NBA: Timberwolves Starters Report Card Preview

Grades are an imperfect metric, but they are a widely shared cultural reference point. As a former teacher, the A-F grading system is baked into my brain. A few years ago, I created a grading system for the Minnesota Timberwolves because I thought it would be fun to try and channel each player’s contribution to the team into an easy-to-sum-up format by focusing on key stats based in player role.

After a couple seasons away, I’m thrilled to be back diving deep into the numbers with my favorite team, hoping that these grades lead to good conversation, debate, and all the fun that comes with processing the upcoming 82 game rollercoaster ride.

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A handful of quick reminders about how the grades work:

These grades are roles-based, so the stats I’m looking at for each player are different and meant to highlight their team role.

Roles on the team can change as the roster and playing time changes —I will alter or add statistical categories throughout the season as needed. Especially in a preseason article, the expectation is that some of these initial stats will change as we get to know the team better.

The grade ranges and their correlation to stats are educated speculation based on previous career averages, team role, and minutes expectation. Like the categories themselves, if there is a range that is clearly missing the eye test, expect some tweaks as the season goes along.

The season is divided into four quarters; twenty to twenty-one game increments. There will be mid quarter (10ish games), quarter (20ish games), semester (41 games) and final grades (82 games) throughout the regular season and series grades in the playoffs.

Let’s get to it!

LaMelo Ball: The Mixologist

The Stats: Team Offensive Rating, Games Missed, Defensive Rebounds Per Game

The Why Behind Them: Having Mike Conley as a point guard is like drinking an Old Fashioned with lifelong friends. There is safety, comfort, and familiarity. Having LaMelo Ball as your point guard is going to be like going to a fancy new bar that doesn’t have a menu, and behind the bar is a mixologist that takes a long, studious look at you, starts working behind the bar,…

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Publish date : 2026-10-04 12:00:00

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