Former NBA head coach Stan Van Gundy is not buying the Minnesota Timberwolves hype, despite many outsiders considering them a legitimate threat in the Western Conference. He flat-out doesn’t see it, telling The Zach Lowe Show recently that while they might be “fun to watch with that backcourt” and “put some points on the board,” they’ve taken “significant losses” up front. That’s a strong take from a guy who knows the league inside and out.
Van Gundy Calls Out Wolves’ Frontcourt Gaping Holes
Van Gundy’s biggest beef comes down to who’s missing. He points directly to Julius Randle and Naz Reid, calling them “two big losses up front.” Losing those guys means Minnesota is now “very dependent on Rudy Gobert,” which, according to Van Gundy, can put them in “really troublesome situations at both ends of the floor.” Think about it: they can’t just go smaller with skilled bigs like Reid and Randle anymore. Now, it’s either all on Rudy or a huge leap from 20-year-old Joan Beringer, who barely played meaningful minutes as a rookie. Beringer is only in his second season, and the Wolves don’t have a true power forward without Randle and Reid. That’s a lot of pressure on a young guy, isn’t it? Even if you point to the Spurs starting 6-foot-7 Julian Champagnie at power forward last season, it doesn’t erase the concern for Van Gundy.
The “Pretty Solid Six” But Nothing More
While Van Gundy admitted he’s not entirely sold, he did concede the Timberwolves would likely land in the “top six” in the West. His reasoning? He’s just not sure “if there’s anybody else” good enough to bump them out of that spot. So, a “pretty solid six” is the ceiling for him, not the juggernaut many want to crown them as. He went even further, naming the Spurs, Thunder, Nuggets, Rockets, and Lakers all *ahead* of the Wolves. He thinks they *could* catch the Lakers, seeing “a lot of variance there,” but beyond that, he doesn’t see them as good as Denver or Houston. And as for San Antonio or Oklahoma City? “Nobody’s close,” he stated bluntly. Even with Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels, Jonathan Kuminga, and Rudy Gobert starting, and a deep bench featuring Ayo Dosunmu, TJ Shannon, Bones Hyland, and Jaylen Clark, plus Trey Lyles at power forward and Beringer backing up center, Van Gundy isn’t swayed. Donte DiVincenzo is still recovering from a torn Achilles and might not even be back until the second half of the season. The Wolves *do* have depth, no doubt, but if they “don’t get outmuscled every night,” as the article says, that’s a big “if” for a team Van Gundy clearly sees as lacking muscle up front.
So, the question remains: can Minnesota’s talented guards and wings compensate for what Van Gundy sees as glaring weaknesses in their frontcourt? We’ll be watching closely to see if their depth can truly overcome these potential pitfalls as the season unfolds.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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