A historic postseason run for the Minnesota Timberwolves is helping to grow the yoouth basketball scene not only in the Twin Cities, but all across the state of Minnesota.
"You can see there is major excitement right now," said Legacy Hoops Academy General Manager Demondi Johnson. "I feel like college basketball, obviously from the women and men's side, have always had an imprint on youth sports, especially basketball. Seeing the Timberwolves succeed takes it to another level. It's now hit the cities and it's impacting the excitement around basketball in general."
Excitement surrounding the Timberwolves grew throughout the regular season and carried into the postseason as the team swept the Phoenix Suns 4-0 to advance to the Western Conference semifinals. After the first round, the team faced the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets, ultimately forcing a game 7 in Denver.
A 98 to 90 win over Denver secured Minnesota's spot in the Western Conference finals for only the second-time ever and the first time in twenty years.
"Whenever you see success in anything, it generates interest," Johnson said. "So when you see football or basketball, people get more intrigued about the sport and how things are working. I feel like because of the success from the Timberwolves, it's getting more kids excited about going to games which then in-turn gets kids excited about pursuing the game."
While the impact on Legacy Hoops isn't yet known in terms of new clients, Johnson said the conversation inside their gyms has changed.
"I can tell there's an excitement. You've got kids coming in everyday asking about the Wolves and wondering who is going to win. People are so much more invested with basketball."
The Growth of Women's Basketball
From Caitlin Clark to Paige Bueckers and beyond, Johnson says there's been a shift when it comes to women's basketball and the impact it's having on basketball players that come through the Legacy Hoops doors.
"Kids are dressing up like some of these college basketball players and professionals," he said. "They're trying to shoot like them and they're emulating them in every way. Even the way the girls are playing the game. They're focusing on their looks, you can just see a change in their presence. They're professional from the way they tie their shoes, the arm sleeves they're wearing and the braces. You can see changes there as well."
The continued growth and popularity of women's basketball has translated to on-court changes as well.
"We're in this time where basketball is changing rapidly. The game has become more about spacing, especially at the pro level. When you're teaching kids how to play, you're focusing on fundamentals like footwork. I think because the game has changed so much, because it is a lot about offense especially at the higher levels, not to diminish defense, but it's the way the game is being marketed. The skill is changing and now, traditional sometimes isn't the way to go all the time. It depends on who you are working with."
The game's growth has changed training in some ways.
"Sometimes we're focusing on fundamental details that have always been universal," Johnson said. "There are times where when you're developing kids, not just training, but developing and expanding games, you take a non-traditional approach. You're letting kids freestyle their moves and have some creativity. As a trainer and developer, you're being more creative in the drills that you do. You kind of have to match that a little bit and be a little flexible in the way you develop."
Legacy Hoops offers a number of camps, clinics, leagues, and tournaments for all ages and skill levels at a pair of locations in Hopkins and Woodbury.