Rob Dillingham feels poised for a bigger role after not playing much as a rookie. With Mike Conley again and Nickeil Alexander-Walker leaving in free agency, there will be open minutes for Dillingham. However, there are some questions about how big a role Dillingham can handle. The Minnesota Timberwolves guard is a gifted scorer, but it's unclear if he'll be able to organize an offense and make a positive defensive impact at 6-foot-1.
During media availability at a recent practice, Dillingham gave a mature answer when asked about his mindset when his shots aren't falling.
"I know I bring more than just scoring, shooting the ball, Dillingham said. I've been scoring the ball my whole life. If anyone knows me, they know I can score... But I feel like I can bring more to the team, whether it's feeding my players, getting them to play better, and picking it up on defense, picking up 94 (feet)."
Dillingham's response is spot-on. Of course, the Wolves will be counting on Dillingham's scoring and shot creation, especially around the rim. Nevertheless, his abilities as a playmaker and defender will truly determine his spot in Chris Finch's rotation. The Kentucky product seems to understand this, which is an encouraging sign for his season outlook.
Dillingham is a gifted scorer, but his all-around impact is key
Undoubtedly, Dillingham is a gifted scorer, and that's the main reason he was a lottery pick in 2024. He averaged 15.3 points per 36 minutes as a rookie and shot an impressive 52.5 percent on drives. However, the Wolves will be counting on him to get others involved and set up the offense, especially when he's playing alongside stars like Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle.
Dillingham's main selling point as a prospect was his shifty scoring abilities. While he is a pretty versatile and underrated passer, it's fair to somewhat question his decision-making abilities. His 1.85 assist-to-turnover ratio as a rookie isn't ideal. Nevertheless, it's fair to expect improvement from the 20-year-old, and this quote is a promising sign. In his first preseason game of the year, he racked up nine assists, and he averaged 6.5 assists in summer league play.
Defense is naturally the other big question mark given his 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame. To make a positive impact as a smaller guard, you have to be extremely tenacious. Dillingham seems eager to improve on defense, and if he picks up players all the way up the court, he could negate some of his size limitations.
Making a positive impact as a defender and playmaker will help Dillingham earn Finch's trust. Ultimately, Dillingham's all-around game will determine how much he plays this season, and it's encouraging that he seems focused on this.