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Texas Tech basketball alums: Breaking down Jarrett Culver’s rookie season

By Matthew Conner

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 01: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dunks over Robin Lopez #42 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at Fiserv Forum on January 01, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 01: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dunks over Robin Lopez #42 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at Fiserv Forum on January 01, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Jarrett Culver #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots the ball (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
Jarrett Culver #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots the ball (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Culver was not able to score efficiency

When Jarrett Culver was taken at No. 6 in the 2019 NBA Draft, many wondered if he was going to be able to score efficiently enough to live up to that lofty draft status and be a star at the NBA level.  Thus far, he’s still yet to prove those doubters wrong.

In fact, he was woefully inefficient when it came to getting his points this season.  According to Rookie Wire, Culver is just one of 15 rookies to have played over 500 minutes in a season and shoot below 50% at the free-throw line and 30% from 3-point range.

It is that first stat that is the most puzzling.  He shot just 46.2% from the line, which is down from the 70.7% he shot as a sophomore at Texas Tech in 2018-19.

One might believe that the free-throw line is the one element of basketball that doesn’t change from the college game to the NBA.  That’s because, at the line, no one is playing defense on Culver nor has the line moved back from where it is at the college game as is the case with the 3-point arc.

So the only obvious explanation for Culver’s woes in that regard might be the increased physicality of the NBA game, which might have taken a greater roll on the rookie than we expected.  Also, don’t forget that for some of this season, Culver was asked to play the point guard role, which placed a higher burden on him than he had grown accustomed to as his career got underway.

No player on the T-Wolves’ roster played more games than Culver, who missed only one game this year.  And among players that played at least 30 games for Minnesota, Culver had the fifth-highest usage rate, which is the percentage of team possessions that end with a player either shooting the ball, handing out an assist, or turning the ball over.  Culver’s rate was 19.1%.

Hopefully, he will be more prepared for the rigors of the professional game by the time next season rolls around and that will help him be a better 3-point and free-throw shooter.  Also, if the team has better luck in the health department and stars like Karl Anthony Townes and Jeff Teague can play a full year, Culver can slide back into the role the T-Wolves envisioned for him, which will also make him a more efficient player.

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