Okay so here’s the thing, I’ve been tracking this kid Rob Dillingham for a while now. Crazy talented guard. Wanted to put down how I’ve been following his journey, piece by piece, based on stuff I read and watched.
First Came Across Him During March Madness
Remember March? Last year? Was glued to the NCAA tournament. Saw this highlight reel play from a Kentucky kid – lightning fast handles, blew past his man, made a tough layup look easy. The announcers kept yelling “Robert Dillingham!” Looked him up later. Blew my mind.
- Scout Reports Were Wild: Saw stuff calling him “the most creative guard in the class.” Kid was special.
- Stats Jumped Out: Played just 23 minutes a game off the bench?! And he was dropping 15 points a night. Like, how?
- That Three-Pointer: This was nuts. 44.4% from deep on 4.5 attempts per game?! For a guard? At Kentucky? Yeah, filed that away.
Draft Night Drama and Questions
Months later, draft night comes. Everyone kept talking about how tiny he looked. Seriously, the measurements stuck with me.
- Size Worries Were Real: He was listed everywhere between 6’1″ and 6’2″, but the weight… some places said 164 lbs, others 170 lbs. His ribs were basically showing in the combine pictures. Everyone kept asking: can he take a hit?
- Defense? What Defense?: Reading the deeper stuff, the red flags were flashing. “Defensive liability,” “target in switches.” His high school videos? Yeah, he didn’t look interested on that end half the time.
- Where Would He Land?: Mock drafts had him slipping. First it was lottery lock, then mid-lottery, then back and forth. Folks said teams like Miami or Philly needing bench scoring made sense.
- Then BAM!: The Timberwolves took him at #8. My first thought? Mike Conley isn’t getting younger! This is pure upside.
Tracking His Rookie Grind
This season, I’ve kept tabs on his minutes and stats. Not gonna lie, the start was slow. Coach Finch kept him tight early.
- The Numbers Don’t Lie (Yet): Checking his line: 5.8 points, 2.5 assists in limited run. Expected for a rookie guard on a playoff team.
- Patience Pays Off?: Saw reports all fall about Minnesota really wanting him to develop. Building strength, learning the schemes.
- Started Seeing Flashes: By late January, little bursts. A dime here, a quick steal there. You could see the speed trying to translate.
The Breakout Moment
Then it happened. Late January. Saw the headline pop – Dillingham goes OFF against Utah.
- Finally!: His name wasn’t just buried in the box score. 19 points, 8 assists! That was it. That was the Kentucky magic peeking through. The speed, the passing vision… yes! Felt like validation.
Where He Fits Now
Watching the Wolves chase seeding, you can see the plan.
- Conley’s Backup with Teeth: He’s not running the show full-time yet, but he’s the energy jolt off the pine. Especially against tired guards.
- That OKC Game: Saw the highlights of him making plays against SGA and Giddey late in the close win. Big moments.
- The Work Isn’t Done: Everyone knows he still needs to get stronger and commit on defense. That Utah game showed the upside, but he’s got a long road. Can he be more than just a spark?
Overall, seeing his name pop up more is exciting. Kid went from NCAA sensation to draft question mark to now carving a role on a contender. The speed is real, the shot is there when he gets clean looks, and that Utah game proved he can handle NBA pace. He just needs more reps and more muscle. Let’s see what the push to the playoffs brings!
