Rob Dillingham
{{short description|American basketball player (born 2005)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Rob Dillingham
| image = Rob Dillingham Kentucky v. Kansas.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Dillingham with Kentucky in 2023
| position = Point guard / shooting guard
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lb = 175
| league = NBA
| team = Minnesota Timberwolves
| number = 4
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2005|1|4}}
| birth_place = Hickory, North Carolina, U.S.
| high_school =
- Combine Academy
(Lincolnton, North Carolina) - Overtime Elite
(Atlanta, Georgia)
| college = Kentucky (2023–2024)
| draft_year = 2024
| draft_round = 1
| draft_pick = 8
| draft_team = San Antonio Spurs
| career_start = 2022
| career_end =
| years1 = 2022–2023
| team1 = Cold Hearts
| years2 = {{nbay|2024|start}}–present
| team2 = Minnesota Timberwolves
| years3 = 2025
| team3 = →Iowa Wolves
| highlights =
- Second-team All-SEC (2024)
- SEC Sixth Man of the Year (2024)
- SEC All-Freshman Team (2024)
- {{nowrap|FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship MVP (2021)}}
| medal_templates = {{MedalSport|Men's basketball}}
{{MedalCountry|the {{USA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship}}
{{MedalGold|2021 Mexico|Team}}
}}
Robert Deon Potasi Dillingham (born January 4, 2005) is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats. He was a five-star recruit who previously played professionally for the Cold Hearts and Blue Checks with Karter Knox in Overtime Elite during what would have been his senior year in high school. Dillingham became a guard for Kentucky during the 2023–24 season.{{cite news|first=Kyle|last=Tucker|title=So Kentucky might really be back, huh?|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5142705/2023/12/17/kentucky-win-unc-calipari-dillingham/|work=The Athletic|access-date=April 24, 2024}}
Early life and high school career
Dillingham was born and raised in Hickory, North Carolina.Byerly, Justin. (November 30, 2021). [https://hoopseen.com/news/player/202111/dillingham-set-commit-possible-wolfpack-lock Dillingham Set to Commit, Possible Wolfpack Lock]. HoopSeen. Retrieved January 17, 2022. His father Donald is African American and mother Valaaulia "Lia" Tailele is originally from Samoa.{{cite web|first=Luke|last=Cyphers|title=Kanye West Donda Debacle Divides a Kentucky Hoops Signee's Family|url=https://www.sportico.com/leagues/basketball/2022/kanye-west-donda-academy-basketball-robert-dillingham-father-1234698512/|work=Sportico: The Business of Sports|date=December 16, 2022|access-date=May 30, 2024}} Rob played basketball for Combine Academy in Lincolnton, North Carolina.{{cite magazine|first=Jason|last=Jordan|title=Robert Dillingham's Star is on the Rise|url=https://www.si.com/college/recruiting/basketball/robert-dillingham-combine-academy-point-guard-2023-allen-iverson|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=August 25, 2020|access-date=September 6, 2021}}{{cite web|first=Jeff|last=Siner|title=Combine Academy's Robert Dillingham is more than a scorer|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/high-school/article247115477.html|work=The Charlotte Observer|date=December 21, 2020|access-date=September 6, 2021}} Dillingham emerged as one of the top players in his class by his sophomore season.{{cite web|first=Patrick|last=O'Brien|title=2023 Robert Dillingham is already becoming one of the hottest prospects in his class with college programs|url=https://phenomhoopreport.com/2023-robert-dillingham-is-already-becoming-one-of-the-hottest-prospects-in-his-class-with-college-programs/|work=Phenom Hoop Report|date=August 26, 2020|access-date=September 6, 2021}} As a sophomore, he averaged 21.2 points, 4.9 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game, leading his team to a 29–3 record and a non-association state title. He was named Charlotte Observer Player of the Year.{{cite web|first=Langston Jr.|last=Wertz|title=All-Observer boys basketball: Combine's Robert Dillingham is player of the year|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/high-school/article251329648.html|work=The Charlotte Observer|date=May 12, 2021|access-date=September 6, 2021}} For his junior year, he transferred to Donda Academy, Kanye West's school in Simi Valley, California. For his senior year, he transferred to Overtime Elite in Atlanta, Georgia.
