Zyon Pullin’s next step is not just about getting reps in summer league. It is about proving that his first NBA contract can turn into something more stable. The 25-year-old Timberwolves guard signed a two-way deal on March 1, and while that got him into the organization, it did not lock in his future. In a system where teams can waive and replace players from their three two-way slots before and during the season, Pullin is still competing for one of those limited places.
That makes this summer especially important. Pullin will play his first summer league with the Wolves after spending much of the year starting for the Iowa Wolves in the G League. His path to Minnesota was not flashy — he went undrafted in 2024, then worked his way into the conversation with steady production in Iowa — but it has been effective. In November, he was named the G League player of the month, and his final stretch offered another reminder of why the Timberwolves gave him a look.
In the regular-season finale, Pullin played 31 minutes and scored 19 points on 8-for-12 shooting, while also adding three rebounds and five assists. For a 6-foot-4 guard trying to show he belongs in the NBA, that kind of all-around line matters because it reflects more than one skill. He can handle the ball, create for others and score efficiently enough to keep pressure on a defense. That is the profile Minnesota is evaluating now, not just the box score from one game.
The bigger argument for Pullin is that his year in the G League showed tangible development. Across five games in one key sample from the season, the numbers pointed to a guard who was producing and also carrying responsibility. He finished with 137 assists and 48 turnovers, which is the kind of ratio that suggests real playmaking volume rather than empty usage. For a player trying to move from depth option to dependable NBA piece, that balance is exactly what matters.
What Pullin wants to clean up
Pullin sounded like a player focused less on spotlight moments than on the details that keep a roster spot. He said he wants to “keep learning” and “keep growing,” while also trying to “sharpen up” his game. More specifically, he said he believes he has had good player development in Iowa and now wants to “clean everything up” while sharpening the offensive and defensive parts of his game.
That is the right frame for a player in his position. Summer league is often treated like a showcase, but for Pullin it is also an audit. The Timberwolves already know he can survive a G League workload and contribute in stretches. What they still need to know is whether he can do enough of the little things well enough, consistently enough, to stay on an NBA contract when next season begins.
And that is the part that makes his situation so interesting. Pullin is on a two-way contract, but his spot is not set in stone. He has already made progress simply by getting here. Now he has to show that the next stage of his game is ready, too. For a player who entered the year as an undrafted prospect and ended it with a real chance to stick, that is a meaningful opportunity — and a very real test.
