LaMelo Ball has consistently posted one of the league's highest usage rates each season. His 35.9 percent usage rate in 2024–25 led the NBA and was the 25th-highest since the 1977–78 season.
Now, Ball joins a backcourt with Anthony Edwards, another player who has consistently posted high usage rates. For three straight years, Edwards’ usage rate has been at least 31.4 percent.
Both Ball and Edwards have been high-volume shooters throughout their careers. There are concerns that the other players in Minnesota’s lineup won’t receive enough touches to feel involved while playing alongside two high-usage guards.
Looking at the Charlotte Hornets last season and the Timberwolves during the majority of Edwards’ tenure, it shouldn’t be too much of an issue.
Timberwolves will have plenty of scoring opportunities outside of Ball and Edwards
For those unaware, usage rate is the percentage of offensive plays in which a player attempts a shot, goes to the foul line, or commits a turnover while on the floor.
It’s safe to assume that Edwards will share a lot of his minutes with Ball, and vice versa. The two have clearly proven that they can play with other scorers. Last season, Kon Knueppel had a great rookie season, and Brandon Miller continued his ascent. Knueppel and Miller averaged more than 38 points combined in 2025-26.
In each of the last two seasons, Ball has finished in the 99th percentile in offensive rating when he’s on the court compared to when he’s off. The Hornets scored 11.6 more points per 100 possessions in 2025-26 with Ball playing, and 11.4 more in 2024-25. That isn’t happening because Ball is taking every shot. When Ball is on the floor, the offense is just better, and that should remain the case with Minnesota. A big part of this is because he's one of the league's best playmakers, and that skill will help make the Wolves' offense thrive.
Meanwhile, Edwards has been joined by another 20-point scorer in three of the last four seasons: Julius Randle once and Karl-Anthony Towns twice.
The Timberwolves should play at a faster pace this year, which will lead to more possessions. Look, there may be moments when it feels like players such as Jaden McDaniels and Jonathan Kuminga aren’t involved in the offense. There may be games when they get just six or seven shot attempts.
That’s the case for the third and fourth options on every team, though. If McDaniels and Kuminga run in transition and hit their open 3-pointers, both will get their fair share of scoring opportunities throughout the year.
Edwards and Ball will be the main scorers on nights when they are both available. That doesn’t mean nobody else will eat, though, especially with Ball's elite playmaking.
Add us as a preferred source on Google