1996–97 Minnesota Timberwolves season

The 1996–97 NBA season was the eighth season for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the National Basketball Association.^[1] The Timberwolves received the fifth overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft, and selected shooting guard Ray Allen from the University of Connecticut, but soon traded him to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for point guard, and top draft pick Stephon Marbury out of Georgia Tech University.^[2][3][4] The team also acquired James Robinson from the Portland Trail Blazers,^[5][6] and second-year center Cherokee Parks from the Dallas Mavericks,^[7][8] while signing free agents, rookie center Dean Garrett,^[9] second-year guard Chris Carr, and Stojko Vrankovic during the off-season.^[10] However, Michael Williams would miss the entire regular season due to a strained plantar fascia in his left heel.^[11][12]

1996–97 Minnesota Timberwolves season
Head coach	Flip Saunders
General manager	Kevin McHale
Owner(s)	Glen Taylor
Arena	Target Center
Results
Record	40–42 (.488)
Place	Division: 3rd (Midwest) Conference: 6th (Western)
Playoff finish	First round (lost to Rockets 0–3)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	KARE KLGT-TV Midwest Sports Channel
Radio	KFAN
< 1995–96 1997–98 >

After a 7–8 start to the regular season, the Timberwolves lost nine of their next ten games, but then played around .500 basketball as the season progressed, holding a 23–25 record at the All-Star break.^[13] The Timberwolves showed improvement by finishing in third place in the Midwest Division with a 40–42 record, which was below .500 in winning percentage, but still good enough to earn the sixth seed in the Western Conference, as the team qualified for their first ever NBA playoff appearance.^[14]

Tom Gugliotta led the team with 20.6 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game, while second-year star Kevin Garnett showed improvement averaging 17.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 2.1 blocks per game, and Marbury provided the team with 15.8 points and 7.8 assists per game, and contributed 102 three-point field goals, playing in 67 games due to ankle and thigh injuries,^[15][16][17] as he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. In addition, Sam Mitchell played a sixth man role off the bench, averaging 9.3 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, while Garrett provided with 8.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, and Doug West contributed 7.8 points per game. Off the bench, Robinson contributed 8.3 points per game and 102 three-point field goals, and Terry Porter provided with 6.9 points and 3.6 assists per game.^[18]

Gugliotta and Garnett were both selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game in Cleveland, Ohio, which was Garnett's first ever All-Star appearance.^[19][20][21] Gugliotta finished tied in seventeenth place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Garnett finished in eighth place in Most Improved Player voting, while Gugliotta finished tied in ninth place;^[22] Marbury finished in second place in Rookie of the Year voting behind Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers,^[23][22] and head coach Flip Saunders finished tied in sixth place in Coach of the Year voting.^[22]

However, in the Western Conference First Round of the 1997 NBA playoffs, the Timberwolves were swept by the Houston Rockets in three straight games.^[24][25][26] Following the season, Garrett signed as a free agent with the Denver Nuggets,^[27][28][9] while Robinson signed with the Los Angeles Clippers,^[29][30] and Vrankovic was traded to the Clippers.^[31][32]

For the season, the Timberwolves revealed a new primary logo of a gray wolf with pine trees,^[33] and changed their uniforms adding dark blue and black to their color scheme.^[34][35] Their primary logo and uniforms both remained in use until 2008.

Draft picks

Main article: 1996 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	5	Ray Allen	SG	United States	Connecticut

