Iowa Wolves/G League talk

[moss_is_1]

Read on Twitter

Wow, Pullin has some GUNS.

[BlacJacMac]

Zyon Pullin Wins Player of the Week

The newest Timberwolves two-way contract signee, Zyon Pullin, was recently named the NBA G League Player of the Week. Here's a look at the superb numbers he put up in his last three games:

3/2/26 - 27 PTS, 8 REB, 7 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK; 10/13 FG, 1/1 3P

3/4/26 - 29 PTS, 7 REB, 9 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK; 10/13 FG, 3/5 3P

3/8/26 - 36 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST, 2 STL; 12/23 FG, 5/10 3P

His averages of 30.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 7.0 assists is just a snapshot of the work he's been putting in all season. Pullin was previously named the November G League Player of the Month before going down with a wrist injury that kept him out through most of February. He has been picking up right where he left off, dusting all defenders within sight. -- Leo Sun

[cmoss84]

Read on Twitter

Wow, Pullin has some GUNS.

Desmond Bane?

[minimus]

Read on Twitter

Julian or TJ as 10th player in rotation next season? Correct me if I wrong, but as role player in garbage time Julian looked good. At least he plays within his role: runs in transition, moves the ball and defends.

[BlacJacMac]

Rocco finished with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 7 blocks in a come from behind victory over Texas Legends on Saturday.

Watch on YouTube

[cmoss84]

Rocco finished with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 7 blocks in a come from behind victory over Texas Legends on Saturday.

Watch on YouTube

Damn. He looks pretty good.
Is there any planet where JB and Rocco share the floor in a couple of years?

[BlacJacMac]

Rocco finished with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 7 blocks in a come from behind victory over Texas Legends on Saturday.

Watch on YouTube

Damn. He looks pretty good.
Is there any planet where JB and Rocco share the floor in a couple of years?

He looks much more nimble than earlier in the year. And he played 38 minutes this game - a huge jump from the limited minutes when he started the season.

[jpatrick]

Rocco finished with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 7 blocks in a come from behind victory over Texas Legends on Saturday.

Watch on YouTube

I think this was Friday’s game. Then he followed it up with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 blocks, going 3-3 from three, in a loss on Sunday. He does look much more athletic than during last year’s combine and the summer league.

I still like Beringer quite a bit more, but Rocco putting up those numbers as a 19 year old in the g league after essentially not getting any run in Australia the year before is really impressive.

[Klomp]

Julian or TJ as 10th player in rotation next season? Correct me if I wrong, but as role player in garbage time Julian looked good. At least he plays within his role: runs in transition, moves the ball and defends.

Sure, I could maybe see 10th player in a nine-man rotation if he has a great offseason....

[Klomp]

I think this was Friday’s game. Then he followed it up with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 blocks, going 3-3 from three, in a loss on Sunday. He does look much more athletic than during last year’s combine and the summer league.

I still like Beringer quite a bit more, but Rocco putting up those numbers as a 19 year old in the g league after essentially not getting any run in Australia the year before is really impressive.

He was wildly mismanaged in Australia last season, that was very obvious.

[BlacJacMac]

I think this was Friday’s game. Then he followed it up with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 blocks, going 3-3 from three, in a loss on Sunday. He does look much more athletic than during last year’s combine and the summer league.

I still like Beringer quite a bit more, but Rocco putting up those numbers as a 19 year old in the g league after essentially not getting any run in Australia the year before is really impressive.

He was wildly mismanaged in Australia last season, that was very obvious.

He also only turned 18 a month before the NBL season.

[BlacJacMac]

Leo with a really solid "Year in Review" of the Iowa squad as they get ready for the Playoffs:

https://www.canishoopus.com/iowa-wolves-news-scores-results/65223/nba-g-league-playoffs-preview-zyon-pullin-rocco-zikarsky-joan-beringer

[BlacJacMac]

Zyon Pullin Named NBA G League Player Of The Week

DES MOINES, Iowa – The NBA G League today announced Iowa Wolves guard Zyon Pullin has been named the NBA G League Player of the Week for games played between March 23-28. This is the second time Pullin has received player of the week honors after winning the award earlier this month for games played between March 2-8. This is the 22nd such honor in Wolves franchise history and third such honor this season (Alize Johnson: Jan. 12-18).

Pullin, 6-4, started both games in which he appeared during the week, averaging 37.5 points on 69.2% shooting, including 75.0% from three, 4.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.0 steal in 33.5 minutes per game. Pullin was third in the G League in points per game and his 75.0% three-point shooting percentage led the league among players that attempted at least 10 three-point shots, helping lead the Wolves to a 2-0 record and their first playoff berth since the 2013-14 season.

