1995–96 Minnesota Timberwolves season

The 1995–96 NBA season was the Timberwolves' 7th season in the National Basketball Association.[1] This season is most memorable when the Timberwolves selected high school basketball star Kevin Garnett with the fifth overall pick in the 1995 NBA draft.[2][3][4][5][6][7] The team also signed free agent All-Star guard Terry Porter,[8][9][10] and re-signed former T-Wolves forward Sam Mitchell during the off-season.[11][12] The Timberwolves got off to a bad start losing nine of their first ten games, as head coach Bill Blair was fired after a 6–14 start and was replaced with Flip Saunders,[13][14][15] while Michael Williams was out for the remainder of the season with a left heel injury after only just nine games.[16][17]

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

At midseason, the team traded Christian Laettner and Sean Rooks to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Andrew Lang and Spud Webb,[18][19][20][21] as the team re-acquired second-year guard Darrick Martin after a brief stint with the expansion Vancouver Grizzlies.[22] After holding a 13–32 record at the All-Star break,[23] and despite posting an 8–8 record in March, the Timberwolves lost their final six games, and finished fifth in the Midwest Division with a 26–56 record, missing the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season.[24]

Isaiah Rider continued to lead the T-Wolves in scoring with 19.6 points per game, while Tom Gugliotta provided the team with 16.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game, and Mitchell contributed 10.8 points per game. In addition, Garnett averaged 10.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, and finished in sixth place in Rookie of the Year voting,[25][26][27] while Porter provided with 9.4 points and 5.5 assists per game, and Doug West contributed 6.4 points per game.[28]

Following the season, Rider, who dealt with off-the-court troubles, was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers,[29][30][31][32] while Lang was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks,[33] Martin signed with the Los Angeles Clippers,[34][22] and Webb was released to free agency.

Offseason

NBA draft
Main article: 1995 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 did not immediately leap to stardom as later prep-to-pro prospects such as Amar'e Stoudemire, LeBron James, and Dwight Howard would, but he did have a very respectable rookie year. He 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.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
G 53 Allen, Jerome 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 184 lb (83 kg) –– Penn
F 33 Bragg, Marques 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) –– Providence
F 7 Davis, Mark 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) –– Texas Tech
F 21 Garnett, Kevin 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) –– Farragut Academy (IL)
F 24 Gugliotta, Tom 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) –– NC State
C 28 Lang, Andrew 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 245 lb (111 kg) –– Arkansas
G 15 Martin, Darrick Injured 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 170 lb (77 kg) –– UCLA
F 42 Mitchell, Sam 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) –– Mercer
G 30 Porter, Terry 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) –– UW–Stevens Point
G 34 Rider, Isaiah 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) –– UNLV
C 40 Riley, Eric 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 245 lb (111 kg) –– Michigan
G 4 Webb, Spud 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) 133 lb (60 kg) –– NC State
G 5 West, Doug (C) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) –– Villanova
G 4 Williams, Micheal Injured 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) –– Baylor
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: {{{access-date}}}

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

Record vs. opponents
1995-96 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 —4–03–10–43–11–11–12–21–11–11–32–00–22–22–21–14–02–12–22–10–22–02–00–20–24–01–12–01–3
Boston 0–4—2–20–31–30–21–12–10–21–10–42–00–23–13–12–02–20–41–34–01–10–22–00–20–23–10–21–12–2
Charlotte 1–32–2—1–33–12–02–01–30–20–21–31–12–02–23–11–10–33–00–43–12–01–11–10–20–23–11–12–03–1
Chicago 4–03–03–1—4–02–01–14–02–02–02–22–02–03–14–02–03–03–13–14–01–12–02–02–01–13–12–02–04–0
Cleveland 1–33–11–30–4—2–01–12–22–01–12–22–02–01–34–02–01–23–11–24–02–01–11–10–20–23–10–22–03–1
Dallas 1–12–00–20–20–2—2–20–22–21–30–22–20–40–21–10–41–10–21–10–21–30–42–22–22–21–11–34–00–2
Denver 1–11–10–21–11–12–2—1–12–21–30–21–32–20–21–14–00–21–11–12–03–10–40–40–41–32–03–13–11–1
Detroit 2–21–23–10–42–22–01–1—2–01–12–22–00–21–32–21–14–00–41–34–02–02–01–12–01–14–00–22–01–2
Golden State 1–12–02–00–20–22–22–20–2—2–21–13–11–31–11–13–12–00–20–22–01–31–31–31–30–41–11–34–01–1
Houston 1–11–12–00–21–13–13–11–12–2—2–04–03–10–22–02–22–00–20–22–03–12–22–21–30–42–02–24–01–1
Indiana 3–14–03–12–22–22–02–02–21–10–2—2–01–13–03–11–11–31–32–23–11–11–10–21–12–04–00–22–03–0
L.A. Clippers 0–20–21–10–20–22–23–10–21–30–40–2—0–41–11–13–11–11–10–22–03–12–22–21–30–40–21–33–11–1
L.A. Lakers 2–02–00–20–20–24–02–22–03–11–31–14–0—2–02–03–12–01–11–11–13–12–23–11–32–22–02–24–01–1
Miami 2–21–32–21–33–12–02–03–11–12–00–31–10–2—3–01–15–01–31–33–11–10–21–11–10–22–10–21–12–2
Milwaukee 2–21–31–30–40–41–11–12–21–10–21–31–10–20–3—1–11–32–21–32–10–22–00–21–10–22–20–21–11–3
Minnesota 1–10–21–10–20–24–00–41–11–32–21–11–31–31–11–1—1–10–20–21–11–30–43–11–30–41–11–32–20–2
New Jersey 0–42–23–00–32–11–12–00–40–20–23–11–10–20–53–11–1—2–20–42–20–21–11–10–20–22–20–22–02–2
New York 1–24–00–31–31–32–01–14–02–02–03–11–11–13–12–22–02–2—1–33–10–20–20–21–11–14–01–11–13–1
Orlando 2–23–14–01–32–11–11–13–12–02–02–22–01–13–13–12–04–03–1—4–02–01–11–11–11–12–11–12–04–0
Philadelphia 1–20–41–30–40–42–00–20–40–20–21–30–21–11–31–21–12–21–30–4—0–20–20–20–20–23–11–11–11–3
Phoenix 2–01–10–21–10–23–11–30–23–11–31–11–31–31–12–03–12–02–00–22–0—2–22–21–30–42–01–34–02–0
Portland 0–22–01–10–21–14–04–00–23–12–21–12–22–22–00–24–01–12–01–12–02–2—1–31–31–32–01–32–20–2
Sacramento 0–20–21–10–21–12–24–01–13–12–22–02–21–31–12–01–31–12–01–12–02–23–1—1–30–42–00–42–20–2
San Antonio 2–02–02–00–22–02–24–00–23–13–11–13–13–11–11–13–12–01–11–12–03–13–13–1—2–22–03–14–01–1
Seattle 2–02–02–01–12–02–23–11–14–04–00–24–02–22–02–04–02–01–11–12–04–03–14–02–2—1–13–13–11–1
Toronto 0–41–31–31–31–31–10–20–41–10–20–42–00–21–22–21–12–20–41–21–30–20–20–20–21–1—0–21–13–1
Utah 1–12–01–10–22–03–11–32–03–12–22–03–12–22–02–03–12–01–11–11–13–13–14–01–31–32–0—4–01–1
Vancouver 0–21–10–20–20–20–41–30–20–40–40–21–30–41–11–12–20–21–10–21–10–42–22–20–41–31–10–4—0–2
Washington 3–12–21–30–41–32–01–12–11–11–10–31–11–12–23–12–02–21–30–43–10–22–02–01–11–11–31–12–0—

