One of the biggest concerns about the Minnesota Timberwolves ahead of their season was their bench. That's not to say that their bench lacked talent, but aside from Ayo Dosunmu, they lacked proven bench players. Compared to the two Western Conference juggernauts, the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs, I and others believed the Timberwolves were at a depth disadvantage heading into the season.
Now, 11 games into the season, this concern is irrelevant, and I can say with full confidence that this bench is championship caliber. Statistically, they rank 15th in bench points and ninth in net rating. This is a clear improvement from last year's 21st and 11th rankings. The Wolves' bench has been more impressive than these solid numbers show.
Minnesota is running a 10-man rotation, and it's one without any clear weak links. Keep in mind, this is despite not having Anthony Edwards in the past seven games and not having Donte DiVincenzo for the whole season. Once these two players return, the Timberwolves will have 12 rotation-level players. While this will force Chris Finch to make some tough decisions, it will also give the Wolves an ungodly amount of depth.
The Timberwolves unproven players have answered the call
As noted earlier, before the season, Dosunmu was the only proven player off the Wolves' bench. Joan Beringer, Terrence Shannon Jr., Trey Lyles, Bones Hyland, and Jaylen Clark were all wild cards. Amazingly, though, all five of these playershave proven to be quality rotation players.
Beringer has been a force on the offensive glass, while providing some rim running and defensive chops. For a 19-year-old center, Beringer has looked as good as you could've hoped for, and he's already blossomed into a solid backup big man.
There were concerns about how Shannon would fit in with the Wolves' on-ball talent. Thankfully, he's fit in nicely, averaging 11.1 points while showing improvement as a spot-up shooter and defender.
Not much was expected of Lyles, who was out of the NBA last season. But his spacing, rebounding, and IQ have helped him give the team a boost.
Hyland and Clark were out of the rotation before Edwards' injury. Still, Hyland's microwave scoring has been a massive boost following Edwards' injury. Notably, he is averaging 12.1 points off the bench. Clark, on the other hand, has been a defensive ace at the point of attack. Crucially, he's also netted 40 percent of his 3-pointers since Ant's injury.
All of this is to say the Wolves' unproven bench players have proven themselves. Each player offers a different skill set, so the Wolves' bench isn't just deep—it's incredibly versatile. That's what's needed for a bench to be at a championship level. You need talent and players who provide different skills.
Depending on the matchup, the Wolves will lean on other players more, and in the playoffs, this can be especially beneficial. As we've seen, a deep bench can also help you sustain success despite injuries.
Moreover, in recent seasons, we've seen every team that's made a championship run have a deep bench. The league is trending toward depth and not having any weak links. Fortunately, the Wolves' blend of an elite starting lineup and bench puts them in an ideal spot to make a championship run.
The Timberwolves' bench will only get better
Eventually adding DiVincenzo will give the Timberwolves a sharpshooter, making their bench even more talented and well-rounded. Ayo returning to the bench after Edwards' injury can't be lost. Without Edwards, Dosunmu flat-out looks like an All-Star. He is averaging 21.6 points and has been one of the Wolves' most dependable creators.
There's no bench player in the league more talented than Ayo. It's not just the scoring and creation juice he provides that makes him valuable—it's the all-around impact. Dosunmu can play alongside stars due to his defense and 3-point shooting, or scale up as a self-creator. Having a fantastic sixth man along with a well-rounded and deep bench unit will make the Wolves' bench truly elite.
Without a doubt, the Timberwolves' bench will help them sustain their early-season success. Once the playoffs roll around, the Wolves' depth and versatility will make them a force to be reckoned with, especially given the top-end talent they have in their starting lineup.
Overall, despite the concerns before the season, Minnesota's bench has proven to be an elite championship-level unit.
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