Rob Dillingham was drafted Number eight overall by the San Antonio Spurs. However, due to high interest, Minnesota traded draft picks to land the talented young guard. Now, Dillingham hopes to take TimberWolves further than where they have reached so far.
As a sophomore in high school, Dillingham gained traction putting up 21.2 points, 4.9 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game. He earned Charlotte Observer Player of the Year and emerged as one of the top prospects in his class. In senior year, Dillingham went over to Overtime Elite displaying his flashy moves and handles.
Heading into college, Dillingham was labeled a 5-star recruit and initially planned to take his talents to NC State. However, after further deliberation, he saw it best fit to play at Kentucky with renowned head coach John Calipari.
Rob Dillingham was a show stunner in Kentucky. Despite being a reserve, only starting one game in his one-and-done season, Rob showed the nation that he had much potential for the league. He was an electrifying guard who displayed his many talents like popping out a three or throwing it out to an open man. After his first college season, Dillingham committed to the Draft.
Now a TimberWolf, Dillingham needs to pair well alongside those in Minnesota. Playing next to the most rising guard in the NBA, Anthony Edwards, it’s likely that Dillingham won’t get the most minutes. However, when he is on the court, Rob can make an impact by using his acceleration in fast break situations and sneaky defensive presence to steal the ball occasionally. He can draw up a decent pick and roll with a big man like Naz Reid or find a good look for his teammates.
With the ball, Dillingham is an electrifying guard who has a swag to his game that dazzles on the court. His shiftiness to the bucket allows him to score some tough buckets and his speed lets him zoom past defenders. His jumper is lethal and he can initiate space for it through an effective first step. Also, his handles package is filled with flair, ranging from smooth crossovers to deceptive hesitations. He will be a nightmare in isolation and a reliable source for bonafide buckets. He will be a catalyst in the Wolves’ secondary unit by speeding up the pace of the team and making some much-needed jumpers.
However, the biggest concern regarding Dillingham’s ballgame is his frame. Dillingham will come into the NBA as one of the top 5 lightest players in the league, which raises questions about his offensive consistency. Due to his lack of size, Dillingham will be faced with the challenge of finishing against those bigger and stronger than him. On the defensive end, he will become an easy target that other teams will capitalize on. Also, Dillingham should work on his floor general role by finding better looks for his teammates instead of just being a score-first guard.
Overall, Rob Dillingham is in a great organization to flourish and reach his ceiling. He is an exciting new addition for Minnesota who can provide his own distinct play game to help Minnesota secure a high seed in the West. It will be interesting to see how the Wolves use Dillingham. However, to maximize his playing minutes, he will need his offensive capabilities to overshadow his defensive deficiency. Nonetheless, his swaggy offense doesn’t seem to decline anytime soon.
