Minnesota Timberwolves use big day from former Illinois star to clinch victory

Terrence Shannon Jr. was the face of Illinois basketball during his tenure with the program.

He was one of the most prolific scorers the Illini have seen in quite some time, averaging 20.2 points per game while shooting 46% from the field. Shannon's final year with the Illini was easily the best of his career, with the former Red Raider ranking third in the country with 23.0 points per game.

Shannon was an electric factory, and the most important part of the Illini's run in the NCAA tournament in 2023. His 23.0 points per game led Illinois by a country mile, with fellow guard Marcus Domask trailing behind with 15.9 points per game.

The problem, however, is that Shannon has been struggling so far in his transition to the NBA. In 52 career games off the bench, he has only mustered 4.6 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game.

Shannon has been having a hard time finding his footing in Minnesota, but Sunday night against the Milwaukee Bucks, Shannon showed a glimmer of excellence similar to what made him special with Brad Underwood's bunch.

Terrence Shannon Jr. boosts Minnesota with long range excellence

The Timberwolves were in the middle of a highly contested game on Sunday night against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Target Center. The Wolves were looking to inch closer to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference with a win, while the Bucks were just looking to find some life.

In this game, Shannon ended up becoming a key cog in Minnesota's long-range wheel. In just 12 minutes of play for head coach Chris Finch's staff, Shannon was able to record 11 points and a steal on 60% shooting from beyond the arc.

Shannon's total, although tied for the fourth most on the team, was a major factor in Minnesota's 103-100 win over the visiting Bucks. He helped to extend the floor for the Timberwolves in this game, while the likes of Anthony Edwards did work at the free throw line and Rudy Gobert went to work down low.

What does this mean for Terrence Shannon Jr. moving forward?

This is going to be a biased take, but I think Shannon has a chance to be special in the NBA. He is a great downhill threat who excels in transition, giving his team the ability to score when their opponents are on their heels.

The problem that Shannon is running into is that he hasn't found an identity with the Timberwolves yet. Sure, that is a hard thing to do with veterans like Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo controlling the lion's share of the minutes in the backcourt. But he's just having trouble etching his name into a specific role with this squad.

Now if he continues to string together performances like this, then obviously that will change. We as Illinois fans know he has the tools to do that. But he either needs to show the Wolves that he can excel in their system, or his stint in the pros is going to be short lived.

Congrats on the big game, Terrence! Here's hoping for more in the future!