Time is an interesting thing.
Sometimes, it crawls. That 4:30 to 5:00 p.m. on a Friday before a holiday weekend can feel like forever, as you just wait to punch out. Thirty minutes in rush hour can feel like hours, whereas hours on the open road can feel like just 30 minutes.
This last year has flown by; it hasn’t felt like a year. For example, just over 11 months ago, I was alone in the Mayo Clinic Square media room. All the big-wig media members had flown down to Vegas the night before Summer League, leaving the media scrum at just the Minnesota Timberwolves media cameraman and me.
Someone from Minnesota’s public relations staff walked in and asked me who I would want to talk to. As I panicked, I blurted out Daishen Nix, the first name that came to my head – the originator of the Wolves’ point celebration. In return, I got a thumbs up, followed by, “Do you want Rob?”
“Ya,” I murmured back.
The time it took between talking to Nix and Rob Dillingham felt like hours. In reality, it was maybe 10 minutes. The anticipation was mainly due to the exclusivity of the meeting and the fact that Dillingham had not spoken to the media since draft night. I would be his first solo scrum, just as he was a part of mine.
Thankfully, I lost my ego long ago (working in health care does that to you). Dillingham and I had a good conversation. He spoke about the basics. If the moment felt real, how excited he was to play for the Wolves, and how a moment with Chris Finch made him feel much more comfortable.
“I ain’t going to lie, it helped me, I didn’t know what to expect my first few days practicing,” Dillingham began. “But when he actually sat and talked with me and told me he wants me to be me while I do everything. It just gives me the confidence to play freely… really, him saying that just gave me more confidence that I can grow into myself.”
It seems like an eternity ago that we had that conversation, but it feels like yesterday at the same time. Forty-something practice scrums have passed since then, so have 82 games, and the playoffs. Dillingham got playing time, and then he didn’t. But in the background, the man I met 11 months ago had been working to become what the Wolves need him to be in 2025-26.
Dillingham has quietly been working on his jump shot for months. It’s one of the primary reasons he hasn’t been getting as much playing time. The jump shot is a work in progress, and putting someone into a high-pressure game or playoff scenario midway through tweaking their form can be very detrimental.
This is his shot at the beginning of the season in a practice clip from Oct. 26.
Notice the back leg kick, almost in an attempt to catch up to his forward right leg. His body drifts more towards the basket than straight up and down. He tucks the ball to his hip before raising it and almost pushing it to the basket.
Now, look at this clip from May 3:
Notice Dillingham’s feet snap into position as he catches the ball in the second clip. He still swings forward, but he lands just inside the three-point arc. Dillingham’s hands are identical at the release point in all three clips, with a wrist snap to add spin. His gather is still a little long, and he brings it down to his hip, but it’s tighter and closer to the body.
Taking away the leg kick and forward momentum in his shot means defenders won’t be able to draw offensive fouls and can’t close as fast because there are an extra couple of inches of space. The consistent release point aids in shooting off the catch-and-dribble, as well as when the lower body isn’t set, something that all good shooters master. The tighter release lessens the chance of a stop on his shot motion, and the last step speeds up the process, which takes time.
Now compare both videos to his in-game corner three on Feb. 5:
Even though Dillingham is wide open, all the flaws in his jump shot are exaggerated. He has a huge jump in and leg kick, a delayed release, and the big gather. It’s just proof that changing a jump shot takes time, and playing while changing the shot usually causes it to regress in-game.
“I think he kind of has to round out his shot,” Finch said in his exit interview. “It’s got some inconsistencies right now…kind of every shot is a little different, a lot of twists and turns, and doesn’t always come up and down in the same spot. … I think you’ll see growth there, pretty easily.”
Dillingham’s jump shot changes can help explain some of his shooting struggles. He shot 33.8% from three and 29.7% on catch-and-shoot attempts.
While fixing the jump shot will take time to master, Dillingham must take care of the ball to fill Minnesota’s point guard void. Dillingham had the highest turnover ratio of players who played at least 20 games for the Wolves (14.4%). It was 6.0% higher than Mike Conley‘s and 4.1% higher than Anthony Edwards. When Dillingham has the ball, one of every seven possessions will end with him turning it over.
Therein lies the opportunity for growth. First-year point guards typically struggle with the NBA’s speed and physicality, but then they turn the ball over less in Years 2 and 3. That seemed to be the case with Dillingham in his rookie season. In February, he posted a 10.8% turnover ratio, significantly lower than his 18.8% ratio in November. Dillingham also got his most playing time in February, 16.5 minutes per game compared to his season average of 10.5. That has led to an opportunity to grow.
Dillingham can become a great shooter. He shot 37.3% on pull-up jump shots, only .5% lower than Edwards. Dillingham shot 62.1% inside five feet of the basket, 0.2% better than Edwards.
Even without hitting his outside shot, Dillingham’s finishing and pull-up ability are assets. His assist percentage was the highest on the team of anyone who played in over four games (28.3%). Dillingham ended one of every four possessions with an assist, 4.0% higher than Conley’s.
Hopefully, with a full offseason of working more on his shooting form and consistent play in summer league and training camp, Dillingham’s shot will fall more regularly, and he’ll turn the ball over less.
Rob’s upside is undeniable. His speed, finishing, and work ethic are those of someone who could be a star in the NBA.
Now, it’s just a matter of time.