1996–97 Minnesota Timberwolves season

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][5][6] The team also acquired James Robinson from the Portland Trail Blazers,[7][8] and second-year center Cherokee Parks from the Dallas Mavericks,[9][10] while signing free agents, rookie center Dean Garrett,[11] second-year guard Chris Carr, and Stojko Vrankovic during the off-season.[12] However, Michael Williams would miss the entire season with a strained plantar fascia in his left heel.[13][14]

1996–97 Minnesota Timberwolves season
Head coachFlip Saunders
General managerKevin McHale
Owner(s)Glen Taylor
ArenaTarget Center
Results
Record40–42 (.488)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Midwest)
Conference: 6th (Western)
Playoff finishFirst round
(lost to Rockets 0–3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKARE
KLGT-TV
Midwest Sports Channel
RadioKFAN

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, holding a 23–25 record at the All-Star break.[15] 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 ever All-Star appearance.[16][17][18][19][20] 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.[21]

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, playing in 67 games due to ankle and thigh injuries.[22][23][24] He 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.[25][26][27] 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.[28]

However, in the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Timberwolves were swept by the Houston Rockets in three straight games.[29][30][31][32] Following the season, Garrett signed as a free agent with the Denver Nuggets,[33][34][11] while Robinson signed with the Los Angeles Clippers,[35][36] and Vrankovic was traded to the Clippers.[37][38][39]

For the season, the Timberwolves revealed a new primary logo of a gray wolf with pine trees,[40] and changed their uniforms adding dark blue and black to their color scheme.[41][42] Their primary logo and uniforms both remained in use until 2008.

Draft picks
Main article: 1996 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
15Ray AllenSG United StatesConnecticut

Roster
1996–97 Minnesota Timberwolves roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
G 43 Carr, Chris 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 207 lb (94 kg) 1974–03–12 Southern Illinois
F 17 Curley, Bill Injured (IN) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1972–05–29 Boston College
F 21 Garnett, Kevin 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1976–05–19 Farragut Academy HS (IL)
C 22 Garrett, Dean 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1966–11–27 Indiana
F 24 Gugliotta, Tom 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1969–12–19 NC State
G 10 Heal, Shane 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1970–09–06 Upper Yarra Secondary College (HS)
G 31 Jordan, Reggie 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1968–01–26 New Mexico State
G 3 Marbury, Stephon 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1977–02–20 Georgia Tech
F 42 Mitchell, Sam 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1963–09–02 Mercer
C 44 Parks, Cherokee 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1972–10–11 Duke
G 30 Porter, Terry 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1963–04–08 UW–Stevens Point
G 26 Robinson, James 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1970–08–31 Alabama
C 11 Vranković, Stojko 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 260 lb (118 kg) 1964–01–22 Croatia
G 5 West, Doug 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1967–05–27 Villanova
G 4 Williams, Micheal Injured (IN) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1966–07–23 Baylor
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (IN) Inactive
  • Injured Injured

