Minnesota Timberwolves · 8 notes
Jonathan Kuminga played with Minnesota's starters, and Anthony Edwards wants him fed: "They can't really guard him. They try to put the worst defenders on him." The plan is to get Kuminga the ball and let him play in space.
Minnesota's Jaden McDaniels says teams put smaller players on him because they can't on OG Anunoby or Jonathan Kuminga: "they can put them on me. I don't care. I'm gonna take advantage of it every time." No timeline on Donte DiVincenzo: "we just can't wait to have him back."
Jaden McDaniels is sometimes moved off the ball on defense, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said, "maybe mostly to help with rebounding." He beat smaller defenders for offensive rebounds, setting up threes; Finch expects the same from Jonathan Kuminga once the team is healthy.
Jaden McDaniels or Jonathan Kuminga may take 25 shots on some nights while Anthony Edwards takes 15, the Timberwolves star said: "Some nights, Jaden may take 25 shots... JK may take 25 shots." On defense, the three guard the ball and "just switch everything with us 3."
Jonathan Kuminga has "the green light to kind of play his game," Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said, adding "we haven't overcoached anything yet." He said Kuminga has room to be more aggressive but has avoided forcing things to fit in, and is a better passer than expected.
Jonathan Kuminga says the Timberwolves haven't asked for anything new, just the best version of himself: "Rebound more, just playing defense, being more aggressive." His pairing with Rudy Gobert has gone well, he said, and their off-court bond carries onto the court.
Anthony Edwards named his defensive core as himself, Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels and Jonathan Kuminga, with LaMelo Ball "super good off the ball." Edwards also said he slept through three or four calls from Ball before learning of the trade: "I was asleep."
Minnesota's Bones Hyland expects a bigger role leading the second unit with Ayo Dosunmu. He says more pick-and-roll will free Rudy Gobert at the rim, Jonathan Kuminga will be a threat on the move and in transition, and "some guys may have to" sacrifice shots to win.