Pullin started the week on March 26 with a game-high 35-point performance against Oklahoma City, going 12-of-19 from the field, including a season-high 6-of-9 from deep, while dishing out seven assists in a 133-106 win over the Blue. On March 28, he scored a season-high 40 points on 15-of-20 shooting, including a perfect 3-of-3 from three to go along with seven rebounds and four assists, leading the Wolves to a 132-117 win over the Blue, securing a two-game sweep over Oklahoma City in the Wolves’ regular season finale.

Since the start of the G League’s regular season (Dec. 19), Pullin is averaging 27.6 points on 58.3% shooting from the field, including 56.4% from three, 5.2 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.1 steals in 35.1 minutes per contest.

https://gleague.nba.com/news/zyon-pullin-named-nba-g-league-player-of-the-week-2

[minimus]

Looking at Pullin situation through the lens of next season I can see how Pullin might have a chance to play a few games in main MIN team by January 2027. Start of this season was IMO absolute disaster and simply a management malpractice by TC.

- last minute decision to promote Donte as starting PG because of Conley decline. DDV struggling
- investing in Rob and TJ as main pieces of the bench. Failed miserably
- no real backup bigman. Instead extended Randle and Reid roles to cover backup bigman hole. Failed

What changed after deadline:

- Anderson, Ayo and Bones are secondary ballhanders who help DDV
- Anderson stabilizes non Rudy minutes
- no meangful Conley minutes
- no Rob experiment

In ideal scenario next season:

- all three Anderson, Bones and Ayo re-signed
- DDV is not traded
- TC finds a quality backup bigman
- no Conley
- no Rob experiment

Gobert/Beringer/Anderson
Rande/Reid/Phillips
McDaniels/Ayo/TJ
Edwards/Bones/Clark
DDV/Ayo/???

This would be a VERY different situation for 9th, 10th player in rotation:

- no development projects at PG
- no one is fighting for contract
- already existing chemistry

Pullin can slide here as 3rd string PG. Obviously I have not monitored his development, but watching his highlights I can see following things:

Watch on YouTube

- his upper body looks well developed (unlike Rob). Can be a good thing because he can hold his own in defense and should not be hidden
- he has some floater game and mid range game
- his shooting form and release look promising, although not NBA level quick. also shooting volume is very low
- he does not use left hand
- he is not an explosive finisher

My main question regarding Pullin is whether he can defend in NBA. If I look Pullin physical tools he is similar to Ajay Mitchell:

Pullin measured 6′ 3.50” barefoot, 8′ 2.50” standing reach, 201.6 lbs, 6′ 5.75” wingspan, 27 standing vert, 34 max vert at the 2024 NBA G-League Combine
Mitchell measured 6′ 3.25” barefoot, 8′ 5.00” standing reach, 197 lbs, 6′ 6.25” wingspan, 28 standing vert, 33.5 max vert at the 2024 NBA Draft Combine

This season, Oklahoma City has seen that upside for Mitchell play out on the defensive end of the floor. His deflections sit at fifth on this loaded Thunder team littered with defenders. Mitchell generates 2.6 defelctions per night, behind just Cason Wallace (4.5), Jalen Williams (3.3), Alex Caruso (3.2) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (3.1).

Mitchell ranks in the 94th percentile in defending the pick-and-roll. He has the mobility and sturdy frame to sit down and defend scorers while also being able to navigate screens. He can pick ball handlers' pockets, jump in passing lanes and grab a long rebound, all of which spark transition chances for the Oklahoma City Thunder and help the Bricktown Ballers get out to a scoring run.

The most eye popping stat to describe how the Thunder guard will be able to not only stay on the court during the NBA postseason as the game slows down and mismatches get exploited, but thrive, is what he does in isolation.

When opposing offenses get Mitchell isolated as the lone defender, the second year back up guard forces matchups to shoot a lowly 3-for-21 against him.

This does not let opposing players try to bring Mitchell to the ball to avoid going up against tougher defenders. With how elite Dort, Caruso, Wallace, and Jalen Williams are at navigating screens, Mitchell can more than put up a fight when he is on the ball, as seen by this isolation stat –at the very least, be competitive enough to let the preferred point of attack defender get back in position.

Ajay Mitchell currently has the best Defensive Field Goal Percentage (DFG%) Allowed Among All Players For The 2025-26 NBA Regular Season
(Min. 200 Total DFGA) :

Ajay Mitchell — 36.8%
Victor Wembanyama — 38.1%
Klay Thompson — 38.2%
Kevin Durant — 40.2%
Amen Thompson — 40.7%
Ayo Dosunmu — 41.1%
Kristaps Porzingis — 41.1%
Jaylin Williams — 41.2%
Cade Cunningham — 41.3%
Dean Wade — 41.4%
Not only has he been a key contributor on offense for us, but he’s been a lock down high engine defender who’s been clamping guys down. Truly has an argument of being our 3rd or 4th best player on the team already.

