With Mike Conley turning 38 before the season starts, second-year guard Rob Dillingham is set to have a bigger role. There's some divisiveness between Minnesota Timberwolves fans about whether Dillingham is ready for a bigger role. Dillingham's offensive gifts are clear, but there are significant concerns about his defense at 6-foot-1.
As a rookie, he only averaged 10.5 minutes, 4.5 points, and 2 assists. Regardless, his offensive gifts are clear. Dillingham's blend of shot creation and dazzling playmaking is the exact skill set the Wolves need.
One underrated aspect of Dillingham getting a bigger role is how it will impact big man Rudy Gobert. Dillingham is an underrated passer and especially thrives as a lob passer. To maximize his offensive skill set, Gobert needs a high-quality passer. As a result, playing next to Dillingham will benefit him.
Rob Dillingham passing highlights from his rookie season pic.twitter.com/ZDvikksxvh
— Eamon Cassels (@EamonCassels) July 5, 2025
Dillingham will unlock the best of Gobert and vice versa
For years, we have seen how playing next to a skilled lob passer in Conley has benefited Gobert. Now we will see how Dillingham helps elevate Gobert's game. Notably, this past season, Gobert averaged 12 points, which is the lowest he has averaged since his third season. In the playoffs, he averaged just 7.9 points per game. This is directly connected to Conley's declining offensive impact and role. Still, Conley and Gobert posted an 8.9 net rating and a 115.9 offensive rating when they shared the court.
When Conley was off the floor, and the Wolves were left without a traditional floor general, Gobert struggled. Of Gobert's 341 made field goals, 65.9 percent of them were dunks, so playing next to a skilled lob passer is essential.
While the advanced stats with Dillingham and Gobert don't stand out, they only played in 25 games and 194 minutes together. Undoubtedly, with more court time, Dillingham and Gobert will develop some chemistry.
The upside of this pairing couldn't be clearer. Dillingham's ability to throw pinpoint lob and entry passes will help Gobert have a bounce-back offensive season. Similarly, Gobert's screening will help open up the game for Dillingham as both a playmaker and scorer. Gobert's elite rim protection will also benefit Dillingham. While the Kentucky product's defense is certainly a concern, having that elite back line of support will help him.
Ultimately, we didn't see much of this pairing during Dillingham's rookie season, but with an increased role, the potential of this duo will be evident. The combination of Dillingham's playmaking and Gobert's will make this pairing mutually beneficial.