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3 reasons to love Jarrett Culver on the Minnesota Timberwolves

By Jack Borman

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: Jarrett Culver poses with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted with the sixth overall pick by the Phoenix Suns during the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: Jarrett Culver poses with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted with the sixth overall pick by the Phoenix Suns during the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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Minnesota Timberwolves Jarrett Culver
Jarrett Culver #23(Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) /

1. Three-level Scoring

What I love most about Jarrett Culver’s game is his ability to score at all three levels. Culver is very capable of providing the Wolves with 10 points per game off the bench as a rookie. His game features a silky smooth shot off the dribble and the beginnings of what could be a pretty lethal step-back jumper. In his sophomore season for the Red Raiders, Culver shot just 46.1 percent from the floor and 30.4 percent from beyond the arc, but his 30.2 percent usage rate (third highest on my Big Board) explains why his percentages are a little lower than some other highly-touted prospects.

I am confident that he will shoot it better from behind the arc than he did in college, thanks to solid shooting form and no longer being the focal point of opposing defenses. His eFG of 50.5 percent is a more telling number of his shooting ability. eFG is defined as “field goal percentage adjusting for made 3-point field goals being 1.5 times more valuable than made 2-point field”, per the NBA stats glossary. Given his Culver’s ability to shoot off the dribble, coming off screens, and off the step-back, he should become a dynamic 3-point shooter early on in his career.

As for his ability to put the ball on the deck and get to the rack, Culver ranks very highly compared to other first-round prospects. He is a very effective scorer in the pick and roll, which will take pressure off of Andrew Wiggins, Jeff Teague, and Tyus Jones next season.

He has an excellent feel for the pace of the game, especially in the pick and roll, which allows him to utilize his hesitation move to get around the first defender, and step-back jumper to gain more space to rise up and shoot in the mid-range. Culver made a ton of contested jumpers from all over the floor last season, so expect him to do more of the same in the pick and roll and off the dribble next season.

Once he gets by defenders, he is both very good at finishing at the rim with both hands and drawing fouls. He shot 208 free throws last season, which was good for T-51 in the country, per NCAA.com. He has all the tools to become a very effective scorer at the next level.

Next. Minnesota Timberwolves draft another franchise cornerstone in Jarrett Culver with the sixth overall pick. dark

Wolves fans have a ton to be excited about with Jarrett Culver. He has a tremendous all-around foundation for the Minnesota coaching staff to build off of and mold to their liking. Given the large role he will assume early on, I believe Culver will find himself on an All-Rookie team when his rookie season is all said and done.

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