Roster

1996–97 Minnesota Timberwolves roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From G 43 Chris Carr 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 207 lb (94 kg) 1974–03–12 Southern Illinois F 17 Bill Curley  (IN) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1972–05–29 Boston College F 21 Kevin Garnett 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1976–05–19 Farragut Academy HS (IL) C 22 Dean Garrett 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1966–11–27 Indiana F 24 Tom Gugliotta 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1969–12–19 NC State G 10 Shane Heal 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1970–09–06 Upper Yarra Secondary College (HS) G 31 Reggie Jordan 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1968–01–26 New Mexico State G 3 Stephon Marbury 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1977–02–20 Georgia Tech F 42 Sam Mitchell 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1963–09–02 Mercer C 44 Cherokee Parks 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1972–10–11 Duke G 30 Terry Porter 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1963–04–08 UW–Stevens Point G 26 James Robinson 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1970–08–31 Alabama C 11 Stojko Vranković 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 260 lb (118 kg) 1964–01–22 Croatia G 5 Doug West 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1967–05–27 Villanova G 4 Micheal Williams  (IN) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1966–07–23 Baylor

Head coach Flip Saunders Assistant(s) Greg Ballard Mike Schuler Jerry Sichting Randy Wittman Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended (IN) Inactive Injured Roster

Roster Notes

• Power forward Bill Curley was on the injured reserve list rehabilitating from surgery on his right knee, and missed the entire regular season.^[36][37]
• Point guard Michael Williams was on the injured reserve list due to a sore left heel injury, and missed the entire regular season.

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Utah Jazz	64	18	.780	–	38–3	26–15	19–5
x-Houston Rockets	57	25	.695	7	30–11	27–14	19–5
x-Minnesota Timberwolves	40	42	.488	24	25–16	15–26	16–8
Dallas Mavericks	24	58	.293	40	14–27	10–31	9–15
Denver Nuggets	21	61	.256	43	12–29	9–32	7–17
San Antonio Spurs	20	62	.244	44	12–29	8–33	8–16
Vancouver Grizzlies	14	68	.171	50	8–33	6–35	6–18

1996–97 NBA West standings

#	Western Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Utah Jazz	64	18	.780	–
2	y-Seattle SuperSonics	57	25	.695	7
3	x-Houston Rockets	57	25	.695	7
4	x-Los Angeles Lakers	56	26	.683	8
5	x-Portland Trail Blazers	49	33	.598	15
6	x-Minnesota Timberwolves	40	42	.488	24
7	x-Phoenix Suns	40	42	.488	24
8	x-Los Angeles Clippers	36	46	.439	28
9	Sacramento Kings	34	48	.415	30
10	Golden State Warriors	30	52	.366	34
11	Dallas Mavericks	24	58	.293	40
12	Denver Nuggets	21	61	.256	43
13	San Antonio Spurs	20	62	.244	44
14	Vancouver Grizzlies	14	68	.171	50

