The Timberwolves’ point guard history is thin enough that LaMelo Ball could walk in and make a real case for the top spot before long.
That’s a big reason Minnesota fans are buzzing about the idea of Ball teaming up with Anthony Edwards. The Wolves spent most of last season without even starting a true lead guard, so the thought of adding a dynamic shot-maker and playmaker with size feels like a major swing. Ball has the kind of perimeter skill and positional length that can change the whole look of an offense.
Of course, how long he stays in Minnesota and how effective he is there still has to play out. But purely on talent, Ball has the tools to become the best point guard in franchise history. That’s not because the bar is sky-high - it’s because the Wolves haven’t had many elite ones.
Stephon Marbury is one of the biggest what-ifs. He was traded away midway through his third season in 1999, leaving behind the obvious question of what might have happened if he and Kevin Garnett had stayed together longer.
In 167 regular-season games with Minnesota, Marbury put up 16.9 points, 8.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. His time in Minnesota was short, just two and a half seasons, with jealousy over Garnett and the cold weather in Minnesota cited as reasons he wanted out.
Terrell Brandon came back to Minnesota as part of the Marbury deal and spent the final three and a half years of his career with the Timberwolves. He started at point guard for three straight playoff teams from 1999 through 2001, averaging 15.6 points, 8.3 assists, and 1.9 steals with the Wolves. In 12 playoff games, he averaged 18.0 points.
Sam Cassell had the best single season of any Minnesota point guard. In 2003-04, his first year with the team, he started at point guard for the Wolves’ first-ever conference championship squad.
That season brought an All-Star nod, All-NBA Second Team honors, and a tie for 10th in MVP voting. It also marked the only time a Timberwolves point guard has made the All-Star team.
Cassell played one more season in Minnesota, but his first year was the one that mattered most.
Ricky Rubio lasted longer than all three of those guards. He spent his first six seasons with the Wolves and later came back for a seventh, but he never quite matched their peak impact.
Rubio was a brilliant passer, yet he never averaged more than 11.1 points in Minnesota. Still, the 2010-11 Rookie of the Year runner-up topped eight assists in five of his first six seasons and sits second only to Kevin Garnett on the franchise’s all-time assists and steals lists.
So if Ball stays healthy and helps Minnesota win, the path is there for him to claim the title of best point guard in franchise history. The competition isn’t overwhelming, and Ball has the kind of talent that can separate him from the pack.
In Other News...
Anthony Edwards Knows What This New Timberwolves Team Is Chasing
Minnesotas offseason has already given the Timberwolves a noticeably different look, and Anthony Edwards sounds as eager as anyone to see what it becomes. After a run to the Western Conference semifinals, the front office went out and added LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga, a pair of talented newcomers who raise the ceiling of a team that was already squarely in the playoff conversation.
Edwards, the face of the franchise, has made clear he likes where this is headed and sees the group chasing something bigger than another strong regular season. The Western Conference is still loaded, of course, which is why the next step matters so much for Minnesota, and why Edwards health and the fit of the new roster will loom as the season approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Edwards Sounds Sure About One Wolves Risk Fans Cant Ignore
Anthony Edwards is sounding upbeat about the Timberwolves chances of staying elite on defense even after a potential shakeup that would bring LaMelo Ball into the mix. Minnesota has built its identity around high-end defenders, with Rudy Gobert anchoring the paint and Jaden McDaniels handling tough perimeter assignments, so the question is not whether the team has defensive talent. It is whether adding a gifted but imperfect defender changes the balance enough to matter.
Balls offensive creativity would give Minnesota another layer, but his defense is the part that could keep opposing teams hunting for openings. The Wolves would likely need their existing stoppers to do extra work around him, especially in the kinds of lineups that can be exposed over long stretches. Edwards sounds convinced the team can absorb it, but it is the sort of roster gamble that will have fans watching every matchup possession a little closer. [Read more 🡒]
LaMelo Ball Could Change Everything About The Wolves Offense
LaMelo Ball has already started settling in with the Timberwolves after arriving in late June, and the early signs around the group suggest Minnesota believes it added more than just another talented guard. Ball is expected to function as a primary offensive option and facilitator, giving the Wolves a different kind of pressure point alongside Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert while the team continues to sort out how its offense can look with another high-end creator in the mix.
What stands out so far is how naturally Ball has begun fitting into the room, with teammates sounding encouraged by the way he has blended into the group in the opening stages. Chris Finch has also pointed to the positive effect Ball has had on the team, a promising development for a club that needs its new pieces to click quickly if it wants this move to change the shape of its offense. [Read more 🡒]