Rob Dillingham grateful to play for a contender in Minnesota
The Spurs were always a team to watch for Rob Dillingham, while the Pistons, Jazz, Bulls, Thunder and Heat emerged at various points throughout the process as interested franchises. He was rumored to be a player who could slide on draft night due to an ankle injury during the pre-draft process and limited workouts, but unlikely out of the lottery, maybe one spot out to Miami. That 5-15 range was comfortable for the dynamic scorer out of Kentucky.
And then he went where most anticipated all along, selected by San Antonio with the No. 8 pick. Dreams of throwing lobs to Victory Wembanyama and knocking down open threes with hopeless defenders trying to slow down the 7-4 freak of nature. The only issue? A surprise suitor decided to throw a curveball and trade for his draft rights, a team way out of left field — a contender, no less.
The Minnesota Timberwolves, who made it to the Western Conference Finals this past season, traded away two future first-round picks — a protected pick swap in 2030 and an unprotected pick in 2031 — to land Dillingham. It was the most aggressive move of the draft to land the most exciting scorer in the draft. Adds up.
“It’s a blessing, for real. It shows that they trust me and they obviously are trusting in me to develop,” the former Wildcat said Wednesday evening. “If they trust in me, that’s all I needed. I feel that’s all I needed from any team. Them showing me is even more of a blessing. I get to play with way better players and learn from them. I’d say it’s a blessing to even be here in this situation. I thank the Timberwolves, for sure.”
What’s crazy is Dillingham didn’t even work out for Minnesota. His only connection to the franchise is working out with superstar guard Anthony Edwards at Overtime Elite prior to his time in Lexington. The Wolves made their move on film and blind faith, not pre-draft interactions. That’s to be expected when you’re not scheduled to make a selection until pick No. 27 — again, they made it to the WCF.
They essentially paid out of pocket to buy the No. 8 pick to put Dillingham next to Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns.
“It’s just a blessing to even be here because you work your whole life and you never know if you’re going to make it. So when you finally get there, it’s just a blessing,” the former Wildcat said. “Playing with Anthony Edwards and the whole Timberwolves (team), they were in the Western Conference Finals. So it’s really just a blessing because I get to learn from a lot of players and veterans and players that are really good. Them helping me is just a plus for me.”
So what did the Wolves pay for in Dillingham? What makes him worthy of that trust and confidence as a cornerstone piece of the franchise moving forward?
“I would say the open space on the floor. There’s so much open floor, and I feel like I’m quick so I can get past dudes,” he said. “It’s really the fact of me getting past dudes and making decisions. You’re playing with a bunch of NBA players, so players can’t really help off super a lot because these are NBA players and they knock down shots.
“I feel like, for me, getting past my defender and making plays for my teammates will be way easier, and then if they don’t help, then it’s just a bucket.”
He’s always been a top priority for opposing defenses in high school, AAU and college. How will things chance in the NBA?
Dillingham says things will actually come easier for him next to elite talent playing with unlimited space and freedom.
“I feel like it would be easier,” he said. “Once I know the assignment and what my coach wants me to do, it’s not really me adjusting. It’s just me doing what he says. I feel like anything Coach tells me to do, I can adjust to and I can make it happen. So I feel like it’s a good feeling.”
The Hickory, NC native heard his name called just minutes after his standout bench partner did, Reed Sheppard coming off the board at No. 3 to the Houston Rockets. It was a full-circle moment for the former roommates, both seeing their NBA dreams come true in Brooklyn just a few tables over from each other.
They experienced a lot together in Lexington. Now, they get to challenge themselves as pros at the same time
“It’s crazy. It just shows you a lot of things work in ways you never think because we came in and we were roommates and we were really in the same position. We didn’t know if we were going to get past our first year. We were just playing basketball,” Dillingham said. “Me seeing Reed, my roommate, he’s a great dude. He always pushed me and he always helped me. Me seeing him and we going together, it’s just crazy to even see, and I’m thankful.”
Dillingham will be winning plenty of games at his next stop thanks to Minnesota betting big on his future.
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