The Minnesota Timberwolves are not the oldest NBA team, as they were founded in 1989 and have very few wins. The franchise has had a few names that have become synonymous with them, but their list is thinner than most of the franchises. One problem that Minnesota has always faced is that their best players generally want out at some point or make a trade. In this article, we will have a look at the 10 best players in the history of the Timberwolves.
10. Stephon Marbury
Stephon Marbury was selected fourth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1996 NBA Draft but then traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The franchise wanted him to be the second superstar behind Kevin Garnett and built the team around them. However, Marbury only spent two and a half seasons with the team before getting traded to the New Jersey Nets. His numbers on the court were great, but rumors of a dispute with Garnett and the franchise not liking his attitude led him to be traded.
9. Andrew Wiggins
Andrew Wiggins was the first overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2014 NBA Draft. Later, he was traded to the Timberwolves as part of the three-team trade. Wiggins played five and a half seasons with the franchise and because of his career trajectory, he is considered a disappointment at the end of his Timberwolves stint. Andrew was blamed for the team not winning with him as a top two player, but his numbers were still great. The Golden State Warriors took the pressure off Wiggins by adding him and showing that he can contribute to wins without changing his style.
8. Jimmy Butler
Jimmy Butler’s tenure with the Minnesota Timberwolves lasted only one and a half seasons before getting traded to the 76ers. However, Butler is still in the top 10 in franchise history. Minnesota reached the playoffs for the first time in several years, with Butler as their best all-round player. Ge was successful in his short tenure there, but Jimmy wanted out when he did not like the structure of the team. Timberwolves fans hated him for this, but he was still perfect for the team as a player.
7. Al Jefferson
The Timberwolves faced one of the toughest challenges when Kevin Garnett requested a trade because he desired to play for a contender. So Minnesota shared an interest in wanting a young player and, as a result, made a deal with the Boston Celtics in exchange for Al Jefferson. His ability led some teams to consider him a consistent All-Star. However, Jefferson never made it to the All-Star team but was a consistent player for the Timberwolves. He averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds in three seasons with the franchise.
6. Tom Gugliotta
After playing with the Washington Wizards and the Golden State Warriors, Tom Gugliotta became a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves. He averaged 20 points per game and made an All-Star selection. This led the franchise to hope Tom could develop into their second star behind Garnett. However, his tenure ended soon and Gugliotta moved to the Phoenix Suns.
5. Sam Cassell
Sam Cassell was already an incredible player and a championship winner when he entered the Timberwolves franchise. Unfortunately, Cassell also had a very short stint with Minnesota and played only two seasons with them. But he contributed to their greatest success. Minnesota was seeded #1 in the West and made the 2004 Western Conference Finals, with Cassel coming in as their second All-Star. Even though the team fell short and Cassell left after just one more season, his impact was huge for them.
4. Wally Szczerbiak
Szczerbiak was the sixth overall pick by the Timberwolves in the 1999 NBA Draft. He spent six and a half seasons with the franchise, trying to help them go from a first-round exit playoff team every year. He made an All-Star appearance during an amazing season, averaging nearly 20 points per game. Injury problems led to Wally’s decline over the next two seasons and he was eventually put out when he was no longer available.
3. Karl-Anthony Towns
Towns was the first overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2015 NBA Draft and he is still a part of the franchise. He has proven his #1 draft pick status as a three-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA player. “Big KAT” has put up great statistics every season and remains one of the league’s best players.
2. Kevin Love
Kevin Love played six seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves and was just fantastic during his tenure there. He put up some incredible numbers for the franchise, averaging 19.2 points and 10.8 rebounds. Love’s career highs of 51 points and 31 rebounds showed how dominant a player he was. Love made three All-Star appearances and received two All-NBA selections before being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
1. Kevin Garnett
Kevin Garnett is without a doubt the greatest player in the Timberwolves’ history. Garnett had an amazing run in the franchise during his twelve outstanding seasons. Garnett made the All-Star team every year and won the MVP award in 2004. He led them to the postseason in almost every season. No Timberwolves player has come close to touching Garnett’s legacy as the iconic Minnesota player.
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