Terrence Shannon Jr. and Jeremiah Fears Get Chippy in NBA Summer League

Despite entering only his second NBA season, Terrence Shannon Jr. is considered the veteran presence for the Minnesota Timberwolves Summer League team due to his significant high-level experience, including playing in the 2025 Western Conference Finals. This role makes him the team's protector.

During a Summer League game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday, Pelicans rookie Jeremiah Fears (a former Illinois commit) shoved Timberwolves first-round pick Joan Beringer. Shannon took exception to this action against his teammate.

Shannon retaliated by forcefully shoving the significantly lighter and younger Fears (18 years old, 183 lbs) across the lane. This led to a brief altercation involving jawing between the two players, with teammates stepping in to hold them back. Both players eventually walked away from the incident.

In a postgame interview, Shannon explained his actions, stating he had to defend Beringer because "Joan ain’t gonna say nothing back." He emphasized, "I gotta have my boy's back... If I see something I ain’t gonna let it slide." However, Shannon also clarified there was no lingering animosity, referring to Fears as "my boy."