Timberwolves rookie Zach LaVine had a message for people who doubt whether Apple Valley native Tyus Jones is ready for the NBA.

“I’m all for him,” LaVine said Wednesday, hours after Jones declared he was leaving Duke after one season to enter the NBA draft.

“I came out (after) my freshman year, and there were a lot of critics telling me I wasn’t ready. I hope he has the same mentality as me to try to prove them wrong — make them sound dumb.”

The Wolves selected LaVine, who started only one game at UCLA, with the 13th pick in the 2014 draft. Jones, named most outstanding player in the Final Four, is slotted to go in the mid- to late first round on June 26.

LaVine, 20, has averaged 10.0 points, 3.5 assists and 2.5 turnovers in 76 games this season. He set the Wolves’ rookie single-game scoring record Saturday with 37 points, including six three-pointers. Christian Laettner set the previous mark with 35 points in 1992.

LaVine believes he should be named to the NBA’s all-rookie first team.

“I’m a cocky person; I always think I should be there,” he said. “That’s up to the media to decide, and I will be fine with whatever it is because I will be in the gym working. I know where I want my career to be.”

LaVine said he will split the offeseason between his hometown north of Seattle and Los Angeles. He said he might work out with draft prospects at Target Center in early June, and he likely will play in the NBA’s Las Vegas summer league in July.

“I feel like I will play summer league, of course,” LaVine said. “I thought that was a lot of fun.”

LaVine said his father, Paul, put a gym, complete with weightlifting equipment, in the family’s home. “My dad is crazy; he’s got all these kinds of machines to get me stronger,” he said. “I will see if I can contain him.”

LaVine said his top goal is to get stronger and put some weight on his sinewy 6-foot-5, 183-pound frame.

“Some of that is probably just eating (right) and my body naturally maturing, and then actually just lifting (weights),” LaVine said. “I’ve never really actually lifted, so that’s the big key.”

Follow Andy Greder at twitter.com/twolvesnow.