Minnesota Timberwolves 2020-21 season grades: Jarrett Culver

The Minnesota Timberwolves had to find a way to compensate for various injuries sustained by several different players this past year, including Jarrett Culver, who missed more than half of the season in 2020-21.

Jarrett Culver showed flashes of why he was selected with the sixth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft – especially early in the season. Unfortunately, though, those flashes would subside and Culver really became a non-factor as the season would progress.

Minnesota Timberwolves season grades: Jarrett Culver

Jarrett Culver averaged 5.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 0.7 assiists per game this past season, with splits of 41/25/60. Culver only averaged fifteen minutes per game, making 34 appearances and seven starts.

The Minnesota Timberwolves really need players to bridge the gap between a now-loaded backcourt – one that features D’Angelo Russell, Anthony Edwards, and Malik Beasley – and a decent frontcourt that includes Karl-Anthony Towns and Jaden McDaniels.

Culver very well could have been a player that stepped in, played high-level defense, and make open shots. He quite simply wasn’t.

The start of the season was promising. Culver scored 10 and 14 points respectively, hitting three 3-pointers over the course of the two games. He also showed off improved rebounding, grabbing 16 boards over the course of the two games.

After that, though, he fell off dramatically.

In the following 14 games (including his seven starts), Culver would go on to average eight points and five rebounds per game on splits of 44/19/58 – which quite simply – is not playable given Culver is not the best defender.

From that point in the season, Culver would unfortunately be in and out of the lineup due to injury, and could be on the trade block as soon as this season.

So far in his career, things have been rather disappointing for Culver, although, yes, he still does have some potential, especially if his 3-point shot is able to come around.

Season grade: D

When he displays confidence, Culver can really be a solid rotational player. The issue is that he doesn’t. Or, at least he does not show confidence 85-percent of the time.