Rob Dillingham On His Strong Mentality As An NBA Player

Rob Dillingham On His Strong Mentality As An NBA Player originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have been successful in the 2025 NBA Summer League, as most of their players are performing well. Chief among them is point guard Rob Dillingham, a player who had limited opportunities during his rookie campaign in the 2024-25 season.

With his performance at NBA Summer League, Dillingham has proven he can be a high-level point guard. He is not staying as a scoring guard, as he is growing as a playmaker. That is optimal for the Timberwolves, as a dynamic guard alongside Anthony Edwards in the long-term future is the best-case scenario.

As the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, most people thought the Timberwolves would trust Dillingham to adjust to the league quickly. That was not the case, as Dillingham took a lot of time to get comfortable due to his smaller physique and the short turnaround from his season with the Kentucky Wildcats.

Despite that, he has always been working hard behind the scenes with his mentor, Mike Conley Jr., and the coaching staff. That has been valuable for him, as he learned his lessons. Of course, his confidence took a hit, but that has been revitalized with his stint in the 2025 NBA Summer League.

Dillingham Is Confident And Ready For The 2025-26 Season

For a talented player like Dillingham, sitting on the bench for most games can be tough. He has become accustomed to being the cornerstone of a team's offense, but since this is the NBA, he must adjust. Dillingham has taken that in stride, as he has developed under mentors and coaches.

Rob Dillingham was making plays all over for the @Timberwolves today:

🐺 23 PTS
🐺 7 REB
🐺 7 AST

Ready for a bigger role in his second season? 👀 pic.twitter.com/9hiAMPxj4t

— NBA TV (@NBATV) July 16, 2025

With that work, Dillingham has remained confident and ready for any opportunity. The 2025 NBA Summer League is one of them, and he has done well as a scorer, playmaker, and leader. That is significant for Dillingham, as he can translate that to the main Timberwolves team for the 2025-26 season.

"I’d say it’s more of a mental thing, like not getting down on yourself when stuff isn’t going your way, and you keep thinking negative, nothing good is going to happen for you," Dillingham said about avoiding negativity. "I'm the biggest critic of myself, so I'm big at that. Now I’m just looking at it, trying to get past it. If I mess up, I mess up. Move on to the next play, and that’s what’s been helping for sure."

With this healthy approach, Dillingham is ready to play under head coach Chris Finch. As long as he is prepared, he can make an impact. With his explosive scoring and ceiling as a playmaker, he is in the right place in Minnesota.

Dillingham Will Keep Working Hard For An Opportunity

Dillingham is one of the hardest-working players on the Timberwolves roster, which is reflected in his hard work with the assistant coaches to develop his game. He has a relationship with assistant coach and former NBA player Pablo Prigioni, who was a reliable veteran for most of his career.

Rob Dillingham on knocking down a couple scoop shot layups against the Suns after working on it all season with Pablo Prigioni

“It felt great, I was mad when he kept blocking my shots, I’m not gonna lie, I was kinda mad… but it feels good to work on it and see it translate to… pic.twitter.com/4cvqTJTifZ

— Andrew Dukowitz (@adukeMN) July 17, 2025

With that kind of guidance alongside Conley, Dillingham is in the right space. He wants to learn, and he is a student of some smart basketball minds. If he continues on this path, Dillingham can be a more mature lead guard who will be the perfect complement to Anthony Edwards.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.