Rob Dillingham Credit: Charles Hallman

LAS VEGAS — It is the second consecutive NBA Summer League appearance for Minnesota Timberwolves guards Terrance Shannon Jr. and Rob Dillingham, both of whom were rookies last summer when they played in the Vegas annual summer tournament.  

Dillingham and Shannon Jr. are among the 12 Blacks on the Wolves’ 15-member Summer League team. Each said in separate interviews prior to coming to Vegas last week that they are better prepared for action than they were last summer, when they arrived just weeks after being drafted by Minnesota. 

“Yeah, for sure, it’s just like a more comfortable feeling,” said the 6’2” Dillingham. “Definitely the second year is easier because everything’s not so new this year.”

The 6’6” Shannon added, “I feel like I’m going a lot harder, taking care of my body even more than I did the year before. I’m just going really hard, and it’s more attention to detail of what I’m working on.”

Terrence Shannon Jr. Credit: Charles Hallman

Both players are projected to be key parts of the Wolves’ 2025-26 plans. Dillingham and Shannon both showed flashes of brilliance during their rookie seasons, and both said they hoped to show the team coaches that they are ready to contribute this summer.

Head Coach Chris Finch said he is pleased with the two young players. He isn’t coaching them this summer but watching them from the stands at Thomas & Mack Center and the Pavilion, the two locations where games were staged last week and will be wrapping up this week.

“I really love Rob’s competitiveness,” said the Wolves’ HC on Dillingham and Shannon after last Saturday’s 94-83 win over Denver. “He’s pushing pace and making really good decisions on offense. He is trying to play into the role we see him playing for us. T.J. continues to get better and better… He’s playing with a lot of force.”  

Dillingham finished with 15 points, and Shannon led the team with 24 points. “This is what [summer league] is for, to put these guys in situations and do it over and over again in meaningful situations,” Finch pointed out.

“I feel I can do a lot more,” Shannon told me after the game. “I want to get better every game.”

“Solid, but not as good as I could be playing,” admitted Dillingham afterwards. “I feel it is a process.”

“Summer League [players] are all super hungry to prove themselves,” said Finch.

Wet feet

John Thompson III Credit: Charles Hallman

This was only my second-ever appearance at the Vegas summer games. During our time here, we talked to players, coaches and fans for their impressions. At least eight games were played daily at the UNLV campus to large crowds.

“It’s a good way to get their feet wet for the individual teams to look at what player X is and what we need to focus on,” said former college coach John Thompson III, now Monumental Basketball vice-president — the group owns the Washington Wizards and the WNBA’s Washington Mystics.

Finally…

 Khalid El-Amin (l) and Henry Lake Credit: Charles Hallman

Minnesota was well represented here either on the court or in the stands: retired pros Khalid El-Amin and Tamara Moore were there, as was WCCO Nighttime Host Henry Lake. Tre Holloman was there watching his former high school teammate Curtis Jones competing for Denver.  

Jones had 10 points in the 94-83 loss to Minnesota last Saturday. The 6’5” guard played his prep ball at South and Cretin, then college (Indian Hills CC, Buffalo and Iowa State). He is one of nine rookies vying for training camp invites.

“Curtis has been really impressive the last two games,” Denver Summer League Coach Andrew Munson told me after last Saturday’s Wolves-Nuggets matchup. “I think there’s a good chance” of getting invited to fall camp, noted Munson.

(l-r) Curtis Jones (l) and Tre Holloman Credit: Charles Hallman

“I feel every game I’m getting better,” stressed Jones. “All I can do is keep competing and working hard as I can.”

El-Amin, now Anoka-Ramsey CC men’s head coach, boldly proclaimed that Minnesota in general, and Minneapolis in particular, is truly representing at all levels of basketball.

“The basketball IQ is at a very high level. I’m very happy that the state is being represented the way it has been and the way it is. I don’t see it stopping any time soon.”

Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.

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