Can a player establish himself as a clear mainstay of a team's rotation despite scoring just two points in 16 minutes? I certainly think Jaylen Clark did just that during the Minnesota Timberwolves' season opener. The box score will never tell the story of Clark's impact. He recorded two points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals during a 118-114 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Regardless of the counting stats, Clark's impact was felt on both ends of the floor.
Undoubtedly, Clark's bread and butter is his tenacious defense. He brings stifling on-ball defense and a relentless motor that changes the dynamic of the game. This skill set was evident during Wednesday's game. After a performance like that, it will be difficult for Chris Finch to keep Clark off the floor.
For all the talk about Terrence Shannon Jr. and Rob Dillingham this offseason, it was Clark who played the most minutes (13.1) last season. Don't get me wrong, Shannon looked amazing on Wednesday and is the better overall player. The point is though, that Finch clearly trusts Clark, and he will have a role with the team.
Clark's defense is a game-changer for the Wolves
Clark posted an absurd -9.1 defensive swing, and he held opponents to 25 percent from the field on eight attempts. Of course, these stats aren't sustainable for an entire season. Nevertheless, they speak volumes to Clark's immense defensive impact. His two most common matchups were the Blazers' two best players, Shaedon Sharpe and Deni Avdija. The UCLA product held these two players to 1-6 shooting, pure clamps.
Having an elite on-ball defender outside of Jaden McDaniels is crucial. McDaniels is taking on a bigger role offensively, and at times, he can be overly burdened on defense. Furthermore, if they share the court together, McDaniels can roam around the court more and wreak havoc as a defensive playmaker.
Tenacious is my favorite word to describe Clark's defense. Whether it's playing stifling on-ball defense, poking the ball loose, or diving on the floor for loose balls, Clark brings incredible energy. Additionally, watching how he moves both off the ball and keeping up with perimeter players on the ball, the influence of elite cornerback Patrick Surtain is clear. This play was my favorite from Clark's opening day performance. He dives on the floor for a loose ball and finds Anthony Edwards for an open 3-pointer.
Jaylen Clark diving steal + transition pass to Anthony Edwards for 3 pic.twitter.com/YlLD9Jum3f
— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) October 23, 2025
If that doesn't emphasize Clark's impact on winning basketball, I don't know what does. Truly remarkable stuff, from the 24-year-old wing. Every team needs a glue guy like Clark who does the little things well and plays his role to perfection.
Regardless of scoring Clark can make a positive impact
It's rare for a player to shoot 1-5 from the field and still clearly make an impact on winning basketball. Clark's ability to make the extra pass and high-feel for the game allows him to make a positive impact. His shot will determine just how big a role he plays. Clark shot an impressive 43.9 percent from 3-point range last year, but he shot 30.2 percent in college.
Still, Clark's defense and high-IQ will allow him to carve out some level of a role. Finch mentioned that the Wolves will expand their rotation this season, which will include a situational ninth man, but the rotation could expand to 10. In the first game, it was a 10-man rotation, and I think Clark did enough to establish himself as a clear ninth man going forward.
While his minutes might fluctuate a bit, the Wolves will always benefit from Clark's energy, and Finch will likely turn to him at some point in every game.