In his second season in the NBA, Minnesota Timberwolves wing Terrence Shannon Jr. hasn't exactly had the breakout season fans had expected. TSJ is averaging 13.3 minutes, 5.0 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 0.7 assists on 41.6/42.9/77.8 shooting splits. However, Shannon's improved 3-point shooting is a notable bright spot. His 42.9 percent 3-point shooting comes on 1.6 attempts, accounting for nearly half of his field goal attempts.
Shannon shot a solid albeit not great 35.5 percent from beyond the arc as a rookie and 34.7 percent during his five-year college career. My biggest concern with Shannon replacing Nickeil Alexander-Walker was his 3-point shooting. While his finishing, playmaking, and defense have been troublesome, it's promising that Shannon is putting it together as an outside shooter.
After barely playing in an electric win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday, Shannon had one of the best games of his season on Sunday night in a win over the Milwaukee Bucks. In 12 minutes, Shannon scored 11 points while shooting 3-for-5 from beyond the arc.
This game highlights Shannon's shooting prowess, and it could be a turning point for him.
Shannon's 3-point shooting could be a game-changer
After Sunday's game, head coach Chris Finch praised Shannon's shooting and the work that he has put in.
Chris Finch on Terrence Shannon Jr hitting threes tonight
“He’s worked really hard on it, definitely feels like a reliable shooter to me and shot it with confidence, it came with in the flow of the offense, when that happens they all look like they’re gonna go in” pic.twitter.com/u8atT3o1tP
— Andrew Dukowitz (@adukeMN) December 22, 2025
Listen, Shannon's role has been limited this season, and frankly, it's not hard to see why. With Bones Hyland's emergence, Shannon being forced out of the rotation is possible. Nevertheless, if he can knock down 3-point shots at a high rate, Shannon will establish himself as a clear mainstay in the Wolves' rotation and could eventually become the Alexander-Walker replacement everyone hoped he would be.
If he continues this lights-out 3-point shooting, Shannon could be the perfect complement to any Wolves' lineup.
Does he still have some work to do? Absolutely. The biggest downside to Shannon's season so far has been his poor rim finishing. As a prospect, though, TSJ's biggest strength was his ability to attack the rim. However, he is shooting just 36.4 percent on drives. Furthermore, Shannon was supposed to help solve the Wolves' lack of transition scoring, but he is shooting just 42.1 percent in transition and ranks in the 19th percentile for transition scoring.
Shannon's overdependence on his left hand is the most notable flaw he has displayed as a finisher. Regardless, Shannon has the potential to be a powerful finisher, and his shooting could help him build confidence.
While Shannon's finish has been the main problem, his playmaking has also been concerning. He has the same number of assists and turnovers, and often makes questionable reads. Defensively, he takes unnecessary risks and is still very much a work in progress. Nevertheless, the 6-foot-6 wing has all the tools to be a positive defender and has shown solid flashes of that, including during Sunday's game.
Shannon's second season has certainly been underwhelming. Still, I'm not ready to give up yet, and his 3-point shooting is giving me more confidence. Ultimately, I believe that better days are ahead for Shannon, and a breakout stretch could soon be on the way.