1995–96 Minnesota Timberwolves season

1995–96 Minnesota Timberwolves season
Head coach
General managerKevin McHale
OwnerGlen Taylor
ArenaTarget Center
Results
Record26–56 (.317)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Midwest)
Conference: 12th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
TelevisionKARE
KLGT
Midwest Sports Channel
RadioKFAN

The 1995–96 Minnesota Timberwolves season was the seventh season for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the National Basketball Association.[1] This season was most memorable when the Timberwolves received the fifth overall pick in the 1995 NBA draft, and selected power forward, and high school basketball star Kevin Garnett.[2][3][4] During the off-season, the team signed free agent All-Star guard Terry Porter,[5][6][7] and re-signed former Timberwolves forward Sam Mitchell.[8][9]

Despite the addition of Garnett, Porter and Mitchell, the Timberwolves got off to a bad start by losing nine of their first ten games of the regular season. After a 6–14 start to the season, head coach Bill Blair was fired and replaced with Flip Saunders,[10][11][12] while Michael Williams was out for the remainder of the season due to a left heel injury after only just nine games.[13][14] At mid-season, the team traded Christian Laettner, and Sean Rooks to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Andrew Lang, and Spud Webb,[15][16][17] and re-signed second-year guard Darrick Martin after a brief stint with the expansion Vancouver Grizzlies.[18] After holding a 13–32 record at the All-Star break,[19] the Timberwolves played around .500 in winning percentage by posting an 8–8 record in March. However, the team lost their final six games of the season, and finished in fifth place in the Midwest Division with a 26–56 record;[20] the Timberwolves missed the NBA playoffs for the seventh consecutive year.[1]

Isaiah Rider averaged 19.6 points per game and led the Timberwolves with 102 three-point field goals, while Tom Gugliotta averaged 16.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game, and Mitchell provided the team with 10.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. In addition, Garnett provided with 10.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, while Porter contributed 9.4 points and 5.5 assists per game, and Webb averaged 9.4 points and 5.9 assists per game in 26 games after the trade. Meanwhile, Lang averaged 8.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game in 20 games, Martin provided with 7.3 points and 4.5 assists per game in 35 games, and Doug West contributed 6.4 points per game.[21]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, Garnett was selected for the NBA Rookie Game, as a member of the Western Conference Rookie team;[22][23] he also finished in sixth place in Rookie of the Year voting.[24][25] The Timberwolves finished 26th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 585,669 at the Target Center during the regular season, which was the fourth-lowest in the league.[21][26]

Following the season, Rider, who dealt with off-the-court troubles, was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers,[27][28][29] while Lang was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks,[30] Martin signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Clippers,[31][18] and Webb was released to free agency.

Offseason

NBA draft

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 5 Kevin Garnett SF/PF  United States
2 48 Mark Davis SG/SF  United States Texas Tech
2 49 Jerome Allen PG  United States Pennsylvania

Kevin Garnett

In Garnett's rookie season, the Timberwolves were in the midst of a transition phase; they replaced Bill Blair with Flip Saunders as head coach early in the season and made several trades. Garnett initially came off the bench in his rookie year, but moved into the starting lineup soon after Saunders became head coach.

In his rookie year, Garnett and fellow newcomer Tom Gugliotta carried the scoring load. Garnett averaged 10.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game and was voted into the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

Despite having some promising players, the Timberwolves suffered through their seventh consecutive sub-30 win season and failed to make the playoffs. At the time Garnett was the youngest NBA player in history at 19 years and 11 months of age.

Roster

1995–96 Minnesota Timberwolves roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
G 53 Jerome Allen 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 184 lb (83 kg) –– Penn
F 33 Marques Bragg 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) –– Providence
F 7 Mark Davis 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) –– Texas Tech
F 21 Kevin Garnett 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) –– Farragut Academy (IL)
F 24 Tom Gugliotta 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) –– NC State
C 28 Andrew Lang 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 245 lb (111 kg) –– Arkansas
G 15 Darrick Martin 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 170 lb (77 kg) –– UCLA
F 42 Sam Mitchell 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) –– Mercer
G 30 Terry Porter 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) –– UW–Stevens Point
G 34 Isaiah Rider 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) –– UNLV
C 40 Eric Riley 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 245 lb (111 kg) –– Michigan
G 4 Spud Webb 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) 133 lb (60 kg) –– NC State
G 5 Doug West 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) –– Villanova
G 4 Micheal Williams 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) –– Baylor
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-San Antonio Spurs5923.720–33–826–1519–5
x-Utah Jazz5527.671434–721–2014–10
x-Houston Rockets4834.5851127–1421–2015–9
Denver Nuggets3547.4272424–1711–3013–11
Minnesota Timberwolves2656.3173317–249–3210–14
Dallas Mavericks2656.3173316–2510–3110–14
Vancouver Grizzlies1567.1834410–315–363–21
Western Conference
# Team W L PCT GB GP
1 c-Seattle SuperSonics *6418.780–82
2 y-San Antonio Spurs *5923.720582
3 x-Utah Jazz5527.671982
4 x-Los Angeles Lakers5329.6461182
5 x-Houston Rockets4834.5851682
6 x-Portland Trail Blazers4438.5372082
7 x-Phoenix Suns4141.5002382
8 x-Sacramento Kings3943.4762582
9 Golden State Warriors3646.4392882
10 Denver Nuggets3547.4272982
11 Los Angeles Clippers2953.3543582
12 Minnesota Timberwolves2656.3173882
13 Dallas Mavericks2656.3173882
14 Vancouver Grizzlies1567.1834982