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
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Jerome Allen
Marques Bragg
Mark Davis
Kevin Garnett
Tom Gugliotta
Christian Laettner
Andrew Lang
Darrick Martin
Sam Mitchell
Terry Porter
Isaiah Rider
Eric Riley
Sean Rooks
Charles Smith
Spud Webb
Doug West
Micheal Williams

Awards and honors

Transactions

References
  1. 1995-96 Minnesota Timberwolves
  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. "NBA DRAFT: Clippers Deal No. 2 McDyess to Nuggets: Pro Basketball: L.A. Gets Rodney Rogers and Rights to Oregon State's Brent Barry. O'Bannon Goes Ninth to New Jersey, and Zidek Is Selected No. 22 by Charlotte". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. June 29, 1995. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  5. Nakamura, David (June 29, 1995). "Joe Goes West as Warriors Make Smith No. 1 Pick". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  6. Smith, Sam (November 2, 1995). "'Kid' Garnett Takes on Man-Sized Job". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  7. "1995 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  8. Smith, Sam (October 15, 1995). "Rookies Provide Proviso Influence". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  9. "Transactions". The New York Times. October 15, 1995. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  10. "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; McHale Moves to Improve Timberwolves". The New York Times. October 17, 1995. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  11. "NBA Locks Out Refs After Pledge Rejected". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. September 30, 1995. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  12. "NBA Off-Season Transactions". United Press International. October 5, 1995. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  13. "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Minnesota Throws Coach to the Wolves". The New York Times. December 19, 1995. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  14. "At 6-14, Timberwolves Fire Blair as Coach". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. December 19, 1995. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  15. "Another Year, Another Firing: Timberwolves Dump Blair". Chicago Tribune. December 19, 1995. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  16. "PLUS: BASKETBALL; Williams Cleared". The New York Times. Associated Press. September 26, 1997. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  17. "Timberwolves' Williams Finally Returns". United Press International. December 12, 1997. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  18. "Hawks Trade Lang, Webb to Timberwolves for Laettner, Rooks". Associated Press. February 22, 1996. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  19. "Laettner, Rooks Traded to Hawks". United Press International. February 22, 1996. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  20. Brown, Clifton (February 23, 1996). "PRO BASKETBALL; On Deadline, Riley Makes Bold Moves". The New York Times. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  21. "Hardaway Heads for the Heat in Trade". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 23, 1996. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  22. Baker, Chris (February 11, 1997). "He's Tiny, But His Presence Is Huge". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  23. "NBA Games Played on February 8, 1996". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  24. "1995–96 Minnesota Timberwolves Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  25. "Stoudamire Named Top Rookie After Lukewarm NBA Reception". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 16, 1996. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  26. "Raptors' Stoudamire Easily Captures Rookie Honors". Chicago Tribune. Tribune News Services. May 16, 1996. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  27. "1995–96 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  28. "1995–96 Minnesota Timberwolves Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  29. "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Rider, Then Anderson, Join the Trail Blazers". The New York Times. July 24, 1996. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  30. "Portland Gets Rider, Signs Anderson". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. July 24, 1996. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  31. "Rider, Anderson to Blazers". Tampa Bay Times. July 24, 1996. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  32. "Rider Traded to Blazers for 2 Players". United Press International. July 24, 1996. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  33. "Bucks Acquire Andrew Lang from Timberwolves". Associated Press. July 11, 1996. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  34. Baker, Chris (September 20, 1996). "Clippers Sign Former Bruin". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
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