Rob Dillingham On Adjusting To Being An NBA Point Guard
The Minnesota Timberwolves have a stacked roster, but they are lacking in the point guard department. Mike Conley Jr. is a fantastic player, but his age has become a detriment to the team because he doesn't play as fast as they would like. Conley is still a magnificent playmaker and leader, but Father Time is always undefeated in professional sports.
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Tim Connelly and the front office aim to future-proof the team, which is why they selected Joan Beringer as a potential successor to Rudy Gobert in 2025, while selecting Rob Dillingham as the long-term point guard in 2024. He might not have played heavy minutes, but Dillingham is glad to learn behind the scenes.
Feb 6, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Rob Dillingham (4) works around Houston Rockets forward Cam Whitmore (7) during the third quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn ImagesCredit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
After a standout freshman year at Kentucky, Dillingham only played 49 games in his first NBA season. It was an underwhelming rookie campaign, but it was clear that the Timberwolves had big plans for him. Conley was his mentor, while assistant coach and former NBA guard Pablo Prigioni helped him behind the scenes.
Dillingham entered the 2025 NBA Summer League extremely motivated. He wanted to prove that the Timberwolves need to play him in the regular season. The former Kentucky Wildcat is doing well, as he is a standout for the Timberwolves in the Summer League alongside fellow incoming sophomore Terrence Shannon Jr.
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Dillingham Feels He Has Grown Up Since He Entered The League
Across NBA circles, it is well known that the point guard position is the hardest to acclimate to in the NBA. The Timberwolves knew that, so they wanted Dillingham to improve behind the scenes while getting stronger physically.
The young guard also needed to adjust to the intense NBA pace and physicality. He has done well in that department, as he understands what he needs to do, and he is actively looking for ways to improve. The hard work is showing with the diversity of his performances during the 2025 NBA Summer League.
"It's a whole new game for me, honestly, whether people see it or not, it's a way new whole game for me," Dillingham said after Tuesday's Summer League game. "Learning like this is like a whole new aspect of basketball for me, once I learn this at a high right, I can play from anywhere."
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Dillingham is growing as a leader for the Timberwolves
While he is still a young player in the primary Timberwolves lineup, the 2025 NBA Summer League has been important for Dillingham's growth as a leader. Considering he will be the team's long-term point guard, this is an awesome development for the young point guard.
Anthony Edwards is the team's superstar and leader, but having someone like Dillingham alongside him will be great. The Timberwolves have all the talent on their roster; they need to keep pushing and improving the young core.
"It's new for sure, I've always just been a scorer. Joan is a great player, so I guide him and get him in the right spots to put him in the best position to play his best game. It makes it easier for all of us," Dillingham continued in his interview.
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Since Dillingham has always been a score-first point guard, improving as a playmaker and leader is a good sign for the future. He could be the dynamic point guard the Timberwolves need alongside Edwards, as they aim for glory in the NBA Playoffs.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
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