Timberwolves Pup Proving He’s Too Good for NBA Summer League

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Terrence Shannon Jr. - Minnesota Timberwolves
Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Timberwolves have had a hot start to their 2025 Vegas Summer League schedule, defeating the New Orleans Pelicans 98-91 earlier in the week, before handling the Denver Nuggets 94-83 last night.

If you have watched the games, you’ve learned a few things about some of the youngest Timberwolves players on the roster who didn’t see the floor very often last season. The team consists mostly of Wolves draft picks over the past three years (2023-2025).

Their front court playing time has been dominated by newly drafted big men, Joan Beringer (No. 17 overall) and Rocco Zikarsky (No. 45 overall). Both bigs have been impressive, especially given they are both just 18 years old. Beringer has looked especially good.

But Minnesota’s first two wins were driven by their backcourt, which has been built on the talent of recent first rounders, Jaylen Clark (’23), Terrence Shannon Jr (’24) and Rob Dillingham (’24).

Terrence Shannon Jr is Timberwolves’ Summer League X-Factor

While all three have played a major role in the Timberwolves’ impressive Summer League start, it’s been TJ Shannon Jr who’s stepped up as the team’s go-to, No. 1 option on offense.

In the Wolves first summer league game against the Pelicans on Thursday, TJ put up 20 points to go along with 9 assists, and 6 rebounds. He followed that up Saturday against the Nuggets with arguably an even more impressive performance, scoring a game-high 24 points, including 5/14 from deep, 7 rebounds and 3 assists.

Through two games down in Vegas, Shannon Jr. is averaging 22 points, which is tied for 11th most in the league, to go with 6.5 rebounds, and 6 assists. The 2024 No. 24 overall pick out of Illinois is shooting 42.4% from the field and 30.4% from beyond the arc.

Related: MN Timberwolves Rookie Blows Up Expectations in Summer League Debut

His stats are impressive, but the only way to understand how dominant Terrence Shannon Jr has been to start Vegas Summer League, you have to watch the games. Whether the ball is in his hands or not, TJ just looks like he’s playing a level down from where he should be.

Shannon Jr is too good for Summer League

Let’s be real, TJ proved during the second half of 2024-25 that he is ready for, not just an expanded role on the Minnesota Timberwolves’ summer league team, but in their regular season rotation, as well. In seven games from mid-late February, Terrence saw his minutes jump to 24.7 per night.

He responded by averaging 13.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game (+28), including two 17 point and one 25 point performance. On February 24, in an overtime win over OKC, Terrence Shannon Jr posted his first career double-double, with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

It took over two series for head coach Chris Finch to deploy TJ in the postseason, but when he did, Shannon Jr again paid off the decision. After seeing nothing but garbage time for weeks, TJ finally averaged double-digit minutes during games three, four and five vs the Thunder, where he averaged 11.7 points and 1.7 rebounds per game.

Remember, Terrence Shannon Jr played a lot of college ball. He isn’t as wet-behind-the-ears as others who did not get as much seasoning at that level, like Rob Dillingham. TJ is 24 years old, which is older than Wolves’ superstar Anthony Edwards (23).

Related: TV Voice of Timberwolves Scaling Back Local Duties

But after just two summer league games, Shannon Jr has proven he should probably be sitting with Ant, Naz and his other NBA teammates watching from the front row. Because he is too good to be playing Summer League, which is one reason why the Minnesota Timberwolves have a legitimate chance to win the entire tournament.

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