=Recruiting=
Dillingham was considered a five-star recruit by ESPN and Rivals, and a four-star recruit by 247Sports.{{cite web|first=Chapel|last=Fowler|title=Can an unofficial visit keep UNC basketball in the lead for five-star point guard Robert Dillingham?|url=https://www.fayobserver.com/story/sports/college/basketball/2021/06/29/2023-five-star-point-guard-robert-dillingham-unofficially-visiting-unc-basketball-hubert-davis/7787135002/|work=The Fayetteville Observer|date=June 29, 2021|access-date=September 6, 2021}} On December 1, 2021, he committed to playing college basketball for NC State over offers from Memphis, LSU, Kansas and Kentucky. He became the second-highest-ranked recruit in program history, behind Dennis Smith Jr. On March 19, 2022, Dillingham announced his decommitment from NC State and reopened his recruitment.{{cite web|first=Brandon|last=Jenkins|title=Five-star guard Robert Dillingham decommits from NC State|url=https://247sports.com/Article/Robert-Dillingham-decommitment-NC-State-analysis-184758356/|website=247Sports.com|date=March 19, 2022|access-date=March 28, 2022}} On June 24, 2022, Dillingham committed to Kentucky over offers from Louisville, Auburn, and USC. He became Kentucky's second commit in the 2023 recruiting class.{{cite web|first=Brooks|last=Holton|title=Robert Dillingham, top point guard recruit in 2023 class, commits to Kentucky basketball|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/sec/2022/06/25/robert-dillingham-recruiting-kentucky-basketball-commitment-2023-class/7733372001/|work=USA TODAY|date=June 25, 2022|access-date=September 27, 2023}} and went on to average 15.2 points per game.[https://247sports.com/player/rob-dillingham-46103829/.]
{{College Athlete Recruit Start|40=no|collapse=no|year=2023}}
{{College Athlete Recruit Entry
| recruit = Rob Dillingham
| position = PG
| hometown = Hickory, NC
| highschool = Donda Academy (CA)
| feet = 6
| inches = 1
| weight = 170
| 40 =
| commitdate = June 24, 2022
| scout stars =
| rivals stars = 5
| 247 stars = 4
| espn stars = 5
| espn grade = 91
}}
{{College Athlete Recruit End
| 40 =
| year = 2023
| rivals ref title = Kentucky 2023 Basketball Commitments
| scout ref title =
| espn ref title = 2023 Kentucky Wildcats Recruiting Class
| rivals school = kentucky
| scout s =
| espn schoolid = 96
| 247 overall = 21
| rivals overall = 15
| espn overall = 15
| access-date = October 28, 2023
| bball = yes
}}
Professional career
=Cold Hearts (2021–2023)=
On November 3, 2022, Dillingham left Donda Academy after multiple controversies surrounding its founder, Kanye West, and signed with Overtime Elite, a professional basketball league for late-high-school- and early-college-level players.{{cite web|title=Kentucky Recruit Robert Dillingham Leaving Donda Academy for Overtime Elite|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10054524-kentucky-recruit-robert-dillingham-leaving-donda-academy-for-overtime-elite|work=Bleacher Report|access-date=February 21, 2023}} He joined the Overtime Cold Hearts, one of the six teams in the league.{{cite web|title=After becoming the first Overtime Elite player to sign with Kentucky, Rob Dillingham makes OTE debut|url=https://www.zagsblog.com/2022/11/12/after-becoming-the-first-overtime-elite-player-to-sign-with-kentucky-rob-dillingham-makes-ote-debut/|website=ZagsBlog.com|date=November 13, 2022|access-date=February 21, 2023}} Dillingham made his OTE debut for the Cold Hearts on November 11, recording six points, three rebounds and three steals in a 92–84 loss to the YNG Dreamerz.{{cite web|title=YNG Dreamerz Stay Perfect with Win Over Cold Hearts|url=https://overtimeelite.com/articles/e1dd9e44-03b1-44a2-aca3-2a83d2e26e75|work=Overtime Elite|access-date=February 21, 2023}}
=NBA=
After spending one season with the University of Kentucky, Dillingham declared his entry into the 2024 NBA draft and received a green room invite.{{cite web|first=Alex|last=Kirschenbaum|title=Several More Players Invited To Green Room For 2024 Draft|url=https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2024/06/six-more-players-invited-to-green-room-for-2024-draft.html|website=HoopsRumors.com|date=June 14, 2024|access-date=June 26, 2024}}
