Will Barton is taking the next step in his coaching career after spending last season working with Minnesota’s G League affiliate.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are reportedly promoting former NBA wing Will Barton to their coaching staff.
Barton will join Minnesota in a player development role this season, according to Charlie Walton. Barton worked as an assistant coach with the Iowa Wolves, Minnesota’s G League affiliate, last season and also served on the Timberwolves’ coaching staff during NBA Summer League.
The move represents another step in Barton’s transition from an 11-year NBA playing career to coaching. His experience as a starter, reserve and scorer off the bench should give him a useful perspective when working with Minnesota’s players.
Barton brings extensive NBA experience
Barton was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 40th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft after spending two seasons at Memphis.
His career took off after Portland traded him to the Denver Nuggets during the 2014-15 season. Barton became an important member of Denver’s rotation because of his scoring, shot creation and ability to handle multiple responsibilities on the wing.
The Baltimore native spent parts of eight seasons with the Nuggets. In March 2022, he surpassed J.R. Smith to become Denver’s career leader in made 3-pointers, although Nikola Jokić has since moved ahead of him.
Barton also played for the Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors. He finished his NBA career with averages of 11.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists across 679 regular-season games, according to Basketball Reference.
He continued playing professionally overseas and in Puerto Rico before announcing his retirement in April 2025. Barton then joined Iowa’s staff for the 2025-26 season, allowing him to begin learning the developmental side of coaching within the Timberwolves’ organization
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Mar 26, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton (5) celebrates after a score against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the fourth quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY SportsA natural progression in Minnesota
Barton’s promotion continues a period of change on coach Chris Finch’s staff. Former lead assistant Micah Nori left Minnesota this offseason after being hired as the Portland Trail Blazers’ head coach.
Minnesota has reached the playoffs in five consecutive seasons, including consecutive Western Conference finals appearances in 2024 and 2025. The Timberwolves finished 49-33 last season before defeating the Denver Nuggets in the first round and losing to the San Antonio Spurs in six games in the conference semifinals.
Mar 22, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; DenverNuggetsforward WillBarton(5) dribbles the ball up court in the third quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY SportsPlayer development will remain important as Minnesota attempts to maintain that standard around Anthony Edwards while integrating younger players into meaningful roles.
Barton understands the challenge of earning minutes as a second-round pick and eventually developing into a dependable NBA starter. He also experienced the adjustment required to remain effective as his role changed later in his career.
That background should make Barton a relatable resource for players at different stages of their development. After spending a year learning in Iowa and working with Minnesota’s Summer League roster, he now has an opportunity to apply those lessons at the NBA level.
