- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
Realistic Expectations for Minnesota Timberwolves Rookie Kris Dunn in 2016-17
- Updated: July 19, 2016
Patience and perseverance pushed Kris Dunn into the 2016 NBA draft lottery.
Elite physical tools, mental toughness and some Tom Thibodeau-approved defensive nastiness made Dunn the No. 5 pick and the latest piece of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ highly intriguing puzzle.
“We think Kris is a great fit for us,” Thibodeau, Minnesota’s head coach and president, said, per Kent Youngblood of the Star Tribune. “We didn’t know how it was going to unfold. There were going to be some good options for us. We thought this was the best one.”
Dunn could have been a first-round pick last summer. Given the hardships he endured growing up and his shoulder problems in college, turning down an NBA paycheck couldn’t have been easy.
But he returned to Providence for his redshirt junior year to fine-tune his strengths and overcome his weaknesses. The final result was a second-team AP All-American campaign and the best resume for any backcourt player in this rookie class.
His minutes decreased from 34.0 per game to 33.0, but his scoring average still jumped by nearly a full point (15.6 to 16.4). He improved his shooting marks from three (37.2 percent this past season) and the foul line (69.5 percent), and he trimmed his turnover average by nearly 17 percent (from 4.2 to 3.5).
His skills looked NBA-ready, and his physical profile—6’4 ¼” with a 6’9 ½” wingspan—had long before aced the eye test. He made two NBA Las Vegas Summer League appearances before getting sidetracked by a concussion, just enough to push his hype train into overdrive. With per-game marks of 24.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals, he started his ascent up the 2016-17 Rookie of the Year ladder.
Share Tweet Embed Team Fit
On paper, Dunn and the Timberpups are a match made in hoops heaven.
He could quarterback a potent offense and spearhead a pesky defense on opening night. His explosive burst will elevate all aspects of Minnesota’s attack. He can speed down the floor with Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine at his sides, work the pick-and-choose game with Karl-Anthony Towns and give Ricky Rubio another passing target should the Wolves keep both point guards around.
At 22 years old, …
continue reading in source www.bleacherreport.com
