Latest news with #RobDillingham
Yahoo
17-07-2025
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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.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Sport
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Phoenix Suns blow 16-point lead, fall to Minnesota Timberwolves in NBA Summer League
The Phoenix Suns dropped a third straight game in NBA Summer League, falling 89-85 Wednesday, July 16, to the unbeaten Minnesota Timberwolves at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas. The Suns (1-3) blew a 16-point, first-half advantage as Tristen Newton hit a corner 3 to give Minnesota the lead for good, 86-83, with 48.7 seconds left in the game. It was Newton's only made field goal of the game as he scored nine points on 1-of-3 shooting. The backup guard went 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Rob Dillingham paced the T-Wolves (4-0) with a team-high 23 points, seven assists and seven rebounds. He scored 13 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter on 5-of-7 shooting. Boogie Ellis led the Suns with 23 points and Oso Ighodaro added 17. Minnesota took a three-point advantage in the third quarter after trailing by as many as 16 in the first half. Phoenix responded to regain a two-point lead going into the fourth. Ryan Dunn and first-round pick Khaman Maluach hit back-to-back 3s to give the Suns an 80-75 advantage with 3:49 left in the game. Minnesota answered with a 14-5 run to close the game and remain undefeated in Vegas. Phoenix shot just 12-of-42 from distance and 13-of-28 on free throws. Dunn went down with what appeared to be a left foot or ankle injury late in the third quarter in attempting to block a transition layup. Dunn pounded the floor with his fist, but he got up, made his way to the Suns bench and started using stretch tape to work on the injury. Dunn checked back into the game early in the fourth quarter. The Suns were without two-way guard Koby Brea, who suffered a left thumb sprain in the first quarter of their second summer league game Sunday, July 13, against Atlanta. The Hawks defeated the Suns, 98-80, as Brea played with tape on the thumb for the rest of the game. Brea played with his thumb taped in Monday's 94-76 loss to Sacramento, but he was just 1-of-9 from the field, going 0-of-4 from 3. This is two games removed from his 19-point blast in the Suns summer league opener as he went 4-of-5 from distance in a 103-84 victory last week over Washington. The Suns are listing the second-round pick out of Kentucky as day-to-day. Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@ or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin. Support local journalism: Subscribe to today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns yield 16-point lead, fall late to T-Wolves in NBA Summer League
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
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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.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Sport
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Anthony Edwards Stars in Timberwolves' Summer League Jab at Nuggets
Anthony Edwards Stars in Timberwolves' Summer League Jab at Nuggets originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Minnesota Timberwolves are looking to contend beyond just the Western Conference Finals each season. Part of making that jump to the NBA Finals could hinge on some of their promising younger stars. Advertisement Those stars are currently displaying their skills at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Among key roster members participating in the games are second-year guards Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr., along with the team's first-round draft pick Joan Beringer. All three players have looked impressive through the Timberwolves' first few games, including Beringer's debut, which featured a record-tying Summer League performance of seven blocks. Anthony Edwards sat courtside and showed support during the team's most recent victory against the Denver Nuggets, 94-83. Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) chats during a game. © Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports The Timberwolves' social media team didn't shy away from capitalizing on Edwards' appearance at the game, including an interaction with a young fan. Advertisement In the clip, a boy wearing a Jamal Murray Nuggets jersey has given Edwards a ball cap to autograph. Ant-Man signs it, hands the cap back to the kid, and likely made his day with the gesture. "@nuggets, y'all seeing this?" the Timberwolves posted on X with the quick video clip. Fans in the X comments reacted to seeing the Timberwolves trolling the Nuggets, a challenging team they didn't face in this year's postseason. "Let the admin cook," one X commenter wrote, including a crying laughing face and fire emoji. "I'd do the same thing ..Cool of Ant to even sign his stuff," another X commenter said. Advertisement "That's crazy but I mean it is Anthony Edwards," another fan commented. There were also a few commenters who fired back at the Timberwolves' jab, calling out the team's lack of rings or suggesting that Ant-Man might become a Nuggets player in his future pursuit of a championship. In another X clip, a fan wearing the appropriate jersey also got a few autographs thanks to Edwards and his teammate, Naz Reid, during the NBA Summer League. The Timberwolves and Nuggets didn't battle in this year's NBA Playoffs. Instead, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated both teams en route to their first-ever championship. Advertisement As of this writing, Minnesota's Summer League team has looked solid, posting a 2-0 record thanks to their experienced second-year guards, Shannon Jr. and Dillingham. As mentioned, the rookie also impressed fans and commentators, and could become one of the steals of this year's NBA Draft. The Timberwolves are hoping these emerging stars bolster the roster when it comes to taking down the best in the Western Conference next season, which has a strong chance to include Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
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Rob Dillingham Addresses ‘Chance' With Timberwolves for Playing Time
Rob Dillingham Addresses 'Chance' With Timberwolves for Playing Time originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Minnesota Timberwolves have a talented roster of young players looking to make their case this summer for roles with the team. They'll include this year's first-round draft pick, Joan Beringer, and multiple draft picks from last year. Advertisement Second-year guards Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr. are also featured on the squad, and both appeared on the court for the Wolves' main roster last season in just over 10.5 minutes per game. The future looks bright if these guards continue on an upward trajectory. Fans saw Shannon Jr. explode with a 25-point scoring outburst in February against the Los Angeles Lakers. Dillingham has also shown flashes of brilliance, including a 19-point, eight-assist performance against the Utah Jazz in January. Many Timberwolves fans believe he could replace aging point guard Mike Conley as the team seeks to further contend in the Western Conference. Minnesota Timberwolves guard Rob Dillingham (4).Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images However, many individuals want to see Dillingham receive more playing time from head coach Chris Finch this season. That could be on the way, but first, he'll get to show any improvements or glaring weaknesses in a bit of an audition with some of the team's other young players in Las Vegas. Advertisement KSTP 5 Eyewitness News' Alec Ausmus shared a clip featuring Dillingham and Shannon Jr. discussing their opportunities for the team's main roster as they prepare for the NBA 2K26 Summer League. "I had the same mindset last year, and it's the same mindset this year. You can't really look at it like that because it might not go your way. So, I've been working hard, and I feel like obviously I do deserve, or not deserve, but I do feel like a chance is coming. It's up to me to make the most of it," Dillingham told reporters. Shannon Jr., who was Minnesota's No. 27 pick last year, said he's "working as hard" as he can to continue to prove himself to the coaching staff and has thought about an opportunity possibly being on the line. Advertisement The Timberwolves' front office believed in Dillingham enough to trade for him at last year's NBA Draft, making a deal with the San Antonio Spurs for their No. 8 pick. In his first season with Minnesota, he averaged 4.5 points, two assists, and a rebound per game. He also averaged 10.5 minutes of playing time per game. With more time on the court, many fans believe he'll emerge as a necessary piece of the Wolves' puzzle. Some feel that 37-year-old guard Mike Conley Jr. simply won't provide the solution to pushing past younger, more talented teams in the West, such as the Oklahoma City Thunder, and it's time for a change. Dillingham and Shannon Jr. will participate in the upcoming Summer League games in Las Vegas, beginning on Thursday, July 10. Advertisement Related: Timberwolves fans react to NBA 2K26 Summer League roster missing key player Related: Damian Lillard Joining Timberwolves After Bucks Release Would Be a Problem This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
