Former Illini Terrence Shannon Jr. Rocks the Rim, Scores First NBA Points

Minnesota Timberwolves guard gets on the board in a big way in Chicago on a special night

Oct 13, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Terrence Shannon Jr. (00) dribbles in front of New York Knicks guard Landry Shamet (44) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Terrence Shannon Jr. isn't accustomed to waiting so long to break into the scoring column.

But as it turns out, his timing was just right: On Thursday, in his hometown of Chicago, Shannon, a rookie guard with the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves and a two-time All-Big Ten selection at Illinois, finally broke the ice after going scoreless through the Wolves' first seven games of the season.

Did we mention that it happened on Illini Night?

The exact moment, which came as Minnesota (5-3) nursed a 133-115 lead over Chicago (3-5) with 1:19 to play at the United Center, may not have been dripping with drama. But it surely felt as sweet to Shannon as the finger roll he slipped over the rim for his first two NBA points.

That it happened just a few minutes away from where Shannon grew up, attending Lincoln Park High School, and on a night designated for Illini fans to tip their caps to he and former Illinois guard Ayo Dosunmu (now a Bulls starter) seemed like kismet.

And then came the real excitement, seconds later – call it garbage time if you want – when Shannon rocketed in front of a lazy crosscourt pass, tipped it ahead, scooped it from deep on the left wing and, after one dribble, rose up to hammer home a dunk to truly remember:

TJ RIGHT AT HOME. 😤 pic.twitter.com/UNbCNqk6bf

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) November 8, 2024

It proved to be a bit of a tension breaker as well. Shannon and fellow Timberwolves rookie guard Rob Dillingham had played little to start the season – a source of frustration for some observers, though Minnesota is a veteran team coming off a Western Conference Finals appearance.

Shannon, who averaged 23.0 points and 2.4 3-pointers as an Illini senior – which included a career-high 40-point outburst in last spring's Big Ten Tournament semifinals – has had to wait his turn since showing out in the NBA Summer League and preseason.

The good news: It was Dillingham, after breaking through with his first NBA points on Monday, who assisted on Shannon's first bucket. And both, after each sitting through the Wolves' first five games, have now played in all of the team's last three.

Baby steps, youngbloods.

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