After placing collectively two dominant performances with the Iowa Wolves, Terrence Shannon Jr. clearly proved he was too explosive a participant for the G-League to comprise.
Shannon, a former Illini guard and 2024 Minnesota Timberwolves first-round draft choose, had proven flashy moments with the massive membership however struggled to realize ground time earlier than being despatched to Iowa on November 19. In Des Moines, Shannon performed like he was out for revenge, averaging 33.0 factors, 4.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists earlier than Minnesota referred to as him up simply 4 days later.
However over the following 4 video games for the Timberwolves, Shannon didn’t step foot on the court docket. With coach Chris Finch sticking to a decent eight-man rotation, Minnesota went 1-3 down the stretch.
Then got here Monday’s 109-80 win for the Timberwolves over LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. Finch lastly cleared his bench and allowed Shannon to beat her subsequent medium: gravity.
In opposition to Los Angeles, Shannon had profession highs in minutes (six), factors (5), hit a 3 and hung a board, however – in an act that has considerably grow to be routine for a participant who does not has averaged simply 4.1 minutes in 5 profession NBA video games. – additionally placed on a present for these current.
With just below a minute to play, Shannon caught an outlet move in stride down the best sideline and sped throughout the center of the sector.
With solely Lakers guard Gabe Vincent between him and the rim, Shannon took a back-and-forth dribble to the three-point line and screamed into the paint, the place he met Lakers large man Christian Koloko on the rim.
SHEEEEEECH pic.twitter.com/FFpdWNVIoW
– Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) December 3, 2024
Spinning a little bit too late, Koloko had no probability to contest and, after leaping and realizing his mistake on the final second, walked away and will solely watch as Shannon rose and hammered residence a one-handed dunk.
Finch may need been in a position to justify retaining Shannon because the Timberwolves obtained off to a 6-3 begin, however Minnesota is simply 4-7 since and getting little manufacturing from its backcourt past the All-Star’s contributions Anthony Edwards. Even when Shannon is not prepared for a beginning position, his manufacturing within the G-League alone suggests he seemingly deserves an expanded position with the mum or dad membership.
