After just a couple of Summer League games, it is already clear to see the kind of talent the Minnesota Timberwolves landed with Rob Dillingham. The young guard out of the University of Kentucky is still raw, but he has the upside to become a truly special scorer and playmaker in the NBA.
In this new generation of up-and-coming point guards like Rob, there are plenty of old-timers still hanging around and eager to give mentorship and words of encouragement. One of those players is Mike Conley, who as we know, was one of the first Timberwolves players to reach out to Dillingham after he was drafted. The rookie will have a rock-solid veteran in his ear all season long with Conley.
But another close mentor Rob has in his corner is five-time All-Star point guard John Wall. Appearing on ESPN's broadcast for Minnesota's Summer League game against Indiana on Sunday, Wall explained his connection to Dillingham and revealed the advice he has been giving the youngster.
John Wall is helping Dillingham understand the role of a point guard
Having been wildly successful during his time in the league, Wall understands how the beginning of his career and the expectations placed on him are different from what Rob will be faced with. Wall was tasked with being the franchise star for Washington back in the day, while Dillingham is only being asked to be an ancillary piece for the time being.
John revealed that one thing Rob had asked him about was how best to operate as a point guard in a league as talented as the NBA. "He is a scorer," said Wall. "But now they want him to be a point guard. So he asked me the other say, 'When do I score and when do I get everybody involved?'"
Wall responded with an answer that perhaps means more than it would from nearly any other guard in the last decade. "Transition is your time to shine," he said. "In half court, get everybody else shots that can't really create their own shot ... You can't build a point guard, they have to be basically a point guard already, but in transition it's your time to shine. In half court, get your guys shots early on."
This will no doubt be extremely valuable advice from a guard that used to shake defenders out of their shoes in his prime. John's closing words concerning Dillingham demonstrated a clear and defined confidence in the young guard's ability. "Find your role, find your niche, do whatever the coaches are asking you, work every day. And I think Rob's going to do that."