Draymond Green describes Rob Dillingham as 'very special player'

The Minnesota Timberwolves were aggressive in their pursuit of acquiring the best players in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Trading up to select both Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr. in the first round, many are praising the ‘Wolves for their strategic success on draft night. That includes Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, who believes Dillingham could be one of the top rookies in the league next season.

“Who won the draft to me was the Minnesota Timberwolves,” Green said on his podcast. “The reason the Minnesota Timberwolves won the draft is because they drafted their point guard in the future. And Rob Dillingham, who I think is a very special player — some of those teams at the top of the draft were afraid of because he’s got swag and he’s got game and they don’t know if his game is going to fit into their systems that don’t work and get them fired. “

In his lone season at Kentucky, Dillingham averaged 15.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game while shooting 47.5% from the field and 44.3% from beyond the arc. For his efforts, he was named the 2024 SEC Sixth Man of the Year and an All-SEC Second Team member.

Paired up with Anthony Edwards in the back court, many are excited to see what the duo is capable of.

“When you can just get a really good player who can score the basketball — Steph Curry — and figure out how the system works for him. And then all of a sudden, the franchise is in a territory that it’s never been in before,” Green continued. “But you know, at times we run into these guards with swag that they just ‘don’t fit in the system.’ And so teams run away from them. There’s going to be some teams that’s going to regret passing on Rob Dillingham.”

That’s high praise coming from Green, who has won four NBA championships with Curry over the past decade.

While ultimately eight teams — since the Spurs traded him after selecting him No. 8 overall — passed on Dillingham’s services, Green believes Dillingham will adapt to his new NBA environment quickly to help Minnesota continue its quest to win its first NBA title.

Fans will get their first look at Dillingham and Shannon Jr. together at the 2024 NBA Summer League. The ‘Wolves will be playing in the NBA 2k25 where they’ll play the New Orleans Pelicans on July 12 where Dillingham will match up against former teammate Antonio Reeves.