Zyon Pullin didn’t just show up for the Timberwolves’ 2026 Las Vegas Summer League opener on Thursday. He took over enough of the game to make himself hard to ignore.
Minnesota beat the New Orleans Pelicans 105-92 to move to 1-0, and Pullin was right in the middle of it from start to finish. He logged a team-high 31 of 40 minutes and came within reach of a triple-double, finishing with 24 points, 8 rebounds and 12 assists. He also added a steal and two blocks.
That kind of all-around line drew immediate praise from Amazon Prime announcer and former NBA head coach Stan Van Gundy, who said, “I’m going to be shocked if Zyon Pullin isn’t on an NBA roster this year.”
Van Gundy doubled down later in the game, saying, “I would not be the least bit surprised if he was in someone’s rotation…He has just been in control of this total game. I am sure that Chris Finch and his staff are very impressed in what they have seen from Zyon Pullin today.”
For Pullin, the performance was another step in a career that has been built on grinding for opportunities. He went undrafted out of Florida in 2024 and has played in just eight regular season NBA games so far. He is still chasing his first full-season guaranteed contract, and Thursday’s showing gave him a strong argument.
The 25-year-old is currently on a two-way deal with Minnesota, the same type of contract he agreed to with the Timberwolves in March. He appeared in five games for the team after joining them. Before that, he also had two-way stops with the Miami Heat, who waived him before the 2024-25 season began, and the Memphis Grizzlies, with whom he played three games in 2024-25.
Pullin has already shown he can produce at the G League level, too. He excelled with the Iowa Wolves in 2025-26 and was named the league’s player of the month in November. On Thursday, he only took one 3-pointer, but his shooting track record includes strong work with Iowa and during his final college season with the Florida Gators.
Minnesota doesn’t exactly have a glaring need at point guard, but Pullin’s game still gives the staff something to think about. The article notes that a third point guard behind LaMelo Ball and Bones Hyland could be useful, and Pullin’s mix of poise as a playmaker, scoring touch and defensive activity fits that kind of role.
Chris Finch was in attendance Thursday, and Pullin’s performance came in front of the entire NBA audience that summer league provides. The article also points out that if the Timberwolves trade Josh Green, as some expect, that could create a backcourt opening for Pullin.
However it shakes out, Pullin made sure his first summer league game carried real weight. If he keeps stacking nights like this, a standard roster spot with the Timberwolves starts looking a lot less like a long shot.
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Timberwolves May Have Finally Broken Through In LeBron Sweepstakes
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For the Timberwolves, the appeal is obvious enough: a chance to pair James with Anthony Edwards and a roster built around Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels, while also addressing the need for a power forward. The broader field still includes familiar names such as Golden State, Cleveland, Miami and Philadelphia, but James has been spending time on the golf course in Puerto Rico with Draymond Green, leaving the next step in the chase very much unresolved. [Read more 🡒]