Rookie point guard Kris Dunn gained quality experience in his first season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, but has a long way to go.
The Minnesota Timberwolves drafted Kris Dunn during the 2016 NBA Draft with the fifth overall pick. This selection was surprising to many because the Wolves already possessed two promising point guards in addition to Dunn. Furthermore, Dunn is already 23 years old. That makes him only three years younger than veteran starter Ricky Rubio. Even more puzzling, he is two years older than second-year point guard Tyus Jones.
In college at Providence, Dunn used his athleticism to make offensive plays and lock people down defensively. Going into the NBA Draft, Kyle Ratke of NBA.com said the following of Dunn’s strengths:
"“Dunn’s body is NBA ready. He’s super athletic, which kind of sets his game up for everything else. He’s great in transition – there’s a lot of speed here. He’s a true point guard, something that is rare in today’s NBA.“He’s improved his three-point shot over the years, but still isn’t a huge threat from deep. He swiped more than two steals per game and has all of the tools to be a very, very good defensive player for years to come.”"
This assessment was spot on after watching Dunn play his first season with the Minnesota Timberwolves. This season Kris Dunn played in 78 games for the Wolves. He started in seven of those games. He played a lot of minutes for a rookie and experienced different highs and lows during the course of the season.
2016-17 Stats
Dunn rated as the ninth-best player on the team this season. He did not display that he is the point guard of the future, but he did show that he can contribute and has potential.
His numbers were not impressive for a fifth overall draft pick. With that being said, he is a true point guard and is not expected to produce big offense. He is expected to create shots for his teammates and lock down opposing guards.
Below are Dunn’s stats from this season.
| Season | Age | G | GS | MP | FG% | 3P% | 2P% | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-17 | 22 | 78 | 7 | 17.1 | .377 | .288 | .404 | .610 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 3.8 |
| Career | 78 | 7 | 17.1 | .377 | .288 | .404 | .610 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 3.8 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/25/2017.
Dunn’s best contribution to the team was his defense. None if his offensive statistics stand out or show that he is the point guard of the future.
He did compile twice as many assists as he did turnovers. That was very positive for a true point guard. His shooting was poor across the board, but the Wolves knew he was not a good shooter in college.
Role for Kris Dunn heading into next season
Kris Dunn will have a similar role on the Timberwolves next year. Expect him to work on his shot during the offseason so teams have to respect him on offense. If he develops a decent stroke, Dunn will become a starter in the NBA and be a playmaker for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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In conclusion, Kris Dunn may not have been the best draft choice for the Minnesota Timberwolves, but that does not mean he doesn’t have a future with the team. If he continues to work hard on his weaknesses he will be a solid player off then bench and eventually a starter in the NBA.