Player statistics

Ragular season

Player POS GP GS MP REB AST STL BLK PTS MPG RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Terry PorterPG 82402,072212452891577325.32.65.51.1.29.4
Kevin GarnettSF 80432,2935011458613183528.76.31.81.11.610.4
Tom GugliottaPF 78782,835690238139961,26136.38.83.11.81.216.2
Sam MitchellSF 78422,14533974492684427.54.3.9.6.310.8
Isaiah RiderSG 75682,59430921348231,47034.64.12.8.6.319.6
Doug WestSG 73161,639161119301746522.52.21.6.4.26.4
Mark DavisSF 57057112547402218810.02.2.8.7.43.3
Marques BraggPF 5303697981781317.01.5.2.3.22.5
Sean Rooks†C 49790220438192833118.44.2.8.4.66.8
Christian Laettner†C 44441,518302129404379234.56.92.9.91.018.0
Jerome AllenSG 41036225492151088.8.61.2.5.12.6
Darrick Martin†PG 35167474415626225421.31.34.5.7.17.3
Spud Webb†PG 26216454015425524424.81.55.91.0.29.4
Eric RileyC 25103107658169212.43.0.2.3.63.7
Andrew Lang†C 2018550121374117527.56.1.2.42.18.8
Micheal WilliamsPG 971892331535521.02.63.4.6.36.1
Charles SmithPG 8039561064.9.6.8.1.0.8
  • † Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Timberwolves only.

Awards and honors

References

  1. 1 2 "Minnesota Timberwolves". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved August 8, 2026.
  2. ↑ Wise, Mike (June 29, 1995). "PRO BASKETBALL; Underclassmen Rule Atop N.B.A. Draft Board". The New York Times. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  3. ↑ Heisler, Mark (June 29, 1995). "NBA Is a Young Man's Game: Draft: Smith, McDyess, Stackhouse, Wallace and Garnett Lead the Way". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  4. ↑ "1995 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Timberwolves Sign Free Agent Porter". The Register-Guard. News Service Reports. October 15, 1995. p. 2F. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  6. ↑ Smith, Sam (October 15, 1995). "Rookies Provide Proviso Influence". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  7. ↑ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; McHale Moves to Improve Timberwolves". The New York Times. October 17, 1995. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  8. ↑ "NBA Locks Out Refs After Pledge Rejected". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. September 30, 1995. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  9. ↑ "NBA Off-Season Transactions". United Press International. October 5, 1995. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  10. ↑ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Minnesota Throws Coach to the Wolves". The New York Times. December 19, 1995. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  11. ↑ "At 6-14, Timberwolves Fire Blair as Coach". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. December 19, 1995. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Another Year, Another Firing: Timberwolves Dump Blair". Chicago Tribune. December 19, 1995. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  13. ↑ "PLUS: BASKETBALL; Williams Cleared". The New York Times. Associated Press. September 26, 1997. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Timberwolves' Williams Finally Returns". United Press International. December 12, 1997. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Laettner, Rooks Traded to Hawks". United Press International. February 22, 1996. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  16. ↑ Brown, Clifton (February 23, 1996). "PRO BASKETBALL; On Deadline, Riley Makes Bold Moves". The New York Times. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Hardaway Heads for the Heat in Trade". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 23, 1996. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  18. 1 2 Baker, Chris (February 11, 1997). "He's Tiny, But His Presence Is Huge". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  19. ↑ "NBA Games Played on February 8, 1996". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  20. ↑ "1995–96 Minnesota Timberwolves Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  21. 1 2 "1995–96 Minnesota Timberwolves Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Pro Basketball". The Gainesville Sun. February 10, 1996. p. 15. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  23. ↑ "1996 NBA Rising Stars: East 94, West 92". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Stoudamire Named Top Rookie After Lukewarm NBA Reception". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 16, 1996. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  25. ↑ "1995–96 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  26. ↑ "1995–96 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  27. ↑ "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Rider, Then Anderson, Join the Trail Blazers". The New York Times. July 24, 1996. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Portland Gets Rider, Signs Anderson". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. July 24, 1996. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  29. ↑ "Rider, Anderson to Blazers". Tampa Bay Times. July 24, 1996. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  30. ↑ "Bucks Acquire Andrew Lang from Timberwolves". Associated Press. July 11, 1996. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  31. ↑ Baker, Chris (September 20, 1996). "Clippers Sign Former Bruin". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.