Despite their setback against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Minnesota Timberwolves delivered an impressive performance by advancing to the 2025 Western Conference Finals, reaffirming their potential to excel. Their performance continues to shine as they have clinched two consecutive wins in the NBA Summer League. Terrence Shannon Jr. emerged as a key standout, leading the team’s offense. In light of this, General Manager Matt Lloyd spoke about his performances.
“There was a little bit of level of comfort that we had some solutions internally. He’s a prototype wing. He can probably switch into any defensive situation. He can guard fours, threes, twos, ones… He’s a well-rounded basketball player. He’s going to be an elite two-way player,” Matt Lloyd said, via NBA TV.
Although Terrence is not the youngest player on the roster, he has excelled with the Timberwolves. He posted impressive stats, scoring 20 points with 9 assists and 6 rebounds against the Pelicans, and 24 points with 7 rebounds and 3 assists against the Denver Nuggets. If he continues to perform at this level, he is likely to have a larger role alongside Anthony Edwards in the 2025-26 NBA season.
Not only did Matt praise him, but also the head coach Chris Finch. “We all love how he plays with so much force. He’s kind of a locomotive out there. He changes the game with his end-to-end play. I do think he’s a little bit harder on himself. One thing he could probably do is clean up his shot selection a little bit. His three-point shot, but we love that he’s committed to it. We’re really pleased with that, he’s gonna be fine,“ he said, via Minnesota Timberwolves’ YouTube channel.
Terrence Shannon Jr. #00 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles in front of Jarred Vanderbilt #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at Crypto.com Arena on February 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
The Timberwolves have set their sights not only on Shannon Jr. but also on Rocco Zikarsky. Although he has yet to reach double figures in scoring during the Summer League, the 19-year-old has already caught the eye of general manager Matt Lloyd, who sees significant potential in his abilities.
see also
NBA Rumors: Lakers, Bucks, Clippers, and Timberwolves reportedly interested in a former teammate of Kevin Durant
“He was kind of like a hidden gem to a degree. He’s a legit 7’2”. He can shoot. He’s got a great feel for the game. We’ve seen in the first two games him be a great stationary passer… The challenge Rocco will be getting acclimated to the speed of the game here and getting his conditioning and strength up, but we’re pretty bullish on him,” said Lloyd, via Minnesota Timberwolves’ YouTube channel.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are strategically blending seasoned playoff experience with promising young talent as they build a roster around rising star Anthony Edwards. Following a strong performance last season, they aim to maintain their competitive edge in the 2025-26 season. By integrating dynamic young players into their lineup, they are not only reinforcing their current capabilities but also securing their long-term future.
