NBA: Preseason-Minnesota Timberwolves at New York Knicks
Minnesota Timberwolves point guard LaMelo Ball (1) dribbles up court during a NBA preseason game against the New York Knicks on Oct. 12, 2026, in New York.
LaMelo Ball is the 33rd-best player in the NBA, according to The Ringer’s new top 100. He’s 35th on ESPN’s list, and 41st for CBS Sports.
None of which jibes with the numbers he has produced.
Last year, Ball averaged 25.8 points, 9.2 assists and 6.2 rebounds in 36 minutes of court time — one of just four players to average at least 25-8-6. The others: Nikola Jokic, Cade Cunningham and Luka Doncic. Those three are unquestioned top 10 players in the Association, with Jokic and Doncic among consensus top five.
Ball led the NBA’s top offense last season in Charlotte, and he personally had the best offensive rating of any player not with the Denver Nuggets. You could argue there was no better offensive engine in basketball last season than Ball.
So, why the lack of respect?
Frankly, Minnesota’s addition of Ball this offseason has received mixed reviews. Yes, the offense will be explosive. That’s widely recognized. But there are questions about whether the Timberwolves are really any closer to championship contention than they were last year.
That wouldn’t be the case if, say, Cunningham, Jokic or Doncic had arrived in Minnesota. Those guys have had postseason success. Cunningham’s is still sparse, but he won a series last season. Jokic has won a title. Doncic has been to the NBA Finals.
Ball has yet to even reach the playoffs, and it’s unknown whether his flashy style could flourish amid the brutal physicality of an NBA postseason.
“Until you show it at the highest level, it doesn’t matter, you know?” Wolves center Rudy Gobert said. “I think he knows that. I think that he’s hungry for that, and I think this is … I mean, he couldn’t dream for a better opportunity to showcase that to the world and to himself.”
Because the Wolves will win. It would be a stunner if Minnesota, which has reached the playoffs in each of the past five seasons, missed them altogether this season.
There are questions about whether Ball will deliver on that stage. Gobert described Ball as a “natural hooper.” The center uses that term to compliment his point guard’s ability to see the floor and will to compete.
It’s the same term others use to criticize his sometimes questionable shot selection, bad driving record and overall joyous nature.
“We’ve seen it in this building before with previous players who haven’t had previous playoff success,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “Or even when they’ve gotten there, they haven’t had it early in their opportunities.”
That’s likely a reference to Karl-Anthony Towns, who carried a frequently negative national perception that undervalued the center until he won an NBA title last season with the New York Knicks. Gobert’s defensive accolades are diminished by those who cite a lack of postseason dominance.
“We’re here to help each other out to get there and achieve something that’s never been done before, for either of us,” Gobert said.
Respect in this league is earned in May and June. Until it’s achieved in the postseason, stats and talent are viewed as empty calories.
“Obviously, it’s going to come down to playoff success, like it always does with all great players,” Finch said. “The talent is undeniable. The ability to make your teammates better in all different ways is undeniable.”
And it’s clear Minnesota believes the perception is wrong. Ball, for instance, is seen as a negative defender, but the Wolves have been impressed by his defensive competitiveness and ability to compete on the glass.
“He has actually been way more physical than I’ve anticipated,” Finch said. “He has been really good on the ball. Picking up our schemes, he has been quick to that. And having a bunch of guys around him with that fly-around mentality has activated him. He has bought right in.”
But that won’t count for much in training camp, or even in the regular season. Ball’s narrative will need to be rewritten come playoff time.
“He’s got to have success in the playoffs, which means we’ll be having success in the playoffs if he’s having it,” Finch said. “That’s what we’re all rooting for.”