This offseason has been rather eventful for the Minnesota Timberwolves. After failing to make it past the second round of the playoffs, the Wolves’ front office triggered a retooling by offloading several veterans. In return, however, Minnesota acquired a superstar in LaMelo Ball, effectively ushering in a new era with a star-studded backcourt to lead it.
LaMelo Ball’s arrival in Minnesota has been met with mixed reviews. While many see the merit in acquiring a star of his stature to pair with Anthony Edwards, others remain skeptical. For the most part, both narratives would be justified given his reputation. Still, a recent statement by Timberwolves GM Tim Connelly may hint at a reason to be optimistic.
During an appearance on “The Jon Krawczynski Show,” Tim Connelly was asked to share his first impression of LaMelo Ball when the guard arrived in Minnesota. Surprisingly, Connelly had nothing but praise for the 24-year-old, as he commented:
“I think the thing that’s been most impressive and most consistent- we’ve talked to several of his teammates, a bunch of his coaches in Lithuania and Australia. The consistent opinion was that the guy has no bad days. He got off the plane over here with one of my colleagues in the P.R. department; he gets off, ‘Hey, what’s your name? Nice to meet you.’ And then a day later, he remembers everyone’s name, and that’s not always common with the NBA.”
“I think his positivity has, thus far, been completely consistent, and that’s consistent with everything we’re about,” Connelly continued. “Like, he has no bad days. In the NBA, you play 82; you can’t play 82 good games. It’s the best job in the world, but it still can be brutal. You get in at three in the morning; you’re playing in half-empty arenas at times. For a guy like that to play with such joy, I think, beyond the basketball fit with Ant, I think Ant is most responsive to joy and fun. And to have those two as a backcourt, we couldn’t be more excited.“
Connelly’s glowing review of LaMelo Ball certainly aligns with the way the guard plays basketball, too. While many have criticized him for being too carefree, it is difficult to deny the kind of joy he brings to each game. Needless to say, such a trait would serve the Timberwolves well.
With Minnesota looking to return to title-contending form, having a player who doesn’t feel pressure the same way others do is vital. Hence, by pairing a player like Ball with a competitive individual like Edwards, the Wolves may have uniquely struck a balance that could define the Wolves’ locker room energy for the entirety of the campaign.
The impact of LaMelo Ball’s addition to the Timberwolves has already been felt, as the team recently went to France for preseason training. When noting that Ball and Edwards sponsored the entire trip, it is abundantly clear that the two are embracing their roles as co-stars.
Aside from the personality fit, there is also clearly upside to LaMelo Ball’s addition from a basketball perspective.
Despite being largely unorthodox and unpredictable, LaMelo Ball is a truly gifted scorer and playmaker. Having averaged 20.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game last season, Ball is positioned to be the floor general Minnesota needed. Given how this allows Anthony Edwards to embrace his natural role as a score-first player, the Wolves have allowed both their stars to thrive.
For all intents and purposes, this pairing is only promising on paper thus far. With immense potential for success, however, the Timberwolves and their fans will eagerly look forward to seeing their new superstar duo in action.