==Minnesota Timberwolves / Iowa Wolves (2024–present)==
On June 26, 2024, Dillingham was selected with the eighth overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2024 NBA draft; however, immediately on draft night, he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for a 2030 protected first-round pick swap and an unprotected first-round pick in 2031.{{cite web|title=2024 NBA Draft: Every pick and reported trade|url=https://www.nba.com/news/2024-nba-draft-order|website=NBA.com|date=October 10, 2024|access-date=June 27, 2024}}{{cite web|title=San Antonio Spurs Draft Rob Dillingham No. 8 Overall at 2024 NBA Draft|url=https://www.si.com/nba/draft/newsfeed/san-antonio-spurs-draft-rob-dillingham-no-8-overall-at-2024-nba-draft-01j15pxbvnx8|website=SI.com|date=June 27, 2024|access-date=June 27, 2024}} On July 8, he signed with the Timberwolves.{{cite web|title=Timberwolves Sign Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr.|url=https://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/timberwolves-sign-rob-dillingham-and-terrence-shannon-jr|website=NBA.com|date=July 8, 2024|access-date=July 17, 2024}} On January 12, 2025, he was assigned to the Iowa Wolves.{{cite web|title=2024-2025 Iowa Wolves Transaction History|url=https://basketball.realgm.com/gleague/teams/Iowa-Wolves/4/Transaction_History/2025|website=RealGM.com|access-date=January 14, 2025}}
National team career
Dillingham led the United States to a gold medal at the 2021 FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship in Mexico. He was named most valuable player after averaging 15.7 points, 6.2 assists and 3.2 steals per game.{{cite web|title=USA's Dillingham wins U16 MVP, headlines All-Star Five|url=https://www.fiba.basketball/u16americas/2021/news/usa-dillingham-wins-u16-mvp-headlines-all-star-five|website=FIBA.basketball|publisher=FIBA|date=August 30, 2021|access-date=September 6, 2021}} He posted a team-record 31 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals in a 90–75 win against Argentina in the final.{{cite web|first=Jordan|last=Divens|title=High school basketball: Robert Dillingham's 31-point outburst leads USA U16 National Team to seventh consecutive gold|url=https://www.maxpreps.com/news/D0S7-HId8EaLcMPVO21wJw/high-school-basketball--robert-dillinghams-31-point-outburst-leads-usa-u16-national-team-to-seventh-consecutive-gold.htm|work=MaxPreps|date=August 29, 2021|access-date=September 6, 2021}}
Personal life
Dillingham is the son of Valaaulia Tailele and Donald Dillingham. He has two siblings, Pai Tailele and Denzel Dillingham.{{cite web|title=Rob Dillingham|url=https://ukathletics.com/sports/mbball/roster/player/dillinham-rob/|work=UK Athletics|date=July 6, 2023|access-date=July 26, 2024}}
Career statistics
{{NBA player statistics legend}}
=NBA=
==Regular season==
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2024}}
| style="text-align:left;"| Minnesota
| 49 || 1 || 10.5 || .441 || .338 || .533 || 1.0 || 2.0 || .4 || .0 || 4.5
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 49 || 1 || 10.5 || .441 || .338 || .533 || 1.0 || 2.0 || .4 || .0 || 4.5
{{S-end}}
==Playoffs==
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|2025
| style="text-align:left;"|Minnesota
| 3 || 0 || 5.3 || .375 || .500 || .500 || .7 || 2.3 || .0 || .0 || 2.7
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career
| 3 || 0 || 5.3 || .375 || .500 || .500 || .7 || 2.3 || .0 || .0 || 2.7
{{s-end}}
=College=
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{basketballstats|nba=1642265|bbr=d/dilliro01}}
- [https://ukathletics.com/sports/mbball/roster/player/dillinham-rob/ Kentucky Wildcats bio]
- [https://www.usab.com/players/robert-dillingham USA Basketball bio]
{{Minnesota Timberwolves current roster}}
{{2024 NBA draft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dillingham, Rob}}
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:American sportspeople of Samoan descent
Category:Basketball players from North Carolina
Category:Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball players
Category:Minnesota Timberwolves players
Category:Overtime Elite players