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1996-97 NBA Records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHA	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MIA	MIL	MIN	NJN	NYK	ORL	PHI	PHO	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	TOR	UTA	VAN	WAS
Atlanta	–	3–1	1–3	1–3	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–2	4–0	2–0	3–1	1–3	3–1	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–1
Boston	1–3	–	0–4	0–4	1–2	1–1	1–1	0–4	1–1	0–2	1–2	0–2	1–1	0–4	1–3	0–2	0–4	0–4	0–4	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	3–1	0–2	0–2	0–4
Charlotte	3–1	4–0	–	0–4	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	2–0	2–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	1–2	2–2	2–0	4–0	3–1	1–2	4–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–2	0–2	2–0	3–1
Chicago	3–1	4–0	4–0	–	3–1	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	4–0	2–0	1–1	2–2	4–0	2–0	3–1	2–2	3–0	4–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–1
Cleveland	1–3	2–1	1–3	1–3	–	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	0–4	2–2	2–0	4–0	1–3	2–2	3–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	3–1	1–1	2–0	1–3
Dallas	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	–	3–1	0–2	0–4	0–4	1–1	2–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–3	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	1–3	3–1	0–2
Denver	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–3	–	0–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	1–3	0–4	0–2	1–1	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–2	0–4	2–2	2–2	0–4	1–1	0–4	3–1	1–1
Detroit	3–1	4–0	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–0	–	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	0–4	3–1	2–0	4–0	1–2	2–2	2–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	1–1	2–0	4–0
Golden State	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	4–0	3–1	0–2	–	0–4	1–1	1–3	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–3	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–0	0–4	2–2	1–3	4–0	0–4	2–0	0–4	3–1	0–2
Houston	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–0	4–0	3–1	1–1	4–0	–	1–1	3–1	3–1	0–2	1–1	4–0	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–2	2–2	4–0	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–2	3–1	2–0
Indiana	1–3	2–1	2–2	0–4	1–3	1–1	2–0	1–3	1–1	1–1	–	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–2	1–3	1–3	3–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	0–2	2–0	1–3
L.A. Clippers	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–2	3–1	0–2	3–1	1–3	0–2	–	2–2	0–2	2–0	1–3	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–2	0–4	2–2	4–0	1–3	2–0	1–3	4–0	0–2
L.A. Lakers	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	4–0	1–1	4–0	1–3	1–1	2–2	–	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	4–0	1–3	4–0	2–2	3–1	1–1	1–3	4–0	2–0
Miami	2–1	4–0	2–1	2–2	4–0	2–0	2–0	4–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	–	4–0	1–1	3–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	0–2	3–1	0–2	2–0	3–1
Milwaukee	0–4	3–1	2–2	0–4	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	–	0–2	2–1	1–2	2–2	3–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–1	1–1	2–0	1–3
Minnesota	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–2	3–1	4–0	0–2	3–1	0–4	0–2	3–1	1–3	1–1	2–0	–	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	0–4	4–0	0–4	1–1	1–3	4–0	1–1
New Jersey	1–3	4–0	0–4	1–3	0–4	1–1	1–1	0–4	0–2	0–2	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–2	0–2	–	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–3	0–2	2–0	1–3
New York	3–1	4–0	1–3	2–2	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–1	1–1	2–2	–	3–1	3–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	0–2	3–0	1–1	2–0	4–0
Orlando	1–3	4–0	2–1	0–3	2–2	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	2–0	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–1	3–1	1–3	–	2–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	0–2	1–1	1–3
Philadelphia	0–4	3–1	0–4	0–4	0–3	0–2	1–1	1–2	0–2	0–2	0–3	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–3	1–1	2–2	2–3	2–2	–	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–2	2–0	1–3
Phoenix	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–1	2–2	2–0	4–0	2–2	1–1	2–2	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	–	1–3	4–0	3–1	2–2	0–2	1–3	2–2	1–1
Portland	0–2	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	3–1	4–0	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–1	4–0	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–1	–	2–2	4–0	1–3	0–2	2–2	4–0	0–2
Sacramento	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–2	2–2	1–1	3–1	0–4	1–1	2–2	0–4	0–2	2–0	4–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	0–4	2–2	–	3–1	1–3	1–1	0–4	4–0	0–2
San Antonio	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–0	3–1	2–2	0–2	0–4	1–3	1–1	0–4	2–2	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	0–4	1–3	–	0–4	1–1	1–3	1–3	0–2
Seattle	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	2–0	3–1	4–0	1–1	4–0	1–3	1–1	3–1	1–3	2–0	1–1	4–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	3–1	4–0	–	2–0	1–3	4–0	2–0
Toronto	0–4	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–3	2–0	1–1	1–3	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–3	1–1	3–0	0–3	0–4	3–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	–	1–1	1–1	2–2
Utah	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–1	4–0	1–1	4–0	2–2	2–0	3–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–2	4–0	3–1	3–1	1–1	–	4–0	2–0
Vancouver	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	0–4	0–4	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–2	0–4	0–4	3–1	0–4	1–1	0–4	–	1–1
Washington	1–2	4–0	1–3	1–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	0–4	2–0	0–2	3–1	2–0	0–2	1–3	3–1	1–1	3–1	0–4	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	0–2	2–2	0–2	1–1	—

