Minnesota Timberwolves: The steady evolution of D'Angelo Russell

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D'Angelo Russell, Minnesota Timberwolves

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – FEBRUARY 16: D’Angelo Russell #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves directs traffic against the Toronto Raptors in the third quarter of the game at Target Center on February 16, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Raptors defeated the Timberwolves 103-91. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /

Minnesota Timberwolves: The evolution of D’Angelo Russell – This year

But if you watched their crushing loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night, you saw the best version of Russell yet. Yes, he finished 6-of-16 from the field and 2-of-6 from deep, good for a -10 rating on the game. But his 18 points very much came within the flow of the offense, and in the first half especially he was crucial to the Timberwolves keeping pace with the Mavericks.

Perhaps this box score illustrates not just how far Russell has come, but how much more he is still capable of. Certainly, on the surface, this doesn’t look like a game that should be celebrated. But if you (hands over the ears please, stats heads) go with the eye test, it is clear that there is a lot more clicking for Russell with this group right now.

They are saying all the right things about trying to aim for as high a seed as they can. Unless you’d forgotten the Timberwolves have barely had any seasons above .500 in the last two decades, so this mentality is huge. Russell’s confidence (most visible in Brooklyn) is central to this, but he also seems to have accepted his place in the pecking order. This is Towns’ team, and that is ok.

The Timberwolves have won 8 of their last 10, and yet the individual stats of Russell have not jumped out during this period. Perhaps this is what we really mean by the evolution of his play? He has realized that it is not all about his individual numbers and that sacrifices must be made so that the Timberwolves can make the postseason, and teammates can go for 60.

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