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\u00a0Rob Dillingham Credit: Charles Hallman<\/p>\n\u00a0Rob Dillingham Credit: Charles Hallman<\/p>\n
LAS VEGAS \u2014 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.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dillingham and Shannon Jr. are among the 12 Blacks on the Wolves\u2019 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, for sure, it\u2019s just like a more comfortable feeling,\u201d said the 6\u20192\u201d Dillingham. \u201cDefinitely the second year is easier because everything\u2019s not so new this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 6\u20196\u201d Shannon added, \u201cI feel like I\u2019m going a lot harder, taking care of my body even more than I did the year before. I\u2019m just going really hard, and it\u2019s more attention to detail of what I\u2019m working on.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Terrence Shannon Jr. Credit: Charles Hallman<\/p>\n
Both players are projected to be key parts of the Wolves\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
Head Coach Chris Finch said he is pleased with the two young players. He isn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really love Rob\u2019s competitiveness,\u201d said the Wolves\u2019 HC on Dillingham and Shannon after last Saturday\u2019s 94-83 win over Denver. \u201cHe\u2019s 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\u2026 He\u2019s playing with a lot of force.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dillingham finished with 15 points, and Shannon led the team with 24 points. \u201cThis is what [summer league] is for, to put these guys in situations and do it over and over again in meaningful situations,\u201d Finch pointed out.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel I can do a lot more,\u201d Shannon told me after the game. \u201cI want to get better every game.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSolid, but not as good as I could be playing,\u201d admitted Dillingham afterwards. \u201cI feel it is a process.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSummer League [players] are all super hungry to prove themselves,\u201d said Finch.<\/p>\n
Wet feet<\/p>\n
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John Thompson III Credit: Charles Hallman<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s 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,\u201d said former college coach John Thompson III, now Monumental Basketball vice-president \u2014 the group owns the Washington Wizards and the WNBA\u2019s Washington Mystics.<\/p>\n
Finally\u2026<\/p>\n
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\u00a0Khalid El-Amin (l) and Henry Lake Credit: Charles Hallman<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jones had 10 points in the 94-83 loss to Minnesota last Saturday. The 6\u20195\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cCurtis has been really impressive the last two games,\u201d Denver Summer League Coach Andrew Munson told me after last Saturday\u2019s Wolves-Nuggets matchup. \u201cI think there\u2019s a good chance\u201d of getting invited to fall camp, noted Munson.<\/p>\n
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(l-r) Curtis Jones (l) and Tre Holloman Credit: Charles Hallman<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel every game I\u2019m getting better,\u201d stressed Jones. \u201cAll I can do is keep competing and working hard as I can.\u201d<\/p>\n
El-Amin, now Anoka-Ramsey CC men\u2019s head coach, boldly proclaimed that Minnesota in general, and Minneapolis in particular, is truly representing at all levels of basketball.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe basketball IQ is at a very high level. I\u2019m very happy that the state is being represented the way it has been and the way it is. I don\u2019t see it stopping any time soon.\u201d<\/p>\n