After an entertaining NBA Draft and a relatively quiet free agency period, the Minnesota Timberwolves will begin their next venture on Friday, July 12—the NBA 2K25 Summer League.
Of the Wolves summer league participants, two were drafted a month ago. Kentucky's Rob Dillingham and Illinois' Terrence Shannon Jr. were selected at eighth and 27th, respectively. Although Minnesota owned the 37th pick, they eventually traded out of the second round with cost-cutting measures in mind.
After adding one of the most prolific playmakers and a 20-plus point-per-game scorer in the draft, Wolves fans should be in store for an exciting exhibition season. A year ago, the Timberwolves struggled in the summer league. The youngsters only mustered one win in five contests.
Of last summer's participants, only Leonard Miller and Josh Minott will return. Brandon Williams, who led the Timberwolves summer league squad in scoring last year, will suit up for the Dallas Mavericks. Even though Williams led the team in scoring, Miller and Minott ranked second and third, averaging 16.4 and 15.4 points per game, respectively.
The Timberwolves have twice competed in the championship (2016 and 2019) but lost on each occasion. With an intriguing combination of returnees and notable draft picks, Minnesota has the talent to make a run at a summer league title.
Below, we've highlighted each one of the Timberwolves summer league participants.
James Bishop IV
Experience: Rookie
Position: Guard
Former George Washington star James Bishop IV is a dynamic scorer. The 6-foot-2 guard ranks third all-time in points for his alma mater. Throughout four seasons playing for the Revolutionaries, Bishop IV recorded 2103 points.
The lefty guard is capable of scoring anywhere on the court. He can launch it from deep, stop-and-pop in the mid-range, and score near the restricted area using floaters and fallaway jumpers. While he's a valuable shotmaker, he lacked consistency and efficiency as a collegian.
In four years suiting up for George Washington, Bishop IV's highest field goal percentage was 42.9 percent. He recorded as many seasons shooting below 40 percent as he did above. Although his efficiency is lacking, a 37.2 percent three-point clip as a fifth-year senior offers some hope.
To get some playing time in the summer league, the former Revolutionary guard will have to step up on the defensive end. At this stage in his career, he's a bucket-getter, but not much else. If anything, don't be surprised if Bishop IV drops double-digit points in only a few minutes of action.