The Minnesota Timberwolves opened the season with a real question hanging over them: could the bench hold up? Early on, that looked like a fair concern.
But 11 games in, the answer has been loud and clear. This group has turned into a championship-caliber unit.
The numbers point in that direction, even if they don’t tell the whole story. Minnesota ranks 15th in bench points and ninth in net rating, a noticeable jump from last season’s 21st and 11th marks. And the eye test says the second unit has been even better than those rankings suggest.
What makes this bench so impressive is how little it has relied on certainty. Before the season, Ayo Dosunmu was the only proven name in the group.
Joan Beringer, Terrence Shannon Jr., Trey Lyles, Bones Hyland, and Jaylen Clark were all question marks. Instead of fading into the background, all five have carved out real roles.
Beringer has made his mark on the offensive glass and added rim running and defensive value. For a 19-year-old center, he has looked as good as anyone could reasonably hope, and he’s already developed into a solid backup big man.
Shannon has also settled in well. There were questions about how he would mesh with Minnesota’s on-ball talent, but he’s answered them by averaging 11.1 points and showing growth as both a spot-up shooter and a defender.
Lyles, who was out of the NBA last season, has given the Wolves useful minutes with his spacing, rebounding, and basketball IQ. Hyland and Clark were outside the rotation before Anthony Edwards’ injury, but both have stepped into bigger roles.
Hyland has provided instant offense off the bench and is averaging 12.1 points. Clark has brought point-of-attack defense and has also hit 40 percent of his 3-pointers since Ant went down.
That mix matters. Minnesota’s bench isn’t just deep; it’s varied.
Each player brings something different, and that gives Chris Finch options depending on the matchup. In a playoff setting, that kind of flexibility can swing a series.
It also helps a team keep rolling when injuries hit, which Minnesota has already had to navigate.
The rotation is already running 10 deep, and that’s with Edwards missing the past seven games and Donte DiVincenzo out all season. Once those two return, the Timberwolves could be looking at 12 rotation-level players. That creates some difficult decisions for Finch, but it also gives Minnesota an enormous cushion.
Dosunmu’s return to the bench after Edwards’ injury only raises the ceiling further. He has looked flat-out like an All-Star without Ant, putting up 21.6 points and becoming one of the team’s most dependable creators.
His value goes beyond the scoring, too. Dosunmu can play next to stars because of his defense and 3-point shooting, or he can take on more creation himself.
Add DiVincenzo back into the mix and the bench gets even more dangerous, with another sharpshooter to round out the unit. With that kind of depth, versatility, and top-end starting talent, Minnesota is set up to keep its early-season success going. By every measure that matters, this bench has gone from a concern to one of the team’s biggest strengths.
In Other News...
LaMelo Ball Is Facing A Bigger Timberwolves Test Than Expected
With Anthony Edwards sidelined for surgery, the Timberwolves have had to adjust on the fly, and Chris Finch made it clear the message to LaMelo Ball was simple: be more aggressive for himself. Minnesota did not just need Ball to fill space in the offense, it needed him to help steady the group while Edwards was out, and the early returns have given the team something to work with.
Ball has responded with a more assertive stretch since the injury, and the Timberwolves have managed a 4-2 record in Edwards' absence as they head into an eight-game homestand. The bigger question now is whether that expanded role becomes a temporary fix or something Minnesota can keep leaning on once the schedule settles in. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Quiet Signing Is Becoming Hard To Ignore
Trey Lyles has settled into the kind of role that can be easy to overlook on a crowded roster, but Minnesota has had a harder time ignoring his value as the season has unfolded. The veteran forward has brought frontcourt depth and a steady understanding of how to fit into the Timberwolves system, giving the team another reliable option without needing the ball in his hands much.
Even with modest counting numbers, Lyles has stood out for the things that tend to matter over the long haul: rebounding, smart spacing and a willingness to play within the flow of the offense. His versatility has given Minnesota more lineup flexibility, and his presence has quietly become part of why the Wolves have been so effective on the glass. [Read more 🡒]
Ayo Dosunmu Is Suddenly Carrying A Bigger Timberwolves Burden
Anthony Edwards absence has forced Minnesota to reshuffle its backcourt, and Ayo Dosunmu has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the opportunity. Since moving into the starting lineup, he has given the Timberwolves a steadier scoring presence and added useful production across the board, helping keep the team afloat while one of its top engines is sidelined.
The early returns have been encouraging enough to change the feel of the rotation, with Minnesota going 5-2 since Edwards went down. Dosunmus expanded role has mattered not just because of the points he is providing, but because he has helped stabilize the offense during a stretch when the Wolves needed someone to absorb more responsibility and keep the team on track. [Read more 🡒]