1989–90 Minnesota Timberwolves season

The 1989–90 NBA season was the Timberwolves' 1st season in the National Basketball Association.[1] Nearly 30 years after the Lakers left for Los Angeles, the NBA returned to Minneapolis with an expansion team known as the "Minnesota Timberwolves". The Timberwolves, along with the Orlando Magic, joined the NBA in 1989.[2][3][4][5] The team revealed a new primary logo of a blue wolf with green eyes in front of a silver basketball,[6] and added new uniforms with the color scheme of blue, green and silver.[7][8]

1989–90 Minnesota Timberwolves season
Head coachBill Musselman
Owners
ArenaHubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Results
Record22–60 (.268)
PlaceDivision: 6th (Midwest)
Conference: 13th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKSTP-TV/KITN-TV
(Kevin Harlan, Len Elmore, Tom Hanneman)
RadioWDGY
(Kevin Harlan, Dave Shea)

In the 1989 NBA Expansion Draft, the Timberwolves selected veteran players like Rick Mahorn, Tyrone Corbin, Steve Johnson, Brad Lohaus and Scott Roth,[9][10][11][12][13] and signed free agents Tony Campbell,[14][15] Tod Murphy, Sidney Lowe, and undrafted rookie forward Sam Mitchell. However, Mahorn never played for the T-Wolves, as he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.[16][17][18][19] The Timberwolves received the tenth overall pick in the 1989 NBA draft, and selected point guard Pooh Richardson out of UCLA.[20][21][22][23] The team also hired Bill Musselman as their first head coach.[24][25]

The T-Wolves made their debut on November 3, 1989, losing to the Seattle SuperSonics, 106–94 on the road.[26][27] Five days later, they made their home debut at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, losing to the Chicago Bulls, 96–84.[28] Just two nights later, the T-Wolves would finally get their first win, beating the 76ers at home in overtime, 125–118 on November 10.[29][30][31] In January, the team traded Lohaus to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Randy Breuer.[32][33][34] However, the Timberwolves struggled in their first season, posting two nine-game losing streaks, finishing sixth place in the Midwest Division with a 22–60 record.[35]

Campbell led the team in scoring averaging 23.2 points, contributing 5.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game, and finishing in third place in Most Improved Player voting,[36] while Corbin averaged 14.7 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game, and Mitchell provided the team with 12.7 points and 5.8 rebounds. In addition, Richardson contributed 11.4 points, 6.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game, and was selected the NBA All-Rookie First Team, while Murphy provided with 8.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, and Lowe contributed 2.3 points and 4.2 assists per game, only shooting just .319 in field-goal percentage.[37]

The team's primary logo and uniforms both remained in use until 1996.

Draft picks
Main article: 1989 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 10 Pooh Richardson PG  United States UCLA
2 34 Gary Leonard C  United States Missouri
2 38 Doug West SG  United States Villanova

Roster
1989–90 Minnesota Timberwolves roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
C 45 Breuer, Randy 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1960–10–11 Minnesota
G/F 19 Campbell, Tony 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1962–05–07 Ohio State
G/F 23 Corbin, Tyrone 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1962–12–31 DePaul
C 52 Leonard, Gary 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1967–02–16 Missouri
G 35 Lowe, Sidney 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1960–01–21 NC State
F 42 Mitchell, Sam 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1963–09–02 Mercer
C 4 Murphy, Tod 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1963–12–24 UC Irvine
G 24 Richardson, Pooh 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1966–05–14 UCLA
F 3 Roth, Scott 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 212 lb (96 kg) 1963–06–03 Wisconsin
F 15 Royal, Donald 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1966–05–22 Notre Dame
F/C 2 Sellers, Brad 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1962–12–17 Ohio State
G/F 5 West, Doug 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1967–05–27 Villanova
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

NBA Expansion Draft
Main article: 1989 NBA Expansion Draft

Prior to the 1989 NBA draft, the NBA held a coin toss between the Timberwolves and the other new expansion team, the Orlando Magic, to determine their order for the NBA Draft and the expansion draft. The Magic won the coin toss and chose to have the first pick in the expansion draft and pick 11th in the NBA Draft, while the Timberwolves picked second in the expansion draft and 10th in the NBA Draft.