Game log

Playoffs

1997 playoff game log
First round: 0–3 (home: 0–1; road: 0–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 24 @ Houston L 95–112 Stephon Marbury (28) Kevin Garnett (9) three players tied (4) The Summit 16,285 0–1 2 April 26 @ Houston L 84–96 Stephon Marbury (22) Dean Garrett (14) Stephon Marbury (6) The Summit 16,285 0–2 3 April 29 Houston L 120–125 Tom Gugliotta (27) Dean Garrett (15) Stephon Marbury (13) Target Center 19,006 0–3
1997 schedule

Player statistics

Ragular season

Player	POS	GP	GS	MP	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS	MPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Terry Porter	PG	82	20	1,568	176	295	54	11	568	19.1	2.1	3.6	.7	.1	6.9
Sam Mitchell	SF	82	5	2,044	326	79	51	20	766	24.9	4.0	1.0	.6	.2	9.3
Tom Gugliotta	PF	81	81	3,131	702	335	130	89	1,672	38.7	8.7	4.1	1.6	1.1	20.6
Kevin Garnett	SF	77	77	2,995	618	236	105	163	1,309	38.9	8.0	3.1	1.4	2.1	17.0
Cherokee Parks	PF	76	0	961	195	34	41	48	252	12.6	2.6	.4	.5	.6	3.3
James Robinson	PG	69	5	1,309	112	126	30	8	572	19.0	1.6	1.8	.4	.1	8.3
Doug West	SG	68	66	1,920	148	113	61	24	531	28.2	2.2	1.7	.9	.4	7.8
Dean Garrett	C	68	47	1,665	495	38	40	95	542	24.5	7.3	.6	.6	1.4	8.0
Stephon Marbury	PG	67	64	2,324	184	522	67	19	1,057	34.7	2.7	7.8	1.0	.3	15.8
Chris Carr	SG	55	10	830	113	48	24	10	337	15.1	2.1	.9	.4	.2	6.1
Stojko Vranković	C	53	35	766	168	14	10	67	181	14.5	3.2	.3	.2	1.3	3.4
Shane Heal	PG	43	0	236	18	33	3	3	75	5.5	.4	.8	.1	.1	1.7
Reggie Jordan†	SG	10	0	31	4	1	2	0	20	3.1	.4	.1	.2	.0	2.0

• ^† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Timberwolves only.

Playoffs

Player	POS	GP	GS	MP	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS	MPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Kevin Garnett	SF	3	3	125	28	11	4	3	52	41.7	9.3	3.7	1.3	1.0	17.3
Tom Gugliotta	PF	3	3	121	16	13	7	2	55	40.3	5.3	4.3	2.3	.7	18.3
Dean Garrett	C	3	3	118	35	4	2	3	38	39.3	11.7	1.3	.7	1.0	12.7
Stephon Marbury	PG	3	3	117	12	23	2	0	64	39.0	4.0	7.7	.7	.0	21.3
Doug West	SG	3	3	87	4	6	2	1	33	29.0	1.3	2.0	.7	.3	11.0
Sam Mitchell	SF	3	0	47	7	1	1	1	17	15.7	2.3	.3	.3	.3	5.7
Terry Porter	PG	3	0	46	3	9	2	2	16	15.3	1.0	3.0	.7	.7	5.3
James Robinson	PG	2	0	31	3	3	2	0	14	15.5	1.5	1.5	1.0	.0	7.0
Shane Heal	PG	2	0	3	0	1	0	0	6	1.5	.0	.5	.0	.0	3.0
Cherokee Parks	PF	1	0	11	5	0	1	0	4	11.0	5.0	.0	1.0	.0	4.0
Chris Carr	SG	1	0	8	2	1	0	0	0	8.0	2.0	1.0	.0	.0	.0
Stojko Vranković	C	1	0	6	1	0	0	0	0	6.0	1.0	.0	.0	.0	.0

Awards and records

• Kevin Garnett, NBA All-Star
• Tom Gugliotta, NBA All-Star
• Stephon Marbury, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team

Transactions