When the Minnesota Timberwolves selected Terrence Shannon Jr., the general response was that they landed one of the biggest steals of the 2024 NBA Draft. The former Illinois Fighting Illini star was a record-breaking player in college, but had fallen to No. 27 overall.
Though his minutes were limited as a rookie, Shannon is proving at the 2025 Summer League that he's ready to step up and replace Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
Minnesota made efforts to keep its core together, re-signing Julius Randle and Naz Reid. Unfortunately, it lost Alexander-Walker to free agency, with the veteran guard signing a four-year deal worth just over $60.6 million with the Atlanta Hawks.
WIth Alexander-Walker out of the equation, the Timberwolves will need to find a way to replace a key reserve who provided on and off-ball value on offense while thriving defensively.
Rob Dillingham should carry a healthy portion of the playmaking load in his second NBA season, and Donte DiVincenzo projects to play a featured bench role once again. Shannon, however, represents Minnesota's best opportunity to replace Alexander-Walker's scoring, defense, and positional versatility.
Thankfully, Shannon has dominated the Las Vegas Summer League and made a clear statement about how ready he is to step up in 2025-26.
Terrence Shannon Jr. is dominating Summer League, ready to replace Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Shannon began the 2025 Las Vegas Summer League by posting 20 points, nine assists, six rebounds, and two steals against the New Orleans Pelicans. His jump shot was a bit erratic, but he stuffed the stat sheet and orchestrated a 98-91 win with a truly remarkable all-around display.
Two days later, Shannon went off yet again, this time posting 24 points, six rebounds, three assists, and a steal in a 94-83 win over the Denver Nuggets.
Shannon posted a matching 24 points the next time out, shooting 6-of-9 from the field, 3-of-3 from beyond the arc, and 9-of-9 at the free-throw line. He added five rebounds, three assists, and two steals as Minnesota dominated the Detroit Pistons for an 89-73 victory.
The show-stealing performance marked a third consecutive game during which Shannon was on an entirely different level from the players he was competing against.
Beyond the numbers, Shannon wasn't just knocking down open shots en route to his statement games. He was taking defenders off the bounce, pulling up for jump shots after creating space with his handle, using his strength to get to the basket, and scoring at all three levels.
Shannon also displayed an impressive level of poise when opposing defenses would collapse on him, making crisp passes to open teammates for efficient conversions.
A three-level scoring threat with a crafty southpaw game, Shannon isn't just another Summer League sensation. He was an All-American and the Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player in 2023-24, averaged 23.0 points per game during his final collegiate season, and scored in double figures in every game during which he received at least 20 minutes as a rookie with the Timberwolves.
If Summer League is proof of anything, it's that Shannon is far more than just another promising player. He's already progressed a fair distance beyond the Summer League field.