As personnel shifts, doubt Wolves’ defense at your own peril

LaMelo Ball was greeted with a message from the coaching staff upon his arrival in Minnesota. Hey man, we play D around here, Wolves defensive coordinator Elston Turner recalled. We let him know. Turner and Co. have been quite pleased with the point guard s efforts on that end of the floor throughout camp. The Wolves see Ball s length as a major potential asset on that end of the floor. But the point was clear: Defense is not optional in this organization. It has been that way throughout Turner s tenure. Minnesota finished 28th – third to last – in defensive rating in the 2020-21 season. The Wolves brought on Turner to run the defense in the ensuing offseason. Since then, their defensive ranks by season are as follows: 2021-22: 13th 2022-23: 10th 2023-24: 1st 2024-25: 6th 2025-26: 8th It s starting to be a little bit of our tradition, our culture, Turner said. That s what we do. It hasn t formed by accident. The Timb