Jonathan Kuminga is helping the Timberwolves' defense reach another level

Since trading for Rudy Gobert in 2022, the Minnesota Timberwolves have had a strong defensive identity. Likewise, they've been a top defense in each season with Gobert. However, since the 2023-24 season, in which they finished first in defensive rating, the Wolves haven't been able to reach these top-tier heights.

Thankfully, the Wolves' defense is back to being a true juggernaut, as they once again rank first in the league in defensive rating per Cleaning the Glass. And Jonathan Kuminga has helped them level up. Despite the Wolves always having a successful defense, they've never had a high-end forward stopper. Karl-Anthony Towns wasn't quick enough to hang with star forwards. Ditto for…