3 balloon bursting performances from Timberwolves 1st Summer League game
By Bret Stuter
Honorable mentions
The Timberwolves’ first outing is truly a tough gauge for all of the players, primarily because seven players never saw action in the game. And so, it’s a bit incomplete, even from the get-go. But there were some players who either players expectedly well for the Timberwolves, or who turned limited minutes to burst the balloon of modest expectations.
The first player to earn recognition is center Trevion Williams. In the game’s box stats, the 6-foot-9 265-pound forward out of Purdue played as a center. While the big guy did not get untracked completely, scoring six points and hauling in three rebounds, he was very generous in dishing out five assists. That’s a solid number in any summer league contest, but it’s superb coming from a big-bodied player who has as much incentive to take shots as anyone. I love selfless play and hope to be mentioning Williams again in the next post-game summary
Sophomore Summer Leaguers
Another player worth mentioning is forward Brian Bowen II. This is his second stint on the Minnesota Timberwolves Summer League roster. While just one game in, he appears to have developed significantly from the player he was for the Wolves in the 2022 Summer League competition.
He was a true spark coming in off the bench, converting just 15 minutes into 10 points. three rebounds, one block, and one steal. He will likely get a chance to start with that level of production.
Finally, we must acknowledge the contribution of shooting guard Wendell Moore Jr. He also is back for his second Minnesota Timberwolves Summer League competition, and he also has grown from a year ago. While Moore struggled early, he ended up in a very solid spot with 28 minutes, 15 points, six assists, four rebounds, one steal, and one block. Before the game, Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch referred to Wendell Moore Jr. as a baseball utility infielder:
Chris Finch compares Wendell Moore Jr. to a "utility infielder" in that he can play a lot of different roles from night-to-night.
— Canis Hoopus (@canishoopus) July 7, 2023
Finch added that he's a "glue guy with connective tissue"
His debut in the 2023 NBA Summer League seemed to be a huge step in the right direction for that type of role. He has a knack for delivering what his team needs in any given game, and in this contest that translated into a little bit of everything.