The Timberwolves young stars continue to shine in the Las Vegas Summer League. Can Minnesota extend its winning record to 3-0 when they take on the Detroit Pistons?
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Detroit Pistons
Date: July 15th, 2025
Time: 3:30 PM CDT
Location: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV
Television Coverage: NBA TV, FanDuel Sports Network North
It’s mid-July in Las Vegas, which means a few things are guaranteed: triple-digit heat, a line outside every Gordon Ramsay restaurant, and NBA fans everywhere pretending Summer League outcomes matter while also swearing they don’t care that much.
Except here’s the thing: if you’re a Timberwolves fan right now… you might care just a little more than you expected to.
Because the Minnesota Summer Wolves? They’re undefeated. They’re fun. They’re loaded with guys who look like they might actually matter. And Saturday night’s 11-point win over Denver had the kind of energy that made you forget it’s July basketball in a glorified convention center.
But then again… maybe we should’ve expected it. Because if you’re counting at home, that’s technically seven straight wins for the Wolves over the Nuggets dating back to the 2024 playoffs. I know, I know—no Jokic, no Murray, no anything resembling a real Nuggets roster. But if you think that stopped any Wolves fan from muttering “seven straight” under their breath with pride, then you don’t remember how starved this fanbase has been for any type of success.
Let’s break it all down—because even though this is “just Summer League,” it’s telling us a lot.
Terrence Shannon Jr.:
The headliner, once again, was Tetrence Shannon Jr., who poured in 24 points and looked like he was playing on a slightly lower difficulty setting than everyone else. It’s rare that a Summer League game has a clear alpha—TSJ was that guy.
His scoring? Confident. His swagger? Measured but obvious, like he knew he didn’t need to overdo it to prove his point.
The Wolves had some horrific scoring droughts last season. Five, six, sometimes seven minutes where the offense looked like it was being run via remote control by a distracted toddler. TSJ feels like the kind of guy who could help stop those bleeding stretches. Think of him as the microwavable scoring option that doesn’t burn your house down.
If he can continue this in training camp, he’ll have a legit case to be in the nightly rotation.
Rob Dillingham:
After a shaky debut, Rob Dillingham showed signs of life. He posted 15 points, nine assists, and only four turnovers—a stat line consistent with “solid backup point guard,” which is exactly what the Wolves are going to need from him behind Mike Conley this year.
There’s a little Tyrese Maxey in Dillingham’s game—not the full-bloomed version, but the frenetic energy, the slippery first step, the sense that he’s always one creative dribble away from either something brilliant or something head-scratchy. The good news? On Saturday, it was mostly the former.
And remember, the Wolves don’t need Dilly to be The Guy. They just need him to be a guy. Someone who can keep the offense moving, run second units, and occasionally drop a 17-point heater on a random Tuesday in February when Ant’s sitting out. If this Vegas growth continues, the Wolves might actually have that guy.
Joan Beringer: The Find?
Let’s talk about Joan Beringer.
If TSJ was the headliner and Dillingham was the rebound story, then Beringer was the sneaky third act twist that leaves the crowd buzzing. He finished with a +15 in the plus-minus column, and even though he only had one block, his presence on the floor was loud. Active hands, smart rotations, physical rebounding—he did all the dirty work, and he did it with a kind of unteachable instinct.
It’s worth reminding people: Beringer only picked up basketball a few years ago. He’s raw. He’s young. But he already looks like someone who understands how to play within a system and still make noise. That’s rare.
And if this pans out? If Beringer develops into a core rotation player?
Then you really have to give Tim Connelly his flowers. Because somehow, he turned Karl-Anthony Towns’ gargantuan cap-destroying contract into Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and this Beringer lottery ticket that suddenly doesn’t look so much like a long shot. As much as we all loved KAT (and we did), the modern NBA salary cap is ruthless. That trade is aging like Succession—a little confusing at first, but ultimately brilliant when you see the full arc.
So What Now?
Look, it’s Summer League. No one’s hoisting a banner. Joan Beringer isn’t guarding Giannis tomorrow. But the Wolves are 2-0, they’ve got real contributors showing signs of life, and if Saturday night’s crowd—complete with Anthony Edwards courtside, Naz Reid roaming around like a VIP, and even A-Rod looking like he belongs—was any indication?
This team believes in its own future. So do the fans. And honestly… that’s half the battle in July.
Beat Detroit, go 3-0, keep the vibes immaculate.
And if we do win the Summer League trophy? Someone get TSJ and Dilly some ski goggles.
Because every great season starts somewhere—even if it’s under the fluorescent lights of UNLV.
Seven straight over Denver (Summer League counts if you want it to), TSJ is the real deal, Dillingham is finding his rhythm, and Beringer is already giving off “young Rudy” vibes. Is it July? Yes. Is it Summer League? Sure. But should we be excited?
Absolutely.