1996–97 Minnesota Timberwolves season
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.com | |
Local media | |
Television | KARE KLGT-TV Midwest Sports Channel |
Radio | KFAN |
The 1996–97 NBA season was the Timberwolves' 8th season in the National Basketball Association.[1] In the 1996 NBA draft, the Timberwolves selected shooting guard Ray Allen from the University of Connecticut with the fifth overall pick, but soon traded him to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for top draft pick point guard Stephon Marbury out of Georgia Tech.[2][3][4] The team also acquired James Robinson from the Portland Trail Blazers,[5] and second-year center Cherokee Parks from the Dallas Mavericks,[6] while signing free agents, rookie center Dean Garrett, and second-year guard Chris Carr during the off-season. However, Michael Williams would miss the entire season with a strained plantar fascia in his left heel.[7]
After a 7–8 start to the season, the Timberwolves lost nine of their next ten games, but then played around .500 as the season progressed. The addition of Marbury made a positive effect on the entire team, as second-year star Kevin Garnett and Tom Gugliotta became the first Wolves to be selected to the All-Star team, both being selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game, which was Garnett's first All-Star appearance.[8][9] The Timberwolves went on to make their first ever playoff appearance, finishing third in the Midwest Division with a 40–42 record, which was below .500, but still good enough for the #6 seed in the Western Conference.[10]
Gugliotta led the team with 20.6 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game, while Garnett averaged 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, was selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, and also finished in second place in Rookie of the Year voting behind Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers.[11][12] In addition, Sam Mitchell played a sixth man role, averaging 9.3 points and 4.0 rebounds per game off the bench, 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 Terry Porter provided with 6.9 points and 3.6 assists per game.[13] However, in the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Timberwolves were swept by the Houston Rockets in three straight games.[14][15] Following the season, Robinson signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Clippers,[16] and Garrett signed with the Denver Nuggets.[17]
For the season, the Timberwolves revealed a new primary logo of a gray wolf with pine trees,[18] and changed their uniforms adding dark blue and black to their color scheme.[19][20] Their primary logo and uniforms both remained in use until 2008.
Draft picks
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 5 | Ray Allen | SG | ![]() |
Connecticut |
Roster
Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Roster Notes
- Power forward Bill Curley missed the entire season rehabilitating from surgery on his right knee.
- Point guard Michael Williams missed the entire season due to a sore left heel injury.
Regular season
Season standings
Midwest Division | 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 |
# | Western Conference | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1997 schedule |
Player statistics
GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game |
NOTE: Please write the players statistics in alphabetical order by last name.
Season
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chris Carr | |||||||||||
Kevin Garnett | |||||||||||
Dean Garrett | |||||||||||
Tom Gugliotta | |||||||||||
Shane Heal | |||||||||||
Reggie Jordan | |||||||||||
Stephon Marbury | |||||||||||
Sam Mitchell | |||||||||||
Cherokee Parks | |||||||||||
Terry Porter | |||||||||||
James Robinson | |||||||||||
Stojko Vranković | |||||||||||
Doug West |
Playoffs
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chris Carr | |||||||||||
Kevin Garnett | |||||||||||
Dean Garrett | |||||||||||
Tom Gugliotta | |||||||||||
Shane Heal | |||||||||||
Stephon Marbury | |||||||||||
Sam Mitchell | |||||||||||
Cherokee Parks | |||||||||||
Terry Porter | |||||||||||
James Robinson | |||||||||||
Stojko Vranković | |||||||||||
Doug West |
Awards and records
- Kevin Garnett, NBA All-Star
- Tom Gugliotta, NBA All-Star
- Stephon Marbury, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team
Transactions
![]() | This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (February 2013) |
References
- ^ 1996-97 Minnesota Timberwolves
- ^ Brown, Clifton (June 27, 1996). "PRO BASKETBALL; Big Trade and Some Twists in N.B.A. Youth Parade". The New York Times. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
- ^ Cotton, Anthony (June 27, 1996). "For 76ers, Iverson Is No. 1 Choice". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
- ^ Brown, Clifton (June 28, 1996). "PRO BASKETBALL; With the Draft Over, Trading Season Begins". The New York Times. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
- ^ "Rider Traded to Blazers for 2 Players". United Press International. July 24, 1996. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
- ^ Storm, Rich (June 30, 1996). "Mavs Deal Parks to Timberwolves". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ "Timberwolves' Williams Finally Returns". United Press International. December 12, 1997. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
- ^ Smith, Sam (February 9, 1997). "From Farragut Academy to All-Star in Only 2 Years". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
- ^ "1997 NBA All-Star Game: East 132, West 120". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
- ^ "1996–97 Minnesota Timberwolves Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- ^ Press, Associated (May 2, 1997). "Iverson Is Voted Top Rookie". The New York Times. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
- ^ "1996–97 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
- ^ "1996–97 Minnesota Timberwolves Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- ^ Services, Tribune News (April 30, 1997). "Rockets Eliminate Wolves; Suns Take Lead Over Sonics". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- ^ Press, Associated (April 30, 1997). "Houston Moves On; Orlando Stays Alive". Deseret News. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
- ^ "Clippers Sign James Robinson for $10.5 Million". Los Angeles Times. August 17, 1997. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
- ^ Harding, Jim (September 7, 1997). "Garrett Latest Addition to New-Look Nuggets". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
- ^ "Minnesota Timberwolves Logo". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
- ^ "Minnesota Timberwolves Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
- ^ "Minnesota Timberwolves Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
See also
- Articles with short description
- Short description with empty Wikidata description
- Use mdy dates from October 2020
- Basketball articles with insufficient color contrast
- Pages using Template:College with unsupported name
- Pages using NBA roster footer with unknown parameters
- Articles to be expanded from February 2013
- All articles to be expanded
- Articles with empty sections from February 2013
- All articles with empty sections
- Articles using small message boxes
- Minnesota Timberwolves seasons
- 1997 in sports in Minnesota
- 1996 in sports in Minnesota
- 1996–97 NBA season by team