The Minnesota Timberwolves have not had a lot of success since becoming an NBA team in 1989. The franchise has an overall record of just 980-1,496 and only made the playoffs nine times.
For this piece, we'll be taking a look at the five best Timberwolves teams in franchise history.
5. 2017-18 Wolves
The first and only full year of the Jimmy Butler era, the Timberwolves got to the 2018 playoffs by winning 47 games in the regular season. Butler averaged 22.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists, while Karl-Anthony Towns put up 21.3 points and 12.3 boards.
Minnesota matched up against the Houston Rockets in the first round of the postseason. The Timberwolves won Game 3 at home but lost the series in five games.
The 2017-18 Wolves are the last Minnesota team to have a winning record and reach the playoffs. Before Butler arrived, the Timberwolves hadn't made the playoffs since 2004.
4. 1999-00 Wolves
The Timberwolves won 50 games behind Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett. KG averaged 22.9 points and 11.8 rebounds per game in the regular season.
Minnesota matched up against the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the 2000 playoffs. Despite having a top-15 offense and defense during the regular season, the Timberwolves couldn't get it together for the postseason and wound up losing to Portland in four games.
This was back when the first round of the NBA playoffs was a best of five. The Wolves lost the series 3-1.
3. 2001-02 Wolves
This team won 50 games as well and had a top-five offense. Minnesota averaged 99.3 points per game during the regular season.
Garnett put up 21.2 points and 12.1 boards per game, while Wally Szczerbiak was a solid number two option. The guard averaged 18.7 points and shot 45.5 percent from beyond the arc.
The Timberwolves went up against the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 2002 playoffs. Dallas swept Minnesota in three games.
2. 2002-03 Wolves
Minnesota got 51 wins behind KG's numbers of 23.0 points and 13.4 rebounds. The team averaged 98.1 points per game during the regular season but struggled on defense, giving up 96.0 points a night.
The Timberwolves went up against the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2003 playoffs. The Wolves put up a good fight and were able to get two games on the Lakers.
However, Los Angeles wound up winning the series in six games.
1. 2003-04 Wolves
Led by Kevin Garnett, Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell, the Timberwolves got all the way to the 2004 Western Conference Finals.
KG had a monster season, averaging 24.2 points, 13.9 points, 5.0 assists and 2.2 blocks. He won the MVP Award.
The Wolves got past the Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings to advance to the conference finals. Once again, though, the Lakers were there to end the season for Minnesota.
Los Angeles beat the Timberwolves in six games.
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