Dunking With Wolves
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Minnesota Timberwolves breakout players of 2019

By Tyler Aliperto

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 20: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots a free throw during a game against the Utah Jazz on November 20, 2019 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 20: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots a free throw during a game against the Utah Jazz on November 20, 2019 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Minnesota Timberwolves
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – NOVEMBER 23: Keita Bates-Diop #31 of the Minnesota Timberwolves is interviewed during the game against the Phoenix Suns on November 23, 2019 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Keita Bates-Diop

After starting the season blistering hot in the G League, averaging 22.5 points per game and shooting over 60 percent from beyond the arc for the Iowa Wolves, Keita Bates-Diop has continued to exceed expectations as a former second rounder since he’s earned minutes with the NBA squad in Minnesota.

KBD seems intent on proving that he belongs in an NBA rotation. Despite a poor shooting outing on December 6th against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Bates-Diop previously dropped 22 points and 4 rebounds against Phoenix followed shortly by a 16-point, 4-rebound game against the Spurs.

After only playing in 30 games last season, most of which came at the end of the year due to injuries and the Wolves being outside of the playoff hunt, Bates-Diop has really improved his play as of late.

The former Big Ten Player of the Year at Ohio State is averaging 15.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per 36 minutes, while shooting a much-improved (and probably unsustainable) 46.9 percent from behind the 3-point line.

In addition to becoming a stablizing force off of the bench on offense, Bates-Diop has also shown off his development on the defensive end this season. His improvement on that end of the court could be seen when he stole a play from Josh Okogie‘s book and blocked a James Harden step-back earlier this year.

While Bates-Diop has far outplayed his position as the 48th overall pick of the 2018 draft already, he’s only just beginning to realize the potential that his peers saw in him as KBD was voted the “biggest steal at where he was selected” by his fellow draft picks.

This stretch of strong play should only be the beginning for the Wolves’ promising second-year forward.

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