Editor's Note: Minnesota Timberwolves rookie point guard Tyus Jones has played four games for the Idaho Stampede since his arrival in the D-League. He’s putting up some impressive numbers, averaging 23.3 points, five assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. He’s shooting 46.2 percent from the field, 42.4 percent from the 3-point line and 100 percent from the free-throw line.
Our Kyle Ratke was able to chat with him on Dec. 15 about his journey so far in the D-League and when we can expect him back in a Wolves uniform.
KR: What has the experience over the last week and a half or two weeks been like for you?
TJ: It’s been a good experience. Just getting a chance to play and getting my game legs back and kind of getting back there in game situations has been good. I’m just trying to make the most of it.
KR: Is the NBA lifestyle and the D-League lifestyle a little bit different?
TJ: Yeah, it’s a lot different.
KR: You’ve been playing 36 minutes a night in the D-League after getting virtually no game minutes with the Wolves – just practice time. Is some real game time something you think you needed?
TJ: I think it’s definitely something that after some practice time and of watching to try to go out there and implement it in a game situation. Just kind of see where I’m at. I think it’s something that I definitely needed.
KR: You’ve had plenty of success so far with Idaho. Obviously you’re a first-round pick, so the pressure to do well is already there, but it’s kind of a pressure-filled situation to perform well, right? Being you're such a high-profile player and all.
TJ: Obviously my teammates down here have made me comfortable along with the coaching staff, but at the same time it’s just a little bit of everything as far as watching at the NBA level and watching and seeing what you need to do as a point guard. And then the individual work that I do every day and working on pick and roll reads and shots out of the pick and roll and stuff like that has really been helping me.
KR: Were you able to talk with Shabazz (Muhammad) at all before going to the D-League? I know that’s something that helped him a lot during his rookie season.
TJ: I talked to him before I came down here because I knew he was in kind of the same situation in his rookie year. He’s helped me out.
KR: What advice did he give you?
TJ: He pretty much told me to go down there and kill. That was his advice to me. Just go down there and play with confidence and try to use what you’re learning at the NBA level down there. Try to implement it and try to see where you’re at. He told me when he went down his rookie year, he just wanted to go down and dominate. So, he told me to go down there and play my game and play well.
KR: Milt (Newton) stressed to media members that this wasn’t a demotion. Did he have to convince you of that or were you aware that this was for the greater good, development wise?
TJ: For sure, definitely. It’s an opportunity to get better and to improve and to get my game legs back. It’s definitely not a demotion to come down here for a few games just to get some run in. Not a demotion at all.
KR: Coach Dean Cooper (Idaho’s coach) used to be an assistant coach with the Wolves, but the Stampede aren’t affiliated with the Wolves. Is it a little tricky going into a situation where the goal isn’t to implement Minnesota’s principles on offense or defense?
TJ: It’s been a little difficult picking up the schemes and different sets and stuff like that, but the coaching staff and my teammates down here have been really helpful and patient with me, so it hasn’t been too tough at all.
KR: Have you discussed when you’ll be back with the Wolves?
TJ: I have three more games this week, Tuesday night, Friday and Saturday and that’s supposed to be my last one.