The previous season's expansion teams, the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat, were not involved in this year's expansion draft and did not lose any player.

Pick Player Position Nationality Previous Team
2 Rick Mahorn F/C  United States Detroit Pistons
4 Tyrone Corbin G/F  United States Phoenix Suns
6 Steve Johnson F/C  United States Portland Trail Blazers
8 Brad Lohaus F/C  United States Sacramento Kings
10 David Rivers G  United States Los Angeles Lakers
12 Mark Davis G/F  United States Milwaukee Bucks
14 Scott Roth F  United States San Antonio Spurs
16 Shelton Jones F  United States Philadelphia 76ers
18 Eric White F  United States Los Angeles Clippers
20 Maurice Martin G/F  United States Denver Nuggets
22 Gunther Behnke C  West Germany Cleveland Cavaliers

Regular season

Standings
Midwest Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-San Antonio Spurs 5626.683–34–722–1919–9
x-Utah Jazz 5527.671136–519–2221–7
x-Dallas Mavericks 4735.573930–1117–2417–11
x-Denver Nuggets 4339.5241328–1315–2615–13
x-Houston Rockets 4141.5001531–1010–3113–15
Minnesota Timberwolves 2260.2683417–245–366–22
Charlotte Hornets 1963.2323713–286–357–21
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Los Angeles Lakers6319.768–
2 y-San Antonio Spurs5626.6837
3 x-Portland Trail Blazers5923.7204
4 x-Utah Jazz5527.6718
5 x-Phoenix Suns5428.6599
6 x-Dallas Mavericks4735.57316
7 x-Denver Nuggets4339.52420
8 x-Houston Rockets4141.50022
9 Seattle SuperSonics4141.50022
10 Golden State Warriors3745.45126
11 Los Angeles Clippers3052.36633
12 Sacramento Kings2359.28040
13 Minnesota Timberwolves2260.26841
14 Charlotte Hornets1963.23244

