The Minnesota Timberwolves are looking to prove themselves in 2023-24.
Just a year ago, the team was looking like one of the most exciting in the league with the new big three of Rudy Gobert, Anthony Edwards, and Karl-Anthony Towns.
But that trio didn’t deliver for a number of reasons.
Former NBA Coach of the Year Avery Johnson isn’t sure they’ll ever be a true force in the West.
Speaking to CBS Sports, via ClutchPoints, Johnson unloaded on this group:
“I’m not sold on this and they’re not a big three by the way. That would be an insult to guys like Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James when they were the true big 3 or the [Tim] Duncan, [Manu] Ginobili, [Tony] Parker combination in San Antonio. They have too many weaknesses, especially defensively… I don’t really see them taking that next step.”
Former NBA head coach Avery Johnson sounded OFF on the Timberwolves trio of Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert and Anthony Edwards 👀
"I'm not sold on this and they're not a big 3 by the way. That would be an insult to guys like Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James when they… pic.twitter.com/EQ8EXew5W6
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 18, 2023
When Gobert was added to the mix, some people thought that the Timberwolves could go all the way to the Finals.
Minnesota definitely gave up a lot for Gobert, thinking that he was the key to leading them into the playoff promised land.
Instead, the Timberwolves scored a 42-40 record and ended up as the eighth seed in the Western Conference.
They made it into the opening round of the postseason but didn’t get any further than that.
The team still had problems defensively, as Johnson said.
They also only had Towns for just 29 games last season, meaning a huge part of this trio was gone.
Sometimes, big threes like this take time to find their rhythm and work well together.
They have a season under their belt so now is the time for them to show what they are capable of.
But after the lackluster first year they had, there are more than a few critics who don’t think it’ll come together in Minnesota.
Will the Timberwolves prove Johnson wrong and take that next step?
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