1995–96 Minnesota Timberwolves season
NBA professional basketball team season
NBA professional basketball team 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] [ 11] and re-signed former T-Wolves forward Sam Mitchell during the off-season.[ 12] [ 13] 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 ,[ 14] [ 15] [ 16] while Michael Williams was out for the remainder of the season with a left heel injury after only just nine games.[ 17] [ 18]
At midseason, the team traded Christian Laettner and Sean Rooks to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Andrew Lang and Spud Webb ,[ 19] [ 20] [ 21] [ 22] as the team re-acquired second-year guard Darrick Martin after a brief stint with the expansion Vancouver Grizzlies .[ 23] After holding a 13–32 record at the All-Star break,[ 24] 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.[ 25]
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,[ 26] [ 27] [ 28] while Porter provided with 9.4 points and 5.5 assists per game, and Doug West contributed 6.4 points per game.[ 29]
Following the season, Rider, who dealt with off-the-court troubles, was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers ,[ 30] [ 31] [ 32] [ 33] while Lang was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks ,[ 34] Martin signed with the Los Angeles Clippers ,[ 35] [ 23] and Webb was released to free agency.
Offseason
NBA draft
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.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
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
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
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
––
Villanova
G
4
Williams, Micheal
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
––
Baylor
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Roster
Regular season
Season standings
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
—
4–0
3–1
0–4
3–1
1–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
1–1
1–3
2–0
0–2
2–2
2–2
1–1
4–0
2–1
2–2
2–1
0–2
2–0
2–0
0–2
0–2
4–0
1–1
2–0
1–3
Boston
0–4
—
2–2
0–3
1–3
0–2
1–1
2–1
0–2
1–1
0–4
2–0
0–2
3–1
3–1
2–0
2–2
0–4
1–3
4–0
1–1
0–2
2–0
0–2
0–2
3–1
0–2
1–1
2–2
Charlotte
1–3
2–2
—
1–3
3–1
2–0
2–0
1–3
0–2
0–2
1–3
1–1
2–0
2–2
3–1
1–1
0–3
3–0
0–4
3–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
3–1
1–1
2–0
3–1
Chicago
4–0
3–0
3–1
—
4–0
2–0
1–1
4–0
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–0
2–0
3–1
4–0
2–0
3–0
3–1
3–1
4–0
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
1–1
3–1
2–0
2–0
4–0
Cleveland
1–3
3–1
1–3
0–4
—
2–0
1–1
2–2
2–0
1–1
2–2
2–0
2–0
1–3
4–0
2–0
1–2
3–1
1–2
4–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
3–1
0–2
2–0
3–1
Dallas
1–1
2–0
0–2
0–2
0–2
—
2–2
0–2
2–2
1–3
0–2
2–2
0–4
0–2
1–1
0–4
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–3
0–4
2–2
2–2
2–2
1–1
1–3
4–0
0–2
Denver
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
2–2
—
1–1
2–2
1–3
0–2
1–3
2–2
0–2
1–1
4–0
0–2
1–1
1–1
2–0
3–1
0–4
0–4
0–4
1–3
2–0
3–1
3–1
1–1
Detroit
2–2
1–2
3–1
0–4
2–2
2–0
1–1
—
2–0
1–1
2–2
2–0
0–2
1–3
2–2
1–1
4–0
0–4
1–3
4–0
2–0
2–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
4–0
0–2
2–0
1–2
Golden State
1–1
2–0
2–0
0–2
0–2
2–2
2–2
0–2
—
2–2
1–1
3–1
1–3
1–1
1–1
3–1
2–0
0–2
0–2
2–0
1–3
1–3
1–3
1–3
0–4
1–1
1–3
4–0
1–1
Houston
1–1
1–1
2–0
0–2
1–1
3–1
3–1
1–1
2–2
—
2–0
4–0
3–1
0–2
2–0
2–2
2–0
0–2
0–2
2–0
3–1
2–2
2–2
1–3
0–4
2–0
2–2
4–0
1–1
Indiana
3–1
4–0
3–1
2–2
2–2
2–0
2–0
2–2
1–1
0–2
—
2–0
1–1
3–0
3–1
1–1
1–3
1–3
2–2
3–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–0
4–0
0–2
2–0
3–0
L.A. Clippers
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
2–2
3–1
0–2
1–3
0–4
0–2
—
0–4
1–1
1–1
3–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
2–0
3–1
2–2
2–2
1–3
0–4
0–2
1–3
3–1
1–1
L.A. Lakers
2–0
2–0
0–2
0–2
0–2
4–0
2–2
2–0
3–1
1–3
1–1
4–0
—
2–0
2–0
3–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
3–1
2–2
3–1
1–3
2–2
2–0
2–2
4–0
1–1
Miami
2–2
