LaMelo Ball said he has quickly embraced his new surroundings with the Minnesota Timberwolves after joining the team from the Charlotte Hornets during the offseason.
Speaking during Minnesota’s media day on Monday, September 28, Ball said the transition to a new city has been relatively straightforward after moving internationally at a young age.
“Honestly, just blessings, but with the moving and didn’t really have a problem ever since like 15 when I went to Lithuania,” Ball said. “So, yeah, it kind of make life easy.”
Ball said his first impressions of the Timberwolves have been positive, particularly because of the competitiveness he has seen during workouts.
“Just the way we all compete and how everybody just trying their hardest to play,” Ball said. “Love the effort.”
The new Timberwolves guard also highlighted the team’s trip to Paris as an opportunity to strengthen relationships within the group.
“Highlight of the trip? Probably just being with my brothers,” Ball said. “I think just being with everybody and just building that chemistry. I think that was great.”
Ball believes Minnesota’s roster can develop into an aggressive, versatile team capable of playing at a fast pace.
“I think it’s a real dog team,” Ball said. “Like, get after it, loose ball and everything. And like I said, I feel like we can run and gun and the spots is interchangeable. Everybody can hoop over here.”
One of the players Ball has already developed an appreciation for is Rudy Gobert. The veteran center returned to the Timberwolves after missing time, and Ball believes their games can complement each other.
“Yeah, it’s been smooth. I mean, big dude definitely could do a lot. I feel like I could help him a lot. He can help me a lot,” Ball said. “So, I feel like we just going to help each other.”
Ball also praised Gobert’s professionalism, particularly the way he approaches his physical preparation.
“Just the way he’s a good pro. Just the way he take care of his body, the way he eat, he do everything. Just A+,” Ball said.
Ball expects Jaden McDaniels to be another important piece of the team’s new-look group. He highlighted the forward’s combination of size, athleticism, shooting and defense.
“For sure. I mean, just Jaden being that tall, can run, can jump, shoot. I mean, he defends, he really could do everything on the court,” Ball said. “So, that’s a great player right there, and I can’t wait to play with him.”
The 25-year-old guard also said playing fast is natural to him and expects Minnesota to embrace that style.
“Yeah, I mean, all my life that’s I was a runner,” Ball said. “Just always ran, ran heels, ran in the game, pressed all my life. So, we just run.”
Ball said he does not believe he needs to force chemistry with individual teammates, believing it will develop naturally through daily practices and games.
“With my game, it kind of just happens for real,” Ball said. “Just me playing basketball every day and then when we’re running fives and everything, you just see who you mesh with and then it just honestly just connects itself.”
Ball also addressed his expectations for the season, placing a championship run at the top of his priorities.
“Championship run, you obviously always put the best thing at the very top and you just put all the work in and see where it falls from there,” Ball said.
He also praised Anthony Edwards’ potential as a leader, saying leadership does not necessarily require constant communication.
“I think Ant could be a great leader,” Ball said. “But if you just like real good with yourself, you working out every day doing all the right stuff and people could just literally just watch you and see, oh, that’s the right thing to do. That’s leading in itself.”
Ball averaged 20.1 points, 7.1 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 72 games for Charlotte last season. He now joins Edwards and the Timberwolves after the team went 49-33 and reached the Western Conference semifinals in 2025-26.
