The Timberwolves opened their season on the 22nd, and while it’s still extremely early in the season, there can still be some conclusions drawn from their first four games of the regular season. Of course, there are still months of basketball to be played, and things could change in an instant. That being said, let’s uncover five takeaways apparent from the Wolves’ 2-2 start:
- Julius Randle’s hot end to the 24-25 campaign has continued into the new season.
In the 2025 playoffs, Julius Randle was on fire, averaging 22.6 PPG on 48% shooting against the Lakers and 25.2 PPG on 53.3% shooting against the Warriors. His end-of-season & playoff success seamlessly carried over to the start of the 25-26 season, averaging 25.0 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 5.3 APG on a stunning 56.5% from the field and 42.9% from three in the first four games of the season. On the defensive end, he has held his own, averaging 1.3 SPG and creating a few nice stops. Randle has been elite so far, showing everyone that he is more than capable of being Anthony Edwards’ complementary no. 2 option on offense.
2. Wolves can compete without Anthony Edwards.
After playing just three minutes against the Pacers, Anthony Edwards exited early in the first quarter due to hamstring tightness. A while later, he was ruled out for the rest of the game. Suddenly, wolves were in need of players to step up. The rest of the wolves came to rescue. Julius Randle became the focal point of the offense, scoring thirty-one points on 11/18 shooting to go along with four rebounds and six assists. Wolves also received production from role players Donte DiVincenzo and Naz Reid, who recorded 17 points and 16 points, respectively. Wolves held off the feisty Pacers team and won 114-110, showing that they have enough depth to win when Anthony Edwards is out. While the team lost against the Nuggets without Edwards, 114-127, the Wolves still put up a good fight despite being on the tail-end of a back-to-back and playing a healthy Nuggets team.
3. Jaylen Clark’s defensive presence can make up for the loss of Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
The biggest story of Minnesota’s off-season was the loss of 3&D wing Nickeil Alexander-Walker, suddenly leaving a hole open on the bench. Jaylen Clark has quickly stepped up in his place, proving lock-down defensive energy and averaging a steal a game. Clark was a late addition to the injury report on Monday, and it showed against Denver. The Nuggets shot 50% from three in Clark’s absence, while the opponent averaged just 35% from three in the games Clark played. It’s safe to say that Clark should be getting upwards of twenty-ish minutes when healthy and should be in contention to make an all-defensive team.
4. Jaden McDaniels is making a huge leap on both ends.
In the first four games of the season, Jaden McDaniels has left his impact, taking a massive offensive leap from the last season. Currently averaging easily a career-high 16.0 points per game, it’s clear that he worked on his offensive game in the offseason. Against the Nuggets, McDaniels led the team in scoring with twenty-five points on 10/16 shooting. If McDaniels can keep his 15+ points per game pace, the Wolves’ offense will be exponentially better. We have always known about his elite defense, but another aspect of his game that we’ve seen major growth in is his shot-blocking. He recorded four blocks against the Nuggets and is currently third in the league in blocks per game at 2.5. McDaniels has a very real chance at becoming one of the best two-way players in the league if he keeps playing at a high level.
5. Minnesota may have a point guard problem.
Minnesota’s current point guard depth consists of thirty-eight-year-old Mike Conley, Rob Dillingham, and Bones Hyland. While Dillingham has the potential to be the next franchise guard, he’s clearly not ready yet. When Edwards was playing, Dillingham wasn’t receiving rotational minutes. Bones Hyland has been a surprisingly impactful player so far, but he is still not an ideal option to lead the offense. Donte Divincenzo is currently starting in the role, but it’s clear that’s not where he’s meant to be. The lack of playmaking has shown. Minnesota is 27th in the league in assists per game, at just 20.8. Mike Conley is only getting older, and until they get another true playmaker, there will be a question mark at the position.
