The NBA offseason is underway, and to say the least Wolves fans are throwing coal into the burner of the hype train. Although it is just the beginning of the long summer, we are provided with some cheap entertainment of the NBA Summer League. The Timberwolves are participating in the Las Vegas version, and have had quite the run… without Kris Dunn. Yes, Dunn has been out since the second game of the Summer League with a concussion, and the fifth overall pick has been dressed in street clothes on the sidelines.
For the first two games, the duo of Tyus Jones and Kris Dunn was exciting to watch, playing off of each other with a high level of chemistry. When Dunn went down into the concussion protocol process, the duo was broken up. It seemed like the 24 seed Wolves would have a short “playoff” run without the rookie, but Tyus had other ideas. Check out the graphic below to see just how his numbers have changed before and after Dunn’s injury.
His field goal percentage, three point percentage, assists and points have all dramatically increased since Dunn has been off the floor. This isn’t to say Dunn makes Tyus worse, but Tyus has a heavier load to carry without Kris, and he has stepped up in a big way.
In fact, Jones has played well enough to be awarded the 2016 Summer League MVP award, and has carried the Minnesota Timberwolves to the championship game. The Wolves will play the undefeated Chicago Bulls tonight at 8 p.m. for the Las Vegas championship trophy.
The Summer League means next to nothing, but it is still exciting to watch after about a month of basketball deprivation. The season can’t get here soon enough, and we are all aboard the hype train to October.
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