Record vs. opponents
1989–90 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 UTA WAS
Atlanta –1–32–00–52–30–21–13–22–02–02–31–10–24–03–21–12–21–35–02–20–21–11–11–11–11–12–2
Boston 3–1–2–02–23–11–11–12–21–12–01–31–10–25–02–21–15–14–14–03–21–10–22–01–12–01–12–3
Charlotte 0–20–2–0–21–11–33–20–22–21–41–12–20–41–10–22–21–11–11–10–21–30–41–30–50–40–50–2
Chicago 5–02–22–0–5–02–01–11–42–01–12–31–11–14–04–12–03–13–13–22–22–01–11–11–11–10–23–1
Cleveland 3–21–31–10–5–0–20–21–41–10–23–21–11–14–03–21–14–02–24–12–21–11–12–01–11–11–13–1
Dallas 2–01–13–10–22–0–2–31–13–14–12–03–10–42–01–14–12–01–12–01–11–30–43–13–22–21–31–1
Denver 1–11–12–31–12–03–2–0–22–24–10–22–20–42–01–15–02–01–12–01–11–32–24–01–32–20–41–1
Detroit 2–32–22–04–14–11–12–0–1–11–14–11–11–13–13–22–04–04–05–01–32–01–12–01–11–11–14–0
Golden State 0–21–12–20–21–11–32–21–1–2–21–13–11–42–01–13–12–00–22–01–10–52–23–21–32–32–21–1
Houston 0–20–24–11–12–01–41–41–12–2–1–12–22–21–11–12–21–11–12–01–12–21–34–02–22–23–21–1
Indiana 3–23–11–13–22–30–22–01–41–11–1–0–20–23–13–21–14–01–34–10–41–11–11–11–11–11–13–1
L.A. Clippers 1–11–12–21–11–11–32–21–11–32–22–0–1–40–21–13–12–00–22–00–20–40–52–30–43–20–41–1
L.A. Lakers 2–02–04–01–11–14–04–01–14–12–22–04–1–2–01–14–02–02–01–11–13–12–35–02–24–02–21–1
Miami 0–40–51–10–40–40–20–21–30–21–11–32–00–2–2–21–11–41–53–10–50–20–21–10–20–21–12–3
Milwaukee 2–32–22–01–42–31–11–12–31–11–12–31–11–12–2–2–04–02–25–01–31–11–11–11–12–00–23–1
Minnesota 1–11–12–20–21–11–40–50–21–32–21–11–30–41–10–2–1–11–11–11–10–41–32–21–41–30–51–1
New Jersey 2–21–51–11–30–40–20–20–40–21–10–40–20–24–10–41–1–1–41–31–40–20–21–10–20–20–22–3
New York 3–11–41–11–32–21–11–10–42–01–13–12–00–25–12–21–14–1–2–22–31–10–22–01–11–11–15–0
Orlando 0–50–41–12–31–40–20–20–50–20–21–40–21–11–30–51–13–12–2–2–20–20–21–11–10–21–10–4
Philadelphia 2–22–32–02–22–21–11–13–11–11–14–02–01–15–03–11–14–13–22–2–1–11–11–11–11–11–15–1
Phoenix 2–01–13–10–21–13–13–10–25–02–21–14–01–32–01–14–02–01–12–01–1–2–35–00–43–23–12–0
Portland 1–12–04–01–11–14–02–21–12–23–11–15–03–22–01–13–12–02–02–01–13–2–4–03–13–22–21–1
Sacramento 1–10–23–11–10–21–30–40–22–30–41–13–20–51–11–12–21–10–21–11–10–50–4–0–42–21–31–1
San Antonio 1–11–15–01–11–12–33–11–13–12–21–14–02–22–01–14–12–01–11–11–14–01–34–0–3–13–22–0
Seattle 1–10–24–01–11–12–22–21–13–22–21–12–30–42–00–23–12–01–12–01–12–32–32–21–3–1–32–0
Utah 1–11–15–02–01–13–14–01–12–22–31–14–02–21–12–05–02–01–11–11–11–32–23–12–33–1–2–0
Washington 2–23–22–01–31–31–11–10–41–11–11–31–11–13–21–31–13–20–54–01–50–21–11–10–20–20–2—

Game log

Player statistics
Legend
  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
Minnesota Timberwolves statistics
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Tony Campbell* 828138.6.457.167.7875.52.61.40.423.2
Tyrone Corbin 828036.7.481.000.7707.42.62.10.514.7
Sam Mitchell* 803030.2.446.000.7685.81.10.80.712.7
Pooh Richardson 824831.5461.277.5892.66.81.60.311.4
Randy Breuer 514726.0.416.000.6625.71.60.61.510.2
Tod Murphy 825930.4471.372.7096.91.30.90.78.3
Brad Lohaus 282421.1.465.063.8083.92.20.50.87.5
Scott Roth 71314.9.397.356.6963.01.9.7.79.0
Adrian Branch* 66011.3.379346.7461.61.60.70.16.8
Donald Royal 737311.3.470.417.8502.10.70.50.15.9
Brad Sellers 1408.1.469.000.5575.21.5.82.08.8
Doug West 5207.3.517.000.7633.0.4.3.55.5
Sidney Lowe* 803821.8.498.000.7035.21.1.8.711.7
Gary Leonard 2205.8.468.440.8832.85.41.2.111.8
Steve Johnson 404.3.402.359.7331.53.0.7.17.2

* – Stats with the Timberwolves.

Awards and honors

Transactions

References
  1. 1989-90 Minnesota Timberwolves
  2. Goldaper, Sam (April 23, 1987). "No Headline". The New York Times. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
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  11. Cotton, Anthony (June 16, 1989). "Green Tabbed No. 1, Mahorn No. 2 in NBA Expansion Draft". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
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  32. "Breuer Thrilled to Be Back in Minnesota". Tampa Bay Times. January 6, 1990. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  33. "Maxwell: "I'm Not to Blame"". Orlando Sentinel. February 14, 1990. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  34. DiGiovanni, Joe (April 16, 1990). "Timberwolves Castoff Key to Bucks Success". United Press International. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
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  36. "1989–90 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
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