Who Are The Minnesota Timberwolves: What The First Five Games Tell Us

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 28: LaMelo Ball #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors on October 28, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Minnesota Timberwolves find themselves with a 3-2 record through the first five games of the NBA season, including wins over Eastern Conference playoff teams in the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, and Toronto Raptors, while suffering an overtime loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers and falling short against the Golden State Warriors in their last contest due to a 44-point outburst from Stephen Curry. The Timberwolves are featuring a different look with a new roster featuring LaMelo Ball at point guard after shipping out Julius Randle in the off-season. With the early returns of the new roster still uncertain, the big question is: “Who are the Minnesota Timberwolves?”

STEPH GIVING LAMELO & THE TIMBERWOLVES PROBLEMS 🤯

FIVE THREES IN THE SECOND QUARTER ALONE 🍿 pic.twitter.com/J7NacEstZa

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) October 29, 2026

It’s been a battle-tested season for the Wolves early. Facing the new-look Heat with Giannis Antetokounmpo to open the season was a performance for the ages, filled with optimism to see how Ball would impact an already dynamic offense. The Wolves did not disappoint as superstar guard Anthony Edwards dropped in a whopping 45 points on 55.2 percent shooting from the floor and a scorching 52.9 percent from beyond the arc on 17 attempts. He complemented that with 10 rebounds and two steals with the team’s second-best plus-minus at +25.

LaMelo Ball helped play spoiler against the Heat as well in his 28 minutes, pouring in an efficient 21 points while hitting five of his 13 attempts from deep alongside six assists to take down the Heat 131-106.

The next two games followed a similar path as the Wolves dominated the Magic on the road in Orlando, defeating them by 22 points, and then crushed the Raptors at home in Minneapolis (albeit without Kawhi) by 23 and handcuffed Scottie Barnes to an abysmal 0-12 shooting night.

They followed those performances with a disappointing overtime loss to the Cavs, largely in part due to a lackluster performance from Rudy Gobert, and a loss to the Golden State Warriors due to a slow start and Curry doing Curry things and Edwards being out due to a lingering right knee injury. The Timberwolves have shown they are capable of high-level offensive outbursts and stifling defensive performances. How have they gotten there?

According to NBA.com, the Wolves have the fourth-best offense in the league on a points-per-game basis, averaging 120.4 over the five contests. This places them behind the Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Lakers, and the Houston Rockets, who are first, second, and third in the league, respectively. They are also posting an offensive rating of 114.8 for the eighth-best mark in the league while shooting 47.3 percent from the floor and 38.4 percent from distance. 

A large reason for this top-10 offense has been the dominance from Anthony Edwards, notching 33 points per game on 48.1 percent shooting overall and 40 percent from three on 11.3 attempts per game. TJ Shannon Jr. has also been a positive mark this season as he’s gotten a longer leash, averaging 14.2 points per game on 40 percent from deep, while other staples such as Ayo Dosunmu and Jaden McDaniels have continued to play well and keep building on impressive playoff runs from last season. Newcomer Jonathan Kuminga has also been a bright spot, shooting a blistering 47.6 percent from three on 4.2 attempts per game. They’re all doing this collectively without marksman Donte DiVincenzo as he continues to rehab an Achilles tear he suffered against the Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs last year.

The defense, which is anchored by four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, is second best in the NBA according to defensive rating, posting a 102.5 mark, right behind the Raptors with a league-best 97.9. This puts together an impressive 12.4 net rating, which is the fourth-best mark in the league. They’re also limiting opponents to 45.3 percent overall and 33.6 percent from three-point range, which positions them in the upper half of the league.

Putting it all together, both through the eye test and the objective numbers, everyone should know who the Timberwolves are: a team that can dominate on both ends of the floor while maintaining both a very high floor and a championship-level ceiling, all while figuring out another roster that was shuffled yet again.

all of us rn 😂😂 https://t.co/0OVn8m3lMdpic.twitter.com/Dtx1oFIHIS

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) October 26, 2026

In a small sample size, the Wolves have shown they have what it takes. However, they will need to continue to tread water in a loaded Western Conference as Edwards will be out for at least the next two months after it was announced he underwent a successful right knee arthroscopic surgery to clear out some debris. It will be an interesting stretch without Ant for an extended period of time, and the Wolves will need to cement their identity and playstyle a lot quicker than imagined.

We know who the Wolves are through the first five games, but who will they be without Ant for now, and will they have the same dominance that’s been displayed when he returns?