I believe that Ajay's defensive stats and performance are heavily influenced by OKC culture, chemistry and multiple elite defenders. And most important roster continuity. Also Ajay's background (read playing in Europe) is a huge factor in his development in terms of basketball awareness and IQ.

I am not saying Pullin will be same tier as player as Ajay. Ajay has just elite finishing ability at rim, he is creative and physical. But I can definitely see Pullin modelling his game after Ajay. Also our front office definitely likes idea of having a big comboguard: Daishen Nix, Tristan Newton. To get standard contract in NBA Pullin needs to be better than these two guys:

I liked Daishen Nix physicality and aggressiveness, but he is too erratic as passer and too inconsistent as shooter.
I liked Tristan Newton shot making, but he has not showed NBA defense.

So if Pullin can defend, hit open threes and does do dumb things on the floor, he will get his NBA contract.

[NebWolvesFan]

Pullin is in the same situation Hyland was last year. What he needs is a great offseason with the team. While Hyland didn't play in summer league, like we presume Pullin will, Bones was in Minneapolis all summer and showing the coaching staff and front office what he can do. Pullin needs to do the same. He will be up against it when it comes to roster spots, especially if Randle gets traded for 2 players similar to KAT deal.

The roster could already be at 13 players if Ayo, Kyle and Bones returns and Clark picks up qualifying offer.
Jaden, Randle, Rudy, Ant, DDV, Ayo, Reid, Hyland, Kyle, BaronJ, TJ, Clark and maybe Phillips. Pullin needs Phillips to be waived, Minnesota to trade FPR, and strike out in FA to have an open spot.

[moss_is_1]

I'm still a TSJ truther, and I believe had he not gotten hurt twice he would be firmly a rotation piece. I think the coaching staff is also high on him, just are still ramping him up.

This will be a huge off-season. Have to manage the cap to bring back Bones, Ayo, maybe Clark. Aging core pieces(Rudy/Randle). It will all hinge on how we do this postseason.

[Klomp]

Pullin is in the same situation Hyland was last year. What he needs is a great offseason with the team. While Hyland didn't play in summer league, like we presume Pullin will, Bones was in Minneapolis all summer and showing the coaching staff and front office what he can do. Pullin needs to do the same. He will be up against it when it comes to roster spots, especially if Randle gets traded for 2 players similar to KAT deal.

I think the Hyland comparison is a decent one. However, what arguably separates the two situations most is the familiarity that Connelly had with Hyland going in. I think it just bumps the likelihood of retention up another level.

I actually agree Pullin has an outside chance at a roster spot next year. But he will have to fight hard for it!

[wolves_89]

Pullin is in the same situation Hyland was last year. What he needs is a great offseason with the team. While Hyland didn't play in summer league, like we presume Pullin will, Bones was in Minneapolis all summer and showing the coaching staff and front office what he can do. Pullin needs to do the same. He will be up against it when it comes to roster spots, especially if Randle gets traded for 2 players similar to KAT deal.

The roster could already be at 13 players if Ayo, Kyle and Bones returns and Clark picks up qualifying offer.
Jaden, Randle, Rudy, Ant, DDV, Ayo, Reid, Hyland, Kyle, BaronJ, TJ, Clark and maybe Phillips. Pullin needs Phillips to be waived, Minnesota to trade FPR, and strike out in FA to have an open spot.

I like Pullin quite a bit, but I don't really see his situation as comparable to Bones. Hyland was competing with a way too old Conley and a way too young Dillingham for point guard minutes, while Zyon would be competing with in their prime NBA starter level guys Edwards, DiVincenzo, and Dosunmu. The other main difference is that Bones had around 3000 NBA minutes when he signed and Zyon has 9 NBA minutes. Finch has shown a strong preference for experience when he decides rotations and Zyon getting non-garbage time minutes seems like an extreme long shot. Pullin would be much better off going to a lottery team where he could actually compete for rotation opportunities.

[Klomp]

Leo with a really solid "Year in Review" of the Iowa squad as they get ready for the Playoffs:

https://www.canishoopus.com/iowa-wolves-news-scores-results/65223/nba-g-league-playoffs-preview-zyon-pullin-rocco-zikarsky-joan-beringer

Excellent season review/playoff preview!

First playoff game in 11 years, tonight at 8:30 p.m. on Prime (that was the Iowa Energy days, before we became affiliated)

Read on Twitter

[Klomp]

Read on Twitter