The Minnesota Timberwolves might lean more into offense this season with the addition of LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga, but they will continue to hang their hat on the defensive end, which has been one of the best in the league over the past four seasons.

Anchored by Rudy Gobert, the Timberwolves have had a top-ten defense in each of the last four seasons, including the best defense in the league in 2024.

Gobert remains the centerpiece of the defense, and he’s flanked by Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels, two strong on-ball defenders with length and athleticism to give opposing ball handlers fits on the perimeter and at the rim.

Jonathan Kuminga is a versatile defender who can guard multiple positions and create turnovers.

Ball has the tools to be a disruptor; it’s up to him to find his role and the team to put him in the best position to highlight his strengths.

Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch believes the team can have an elite defense if they all work together.

“It’s tantalizing, the things we can do, it all starts with on ball compete, we’ve gotten really good there, guys like Melo and JK, they just got to get used to playing with Rudy, reading what he’s going to do and there’s still a little bit of lag time in some of our defense because of that, but the effort and intensity are there,” he said.

Kuminga has said that he believes having Gobert behind him will open him up more to be aggressive and take chances, knowing he has one of the best rim protectors in the league to back him up.

Kuminga has the tools to be a strong defensive player, but has lacked consistency throughout his career, which has hurt his overall reputation and numbers.

Given how successful the team's defense has been under Finch, it’s easy to see the Timberwolves finishing the year as a top-five defense.

They have always played physical, wearing opponents down and making life tough on opposing superstars. That’s not going to change with Ball and Kuminga.

The starting lineup will be fine defensively; the bench will have to prove that they can keep that same intensity and mentality.

Ayo Dosunmu and Trey Lyles aren’t known for their defensive expertise, Bones Hyland has been inconsistent, and Joan Beringer is only in his second season.

The tools are there for all of those players, as are the belief from the head coach and the system; the Timberwolves just have to put it all together.