as he is a standout for the Timberwolves in the Summer League alongside fellow incoming sophomore Terrence Shannon Jr. Advertisement Dillingham Feels He Has Grown Up Since He Entered The League Across NBA circles, it is well known that the point guard position is the hardest to acclimate to in the NBA. The Timberwolves knew that, so they wanted Dillingham to improve behind the scenes while getting stronger physically. The young guard also needed to adjust to the intense NBA pace and physicality. He has done well in that department, as he understands what he needs to do, and he is actively looking for ways to improve. The hard work is showing with the diversity of his performances during the 2025 NBA Summer League. "It's a whole new game for me, honestly, whether people see it or not, it's a way new whole game for me," Dillingham said after Tuesday's Summer League game. "Learning like this is like a whole new aspect of basketball for me, once I learn this at a high right, I can play from anywhere." Advertisement Dillingham is growing as a leader for the Timberwolves While he is still a young player in the primary Timberwolves lineup, the 2025 NBA Summer League has been important for Dillingham's growth as a leader. Considering he will be the team's long-term point guard, this is an awesome development for the young point guard. Anthony Edwards is the team's superstar and leader, but having someone like Dillingham alongside him will be great. The Timberwolves have all the talent on their roster; they need to keep pushing and improving the young core. "It's new for sure, I've always just been a scorer. Joan is a great player, so I guide him and get him in the right spots to put him in the best position to play his best game. It makes it easier for all of us," Dillingham continued in his interview. Advertisement Since Dillingham has always been a score-first point guard, improving as a playmaker and leader is a good sign for the future. He could be the dynamic point guard the Timberwolves need alongside Edwards, as they aim for glory in the NBA Playoffs. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 16, 2025, where it first appeared.