LaMelo Ball Gets Heavy Praise After Preseason Debut With Timberwolves

The first basket of the Minnesota Timberwolves preseason came 10 seconds into Monday's game in Milwaukee, when point guard LaMelo Ball found forward Jonathan Kuminga for a layup.

His new teammates and coaches liked a lot of what came after that, too, as Minnesota beat the Milwaukee Bucks 116-97 at Fiserv Forum.

Ball started next to guard Anthony Edwards, forward Jaden McDaniels, Kuminga and center Rudy Gobert, and he sat the whole second half.

He finished with 11 points on 3-of-6 shooting, made two of his five threes and all three of his free throws, and added four rebounds, three assists and a steal in 17 minutes.

Two of those assists went to Edwards, and the two guards put up 25 points between them as the Wolves went into halftime up 60-48.

What stood out more than the box score was how comfortable Ball looked running a group that only came together this summer, and Edwards noticed it right away when he talked to reporters after the game.

"He plays like his hair is on fire. He gets everybody involved. He talked more than I expected throughout the game," Edwards said.

Edwards was fired up about the energy and the talking, but head coach Chris Finch pointed to the other end of the floor.

Finch praised Ball's effort and said he was playing smart positional defense, using his length well and learning how to work next to Gobert, according to comments relayed from The Athletic.

He added that he has been very pleased with that part of Ball's game.

Coming from Finch, that is a big deal, because defense was the main worry when Minnesota traded for Ball.

The Wolves got him in a four-team deal that became official on July 10, and they sent a 2033 first-round pick and more to Charlotte to make it happen.

One scout even cast doubt on the fit before camp started.

It was one preseason half, so nobody should get carried away, but it was a great first look.

Ball averaged 20.1 points and 7.1 assists for the Hornets last season, so the scoring and passing were never the question.

Minnesota wanted to see him share the ball with Edwards and compete on defense next to Gobert, and he gave them that right away.

He is going to have to carry a lot this year, since guard Donte DiVincenzo tore his right Achilles in the playoffs and is expected to miss most of the season.

That leaves Ball as the main ball handler, and how fast he clicks with Edwards could decide how good this team is.

Finch has already said he wants Ball to cut down on bad shots, so his shot choices are what I will watch next, and the rest of the opener gave the coaches plenty to work with.

Minnesota faces the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa, and then visits the Miami Heat on Saturday.

The regular season opens on Oct. 21 in Miami, and if Ball keeps bringing this same fire, the Wolves could have one of the most fun backcourts in the Western Conference.