National Basketball Association

Timberwolves Training Camp: Day Three

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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With Day Three of Timberwolves training camp comes another round of interviews with Tom Thibodeau and a few of his players.

The Wolves completed their first three days of two-a-days as training camp continued on Thursday.

Brandon Rush talked to the media after practice and was visibly exhausted, mentioning the length of practice multiple times in the interview and saying that “even the young guys” were losing their legs towards the end of the session.

It’s not a surprise, of course. Tom Thibodeau is well-known for his long, intense practices. In fact, the team will have Friday off before getting back on the floor on Saturday.

Wolves radio voice Alan Horton hosted another two-and-a-half minute recap of Day Three of training camp, touching on Rush’s perspective of practice, plus Cole Aldrich‘s take on guarding Karl-Anthony Towns on a consistent basis.

Tom Thibodeau talked for eight-plus minutes regarding practice and was asked about a bevy of things, including regarding the team’s depth, as well as some questions on individual players such as Nemanja Bjelica and Towns. That interview can be found on the Timberwolves.com home page.

Also, Towns gets it. He knows what he must do, as KG apparently told him. And now, this, from the Timberwolves website once again.

“If you want to be great, there are so many talented players who have come in and out the league,” Towns said. “But only a few of them are remembered as being great. It’s because they were willing to say they don’t know. And I’m willing to say that I don’t know everything. I do not know how it is to be a great player, to be a Hall of Famer. I want to learn.”

Ladies and gentlemen, your weekly reminder that Towns is a gem.

Also, Kent Youngblood at the Star Tribune wrote about the Wolves pair of 37 year-old, non-roster invitees that are in camp, Rasual Butler and John Lucas III.

The article includes quotes from both players, citing Tom Thibodeau as the reason they chose to join the Timberwolves for training camp. It also includes Thibodeau listing reasons for bringing in the additional veterans.

Smart money would suggest that Butler has the best chance at making the roster — Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine, Brandon Rush, and Shabazz Muhammad are the only true wings, while Ricky Rubio, Kris Dunn, and Tyus Jones have the point guard position in a decent spot.

Of course, there isn’t much experience at all behind Rubio, so perhaps the most likely situation is that Adreian Payne is waived and both Butler and Lucas III make the team. As long as ownership approves such a move, I wouldn’t put it past Thibodeau.

We’ll be back on Friday with another team season series preview, plus another player preview and more training camp coverage.