Rob Dillingham acknowledged that inconsistent playing time with the Minnesota Timberwolves affected his confidence, as he exceeded 20 minutes in a game only once this season.
The limited opportunities made it difficult to stay assured in his development.
“I feel like if you’re human, you definitely gonna second-guess (yourself) if you working hard at something every day, and then you don’t really get an opportunity,” he said.
“You start to question, like, dang, am I really good at basketball?”
Since being traded to the Chicago Bulls, Dillingham has found a more supportive environment.
With the team shifting toward a rebuild after moving several veterans, he has received more consistent minutes and greater patience to develop, already playing 20-plus minutes eight times in his first 11 games with Chicago.
“They’re building me up,” Dillingham said of the Bulls’ coaching staff.
“It’s more like I can mess up, and they teach me after I mess up, what not to do, why not to do this. … I get to actually perform and learn and watch film here and watch where I play.”
Dillingham also said communication has improved compared to his time in Minnesota, where he felt messaging from head coach Chris Finch and his staff could be unclear.
He credits Bulls head coach Billy Donovan for providing consistent guidance, particularly regarding decision-making and overall growth.
“When I know what you want from me or what I need to do, then it’s easier for me to help the team,” Dillingham told The Athletic.
“If I’m guessing, then it’s hard. And I feel like since I’ve been here, (Donovan) has done a great job just communicating to me, telling me what he feels like I can do to stay in the league and be a force in the league.”
Rob Dillingham felt intense pressure with the Timberwolves: https://t.co/eZ0EfwYCEc
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) March 9, 2026
