Ex-Cats

Kentucky’s Rob Dillingham chosen 8th overall in NBA draft by Spurs, traded to Timberwolves

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Kentucky basketball at the 2024 NBA draft

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Former Kentucky basketball star Rob Dillingham was chosen by the San Antonio Spurs with the eighth overall pick in the NBA draft on Wednesday night in Brooklyn, New York. But he’s headed to the Minnesota Timberwolves via a trade, according to ESPN reports.

NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Wolves traded a 2031 unprotected first-round pick and a protected 2030 pick swap to the Spurs for Dillingham.

Dillingham was the second former Wildcat selected, following Reed Sheppard at No. 3 to the Houston Rockets. Other draft-eligible players from last season’s UK roster include Justin Edwards, Antonio Reeves and Tre Mitchell.

The 6-foot-3 guard from Hickory, North Carolina, averaged 15.2 points — second on the team behind fifth-year senior Antonio Reeves — and 3.9 assists (second behind fellow freshman Reed Sheppard) while playing 23.3 minutes and making one start in 32 games in his lone season at Kentucky.

SEC coaches voted Dillingham as the league’s Sixth Man of the Year, and he was one of eight players named to the conference’s All-Freshman Team, joining Sheppard and fellow UK guard D.J. Wagner in that group.

Jun 26, 2024; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Rob Dillingham shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected in the first round by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2024 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Former Kentucky star Rob Dillingham shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected in the first round by the San Antonio Spurs. He was later traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Brad Penner USA TODAY NETWORK
Rob Dillingham was chosen as the SEC Sixth Man of the Year by the league’s coaches.
Rob Dillingham was chosen as the SEC Sixth Man of the Year by the league’s coaches. Silas Walker Herald-Leader
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This story was originally published June 26, 2024 at 9:02 PM.

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Kentucky basketball at the 2024 NBA draft

Click below to view more coverage from the Lexington Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com from the 2024 NBA draft in New York.