The Minnesota Timberwolves pulled off a surprising 117-107 win over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night, and a big part of the win was Jonathan Kuminga. Kuminga made an impact by scoring 16 points, grabbing eight rebounds, and dishing out five assists in the win. But his versatility stood out more than his stats.
Kuminga knocked down 4-for-7 3-pointers during the win over the Rockets. Kuminga spent time defending Amen Thompson and Kevin Durant, and generally wreaked havoc on defense. He has become a weapon for Minnesota that can help them survive the loss of Anthony Edwards.
Kuminga is making a major impact on both ends for the Timberwolves
When the Timberwolves signed Kuminga this summer, they weren’t sure what they were going to get. The seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Kuminga is talented. But his falling out with head coach Steve Kerr led to a midseason trade to the Atlanta Hawks and plenty of questions about his motivation to be a team player.
This was part of the reason why the Timberwolves had an extensive recruiting process when Kuminga hit free agency. Unable to get the big contract he was seeking, the Wolves reportedly called him and his camp 94 times, and president of basketball operations Tim Connelly flew to Miami for a face-to-face meeting.
Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Chris Finch and Alex Rodriguez were also involved. But the message was clear: the Wolves wanted Kuminga to do the little things, like defend and rebound, while filling the massive need at power forward.
Through the first nine games, Kuminga is checking all the boxes. A career 33.9 percent 3-point shooter, Kuminga has stormed out of the gates with a 46.3 percent clip so far, including a clutch 3-pointer with 54 seconds left that gave Minnesota a 114-106 lead on Wednesday night.
Kuminga is also spreading the wealth as a playmaker. Perhaps in the spirit of moving the ball more than they did one year ago, Kuminga is averaging a career-high 2.9 assists per game and has at least three assists in four of the five games since Edwards underwent arthroscopic knee surgery.
While those aspects have helped Kuminga offensively, the biggest growth has been on the defensive end. Kuminga has the sixth-best defensive rating (102.9) on the team and holds opponents to 38 percent shooting as the primary defender, according to NBA.com.
But it’s also the dirty work that has stood out. The clutch 3-pointer was one play where Kuminga helped the Wolves beat the Rockets. But there were other play, such as a crucial tip-in or getting in the face of Sengun for a flagrant foul that had Finch singing his praises after the game.
“When he got here, we knew we needed him to be our dirty work guy…just be our connective tissue out there,” Finch said via The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski. “We also told him to stay really confident in his shot. When you’re open, let it fly.”
Kuminga is filling a major need for the Timberwolves
Kuminga’s ability to do a little bit of everything opens up things for the Timberwolves. While Rudy Gobert has struggled offensively this season, he’s had the room needed to operate on pick-and-rolls and lobs because Kuminga’s shooting is a threat that defenses must pay attention to.
The athleticism is also a fit for the way he can get up and down the floor for transition opportunities. With a renewed sense of urgency on defense, Kuminga has also gotten back to stop fast breaks the other way, contributing to a stingy Timberwolves defense.
Perhaps the best part is that Kuminga can play multiple roles. The Wolves can use him at power forward, or use his 6-foot-7, 225-pound frame as an oversized wing, which gives Minnesota the freedom to play any style of basketball.
This is much different than what the Wolves had with Julius Randle a year ago as a player who caught the ball in the paint and dribbled into oblivion. It also helps them win without Edwards, who could be out through December as he recovers from his procedure.
Anyone watching Wednesday’s win saw just how much Kuminga impacts this team, and his ability to do it all will be a key factor in helping the Wolves keep rolling without Edwards and remain a force in the Western Conference.
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