Never enough defense in the NBA
You may describe Minnesota Timberwolves rookie forward Leonard Miller as a jack of all trades, but that would be followed by an assertion that he is the master of none. That part of the saying is not very accurate. He is a master of versatility, of transforming, of rising to the occasion that instantly presents itself on the basketball court, and unleashes the optimal skillset needed to make a brilliant play.
On the closeout, Leonard Miller blocks the E.J. Liddell 3-point attempt
— Jackson Lloyd (@JacksonLloydNBA) August 25, 2023
Tremendous display of length and leaping ability pic.twitter.com/UVZCrD4WYX
At 6-foot-10 and just 19 years old, Miller is another player whose height and role in the NBA will continue to grow rapidly. And as a rookie with so many different ways to contribute, it will take an extended period of time before he is cooking on the Timberwolves roster.
Because he is so young and can do so many things, Timberwolves Head Coach Chris Finch will want to understand his capabilities, and his limits, before sending him out to the basketball court for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
That may translate into a slower ascension into prominence for the Timberwolves than some fans may desire, but keep in mind that if and when the coaching staff has him pegged as to what he can do, they will not hesitate to unleash him.
The Timberwolves accelerated the play of shooting guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker late in the season, which carried over to the 2023 NBA Playoffs and now into the 2023 FIBA WC Competition for Team Canada. The secret is not to rush his performance too quickly. Rather, Leonard Miller is the type of rookie who will let the team know when and how is is prepared to make a greater impact on the team.
He possesses an NBA center’s stature and the ball-handling skills of an NBA point guard. It may take months for the Timberwolves coaching staff to figure out how to get Leonard Miller optimized in the NBA. But it will take years for opponents to figure out ways to stop him.