Minnesota Timberwolves wing Terrence Shannon Jr. is poised for a bigger role following the offseason departure of Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Shannon averaged 10.6 minutes, 4.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, and an assist in his rookie season. Regardless, Shannon is a gifted scorer and shot creator, which sets him up for NBA success starting this season.
In the last three games of the Western Conference finals, Shannon got real minutes, and he poured in 35 points during this stretch. This included Game 3, where Shannon recorded 15 points in just 13 minutes.
Terrence Shannon Jr., Game 3:
— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) May 25, 2025
15 PTS on 5/8 FG, 4/4 FT in 13 MP pic.twitter.com/xbkbcgdG4s
The 6-foot-6 wing's abilities as a three-level and self-creator are undeniable. During his five-year college career, TSJ averaged 15 points, including 23 points as a senior at Illinois. The Wolves selected Shannon with the 27th overall pick in large part due to his abilities as a scorer.
Terrence Shannon Jr.'s scoring gives him a bright future
With a rare blend of bruising strength and blazing speed, Shannon especially thrives as a finisher. Notably, Shannon shot 64.3 at the rim as a rookie. This allows Shannon to excel, especially in transition. The Wolves have struggled in transition during recent years, but Shannon will be key in turning the tide.
Terrence Shannon Jr. transition buckets pic.twitter.com/Ul6VFWkgpJ
— Eamon Cassels (@EamonCassels) August 1, 2025
He pairs this with a gifted offensive bag in half-court settings. Shannon is also a difficult shot maker, both at the mid-range and 3-point range. Shannon's physical gifts, paired with his ball-handling abilities, make him a prolific three-level scorer. This gives the Wolves a nice spark off the bench.
At 25, Shannon is seasoned enough to contribute at a high level starting this season. However, this also primes him for long-term success. Shot creation is one of the hardest skills to have in the NBA, and Shannon has already shown mastery of it in his limited opportunities. Furthermore, Shannon has solid positional size and has displayed plenty of defensive versatility and high energy. He is also a solid playmaker, which helps him have more on-ball responsibilities.
While Shannon needs to improve his spot-up shooting, there's no doubt he's still a gifted scorer. Plus, he is effective off-ball as a cutter, ranking in the 80th percentile in points per possession off cuts. Shannon is already an advanced shot creator who can get buckets at will, but adding more spot-up shooting would take his game to the next level.
Nevertheless, Shannon is poised for a massive scoring jump, and he could crack double-digits ppg in his second year. Shannon averaged 14.7 points per 36 minutes. Sure, per 36 is far from a perfect stat, but it shows Shannon's upside.
Shannon, along with Naz Reid, Donte DiVincenzo, and Rob Dillingham, makes the Wolves one of the most high-powered bench units in the league. Having this much scoring off the bench will be a luxury for the Wolves and will make them extremely difficult to match up against. Overall, Shannon will be a key part of the Wolves' success this season.