The 1996–97 NBA season was the Timberwolves' 8th season in the National Basketball Association.[1] In the 1996 NBA draft, the Timberwolves selected Connecticut shooting guard Ray Allen with the fifth pick, but soon traded him to the Milwaukee Bucks for rookie point guard Stephon Marbury out of Georgia Tech.[2] Offseason acquisitions included acquiring James Robinson from the Portland Trail Blazers, and Cherokee Parks from the Dallas Mavericks, while signing free agents Dean Garrett and Chris Carr. 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.
The Timberwolves went on to make their first ever playoff appearance, finishing third in the Midwest Division with a 40–42 record. Marbury was selected to the All-Rookie First Team. In the first round of the playoffs, they were swept by the Houston Rockets in three straight games. Following the season, Robinson was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, and Garrett signed with the Denver Nuggets.
For the season, the Timberwolves changed their logo and uniforms adding dark blue and black to their color scheme. Their logo and uniforms would both last until 2008.
Draft picks
Round |
Pick |
Player |
Position |
Nationality |
College |
1 | 5 | Ray Allen | SG | United States | Connecticut |
Roster
Minnesota Timberwolves roster |
Players | Coaches |
Pos. | No. | Name | Height | Weight | DOB (YYYY-MM-DD) | From |
SG |
7001430000000000000♠43 |
|
Carr, Chris |
7000195580000000000♠6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
207 lb (94 kg) |
|
Southern Illinois |
PF |
7001170000000000000♠17 |
|
Curley, Bill (IN) |
7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
220 lb (100 kg) |
|
Boston College |
SF |
7001210000000000000♠21 |
|
Garnett, Kevin |
7000210820000000000♠6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
220 lb (100 kg) |
|
Farragut Academy (HS) |
C |
7001220000000000000♠22 |
|
Garrett, Dean |
7000208279999999999♠6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
225 lb (102 kg) |
|
Indiana |
PF |
7001240000000000000♠24 |
|
Gugliotta, Tom |
7000208279999999999♠6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
240 lb (109 kg) |
|
North Carolina State |
PG |
7001100000000000000♠10 |
|
Heal, Shane |
7000182880000000000♠6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
180 lb (82 kg) |
|
Upper Yarra Secondary College (HS) |
SG |
7001310000000000000♠31 |
|
Jordan, Reggie |
7000193040000000000♠6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
195 lb (88 kg) |
|
New Mexico State |
PG |
7000300000000000000♠3 |
|
Marbury, Stephon |
7000187960000000000♠6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
180 lb (82 kg) |
|
Georgia Tech |
SF |
7001420000000000000♠42 |
|
Mitchell, Sam |
7000198120000000000♠6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
210 lb (95 kg) |
|
Mercer |
C |
7001440000000000000♠44 |
|
Parks, Cherokee |
7000210820000000000♠6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
235 lb (107 kg) |
|
Duke |
PG |
7001300000000000000♠30 |
|
Porter, Terry |
7000190500000000000♠6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
195 lb (88 kg) |
|
Wisconsin–Stevens Point |
SG |
7001260000000000000♠26 |
|
Robinson, James |
7000187960000000000♠6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
180 lb (82 kg) |
|
Alabama |
C |
7001110000000000000♠11 |
|
Vranković, Stojko |
7000218440000000000♠7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) |
260 lb (118 kg) |
|
Croatia |
SG |
7000500000000000000♠5 |
|
West, Doug |
7000198120000000000♠6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
200 lb (91 kg) |
|
Villanova |
PG |
7000400000000000000♠4 |
|
Williams, Micheal (IN) |
7000187960000000000♠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
Roster |
Roster Notes
- Guard Micheal Williams missed the entire season due to a sore left heel injury.
- Forward Bill Curley missed the entire season rehabilitating from surgery on his right knee.
Regular season
Season standings
- 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 | — |
Playoffs
West First Round
(3) Houston Rockets vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
Last Playoff Meeting: Not available (first playoff series)
Game |
Date |
Visitor |
Score |
Home |
Score |
Record
(HOU-MIN) |
Venue |
Recap |
Television |
1 |
April 24 |
Houston |
112 |
Minnesota |
95 |
1-0 |
The Summit, Houston |
1 |
2 |
April 26 |
Houston |
96 |
Minnesota |
84 |
2-0 |
The Summit, Houston |
2 |
NBC |
3 |
April 29 |
Minnesota |
120 |
Houston |
125 |
3-0 |
Target Center, Minneapolis |
3 |
Houston wins series 3–0
|
See also
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Franchise | |
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Arenas | |
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General managers | |
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G League affiliate | |
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Administration | |
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Division championships (1) | |
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Culture and lore | |
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Retired numbers | |
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