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

Roster Notes
  • Power forward Bill Curley missed the entire season rehabilitating from surgery on his right knee.[43][44]
  • 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 6418.780–38–326–1519–5
x-Houston Rockets 5725.695730–1127–1419–5
x-Minnesota Timberwolves 4042.4882425–1615–2616–8
Dallas Mavericks 2458.2934014–2710–319–15
Denver Nuggets 2161.2564312–299–327–17
San Antonio Spurs 2062.2444412–298–338–16
Vancouver Grizzlies 1468.171508–336–356–18
1996–97 NBA West standings
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Utah Jazz6418.780–
2 y-Seattle SuperSonics5725.6957
3 x-Houston Rockets5725.6957
4 x-Los Angeles Lakers5626.6838
5 x-Portland Trail Blazers4933.59815
6 x-Minnesota Timberwolves4042.48824
7 x-Phoenix Suns4042.48824
8 x-Los Angeles Clippers3646.43928
9 Sacramento Kings3448.41530
10 Golden State Warriors3052.36634
11 Dallas Mavericks2458.29340
12 Denver Nuggets2161.25643
13 San Antonio Spurs2062.24444
14 Vancouver Grizzlies1468.17150
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 –3–11–31–33–12–01–11–32–01–13–12–01–11–24–02–03–11–33–14–01–12–02–02–01–14–01–12–02–1
Boston 1–3–0–40–41–21–11–10–41–10–21–20–21–10–41–30–20–40–40–41–31–11–10–21–10–23–10–20–20–4
Charlotte 3–14–0–0–43–11–12–02–22–02–02–21–11–11–22–22–04–03–11–24–01–10–22–02–02–02–20–22–03–1
Chicago 3–14–04–0–3–12–02–03–12–01–14–02–01–12–24–02–03–12–23–04–02–02–02–02–02–03–11–12–02–1
Cleveland 1–32–11–31–3–2–01–12–21–10–23–12–01–10–42–22–04–01–32–23–01–11–12–00–20–23–11–12–01–3
Dallas 0–21–11–10–20–2–3–10–20–40–41–12–20–40–20–21–31–11–11–12–01–31–32–21–31–30–21–33–10–2
Denver 1–11–10–20–21–11–3–0–21–31–30–21–30–40–21–10–41–10–20–21–12–20–42–22–20–41–10–43–11–1
Detroit 3–14–02–21–32–22–02–0–2–01–13–12–01–10–43–12–04–01–22–22–10–21–11–12–01–13–11–12–04–0
Golden State 0–21–10–20–21–14–03–10–2–0–41–11–30–40–21–11–32–00–21–12–00–42–21–34–00–42–00–43–10–2
Houston 1–12–00–21–12–04–03–11–14–0–1–13–13–10–21–14–02–01–10–22–02–22–24–03–13–11–12–23–12–0
Indiana 1–32–12–20–41–31–12–01–31–11–1–2–01–11–32–22–02–21–31–33–01–11–11–11–11–14–00–22–01–3
L.A. Clippers 0–22–01–10–20–22–23–10–23–11–30–2–2–20–22–01–31–10–21–11–12–20–42–24–01–32–01–34–00–2
L.A. Lakers 1–11–11–11–11–14–04–01–14–01–31–12–2–1–12–03–12–01–11–12–04–01–34–02–23–11–11–34–02–0
Miami 2–14–02–12–24–02–02–04–02–02–03–12–01–1–4–01–13–11–32–23–12–01–12–02–00–23–10–22–03–1
Milwaukee 0–43–12–20–42–22–01–11–31–11–12–20–20–20–4–0–22–11–22–23–11–10–20–21–11–13–11–12–01–3
Minnesota 0–22–00–20–20–23–14–00–23–10–40–23–11–31–12–0–2–01–11–11–13–12–20–44–00–41–11–34–01–1
New Jersey 1–34–00–41–30–41–11–10–40–20–22–21–10–21–31–20–2–2–21–32–21–10–21–12–01–10–30–22–01–3
New York 3–14–01–32–23–11–12–02–12–01–13–12–01–13–12–11–12–2–3–13–21–11–12–02–00–23–01–12–04–0
Orlando 1–34–02–10–32–21–12–02–21–12–03–11–11–12–22–21–13–11–3–2–21–12–01–11–11–14–00–21–11–3
Philadelphia 0–43–10–40–40–30–21–11–20–20–20–31–10–21–31–31–12–22–32–2–1–11–10–21–10–21–30–22–01–3
Phoenix 1–11–11–10–21–13–12–22–04–02–21–12–20–40–21–11–31–11–11–11–1–1–34–03–12–20–21–32–21–1
Portland 0–21–12–00–21–13–14–01–12–22–21–14–03–11–12–02–22–01–10–21–13–1–2–24–01–30–22–24–00–2
Sacramento 0–22–00–20–20–22–22–21–13–10–41–12–20–40–22–04–01–10–21–12–00–42–2–3–11–31–10–44–00–2
San Antonio 0–21–10–20–22–03–12–20–20–41–31–10–42–20–21–10–40–20–21–11–11–30–41–3–0–41–11–31–30–2
Seattle 1–12–00–20–22–03–14–01–14–01–31–13–11–32–01–14–01–12–01–12–02–23–13–14–0–2–01–34–02–0
Toronto 0–41–32–21–31–32–01–11–30–21–10–40–21–11–31–31–13–00–30–43–12–02–01–11–10–2–1–11–12–2
Utah 1–12–02–01–11–13–14–01–14–02–22–03–13–12–01–13–12–01–12–02–03–12–24–03–13–11–1–4–02–0
Vancouver 0–22–00–20–20–21–31–30–21–31–30–20–40–40–20–20–40–20–21–10–22–20–40–43–10–41–10–4–1–1
Washington 1–24–01–31–23–12–01–10–42–00–23–12–00–21–33–11–13–10–43–13–11–12–02–02–00–22–20–21–1—

Playoffs
1997 playoff game log
First round: 0–3 (home: 0–1; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
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
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

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

Transactions

References
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  44. "Spurs Tame T'Wolves 92-76". CBS News. CBS News.com Staff. March 19, 1998. Retrieved May 1, 2023.

See also
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