LaMelo Ball wasted no time showing what he can bring to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Anthony Edwards noticed something beyond the box score.
In his preseason debut with his new team, Ball helped Minnesota knock off the Milwaukee Bucks, 116-97. He finished with 11 points, four rebounds, three assists and one steal in 17 minutes, giving the Wolves a look at another layer of offense and playmaking alongside Edwards and Rudy Gobert.
Edwards turned in 14 points, four rebounds, two assists and two blocks in 18 minutes, while Gobert added six points and seven rebounds in 17 minutes. But after the game, Edwards focused on Ball’s presence and the way he fit into the flow of the night, as reported by The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski.
“He was great tonight. Y'all know.
He plays like his hair is on fire. He gets everybody involved.
He talked more than I expected throughout the game. That's another big one for me, especially because I love people who talk.
Let us know what you see,” said the four-time All-Star.
That kind of connection is exactly why plenty of eyes are on the pairing of Edwards and Ball. Both entered the NBA in 2020, and Ball edged Edwards for Rookie of the Year. Ahead of the new season, the two have already made it clear they respect each other, and that mutual comfort could matter once the games start counting.
Chris Finch has also been vocal about what Ball brings to the group. The Timberwolves coach has praised the 25-year-old repeatedly, and after this outing he pointed to the energy and ease Ball brings to the locker room and the floor, as quoted by Sports Illustrated's Andrew Carlson.
“He brings a joy to the game. He's always fun to be around. He's got a fast chemistry with everybody, and I think we're getting him at the right time,” said Finch.
Minnesota’s next test comes Wednesday against the Indiana Pacers.
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Joan Beringer enters his second season with a clear opening on the Minnesota Timberwolves roster: the chance to handle the minutes behind Rudy Gobert. For a team that has long had to manage the non-Gobert stretches carefully, that matters. Beringers appeal is straightforward enough for a coaching staff to appreciate. He brings athleticism, a promising defensive profile and enough presence around the basket to give Minnesota a different look at center when the starter sits.
The bigger question is how much of that potential shows up right away. Beringer is still a developing player, but his value could reach beyond simple backup duty if his defense translates the way the Wolves hope and his offense adds some easy finish opportunities at the rim. For a team built on making life difficult for opponents, even modest progress there could make a noticeable difference in the minutes that have too often been a soft spot. [Read more 🡒]
Chris Finch Sees One Early Sign Wolves Fans Will Love In LaMelo Ball
As Minnesota settles into the early stages of the season, Chris Finch has been paying close attention to LaMelo Balls fit and, more importantly, to the parts of his game that can sharpen the Timberwolves right away. The coachs perspective matters here because Minnesota is not looking for a reinvention so much as a seamless addition of talent, and Finchs read on Ball has centered on the idea that the guard can bring his usual style without being boxed into something unfamiliar.
The encouraging part for Wolves fans is the way Finch has framed Balls preseason work on the defensive end, where Minnesota has been searching for signs that his tools can translate beyond the highlight plays. With his length and awareness already drawing notice alongside Rudy Gobert, there is at least a real opening for Ball to contribute in a way that fits the Wolves identity, even if the full picture of his role is still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Joan Beringer Just Gave Timberwolves Fans A Reason To Watch Him Closely
Joan Beringer gave the Timberwolves a useful look in their preseason meeting with the Bucks, showing why the front office is still intrigued by his long-term upside in the frontcourt. The young big man looked more comfortable as a screener and more dependable around the rim than he did as a rookie, which matters for a Minnesota team that is always searching for size and reliability inside.
The performance also came with a reminder that his development is still a work in progress. Foul trouble clipped his stint and kept him from building on the strong stretches he flashed, leaving the Wolves with the same kind of question they have had around him all along: how quickly can he turn promising tools into something they can count on every night? [Read more 🡒]