1–3
2–2
1–3
3–1
2–0
2–0
3–1
1–1
2–0
0–3
1–1
0–2
—
3–0
1–1
5–0
1–3
1–3
3–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
2–1
0–2
1–1
2–2
Milwaukee
2–2
1–3
1–3
0–4
0–4
1–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
0–2
1–3
1–1
0–2
0–3
—
1–1
1–3
2–2
1–3
2–1
0–2
2–0
0–2
1–1
0–2
2–2
0–2
1–1
1–3
Minnesota
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
4–0
0–4
1–1
1–3
2–2
1–1
1–3
1–3
1–1
1–1
—
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
1–3
0–4
3–1
1–3
0–4
1–1
1–3
2–2
0–2
New Jersey
0–4
2–2
3–0
0–3
2–1
1–1
2–0
0–4
0–2
0–2
3–1
1–1
0–2
0–5
3–1
1–1
—
2–2
0–4
2–2
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
2–2
0–2
2–0
2–2
New York
1–2
4–0
0–3
1–3
1–3
2–0
1–1
4–0
2–0
2–0
3–1
1–1
1–1
3–1
2–2
2–0
2–2
—
1–3
3–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
1–1
4–0
1–1
1–1
3–1
Orlando
2–2
3–1
4–0
1–3
2–1
1–1
1–1
3–1
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
3–1
3–1
2–0
4–0
3–1
—
4–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–1
1–1
2–0
4–0
Philadelphia
1–2
0–4
1–3
0–4
0–4
2–0
0–2
0–4
0–2
0–2
1–3
0–2
1–1
1–3
1–2
1–1
2–2
1–3
0–4
—
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
3–1
1–1
1–1
1–3
Phoenix
2–0
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
3–1
1–3
0–2
3–1
1–3
1–1
1–3
1–3
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
2–0
0–2
2–0
—
2–2
2–2
1–3
0–4
2–0
1–3
4–0
2–0
Portland
0–2
2–0
1–1
0–2
1–1
4–0
4–0
0–2
3–1
2–2
1–1
2–2
2–2
2–0
0–2
4–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
—
1–3
1–3
1–3
2–0
1–3
2–2
0–2
Sacramento
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–2
4–0
1–1
3–1
2–2
2–0
2–2
1–3
1–1
2–0
1–3
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
3–1
—
1–3
0–4
2–0
0–4
2–2
0–2
San Antonio
2–0
2–0
2–0
0–2
2–0
2–2
4–0
0–2
3–1
3–1
1–1
3–1
3–1
1–1
1–1
3–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
3–1
3–1
3–1
—
2–2
2–0
3–1
4–0
1–1
Seattle
2–0
2–0
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
3–1
1–1
4–0
4–0
0–2
4–0
2–2
2–0
2–0
4–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
4–0
3–1
4–0
2–2
—
1–1
3–1
3–1
1–1
Toronto
0–4
1–3
1–3
1–3
1–3
1–1
0–2
0–4
1–1
0–2
0–4
2–0
0–2
1–2
2–2
1–1
2–2
0–4
1–2
1–3
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
—
0–2
1–1
3–1
Utah
1–1
2–0
1–1
0–2
2–0
3–1
1–3
2–0
3–1
2–2
2–0
3–1
2–2
2–0
2–0
3–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
3–1
3–1
4–0
1–3
1–3
2–0
—
4–0
1–1
Vancouver
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–4
1–3
0–2
0–4
0–4
0–2
1–3
0–4
1–1
1–1
2–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–4
2–2
2–2
0–4
1–3
1–1
0–4
—
0–2
Washington
3–1
2–2
1–3
0–4
1–3
2–0
1–1
2–1
1–1
1–1
0–3
1–1
1–1
2–2
3–1
2–0
2–2
1–3
0–4
3–1
0–2
2–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–3
1–1
2–0
—
Game log
Player statistics
Ragular season
Player
POS
GP
GS
MP
REB
AST
STL
BLK
PTS
MPG
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
PPG
Terry Porter
PG
82
40
2,072
212
452
89
15
773
25.3
2.6
5.5
1.1
.2
9.4
Kevin Garnett
SF
80
43
2,293
501
145
86
131
835
28.7
6.3
1.8
1.1
1.6
10.4
Tom Gugliotta
PF
78
78
2,835
690
238
139
96
1,261
36.3
8.8
3.1
1.8
1.2
16.2
Sam Mitchell
SF
78
42
2,145
339
74
49
26
844
27.5
4.3
.9
.6
.3
10.8
Isaiah Rider
SG
75
68
2,594
309
213
48
23
1,470
34.6
4.1
2.8
.6
.3
19.6
Doug West
SG
73
16
1,639
161
119
30
17
465
22.5
2.2
1.6
.4
.2
6.4
Mark Davis
SF
57
0
571
125
47
40
22
188
10.0
2.2
.8
.7
.4
3.3
Marques Bragg
PF
53
0
369
79
8
17
8
131
7.0
1.5
.2
.3
.2
2.5
Sean Rooks †
C
49
7
902
204
38
19
28
331
18.4
4.2
.8
.4
.6
6.8
Christian Laettner †
C
44
44
1,518
302
129
40
43
792
34.5
6.9
2.9
.9
1.0
18.0
Jerome Allen
SG
41
0
362
25
49
21
5
108
8.8
.6
1.2
.5
.1
2.6
Darrick Martin †
PG
35
16
747
44
156
26
2
254
21.3
1.3
4.5
.7
.1
7.3
Spud Webb †
PG
26
21
645
40
154
25
5
244
24.8
1.5
5.9
1.0
.2
9.4
Eric Riley
C
25
10
310
76
5
8
16
92
12.4
3.0
.2
.3
.6
3.7
Andrew Lang †
C
20
18
550
121
3
7
41
175
27.5
6.1
.2
.4
2.1
8.8
Micheal Williams
PG
9
7
189
23
31
5
3
55
21.0
2.6
3.4
.6
.3
6.1
Charles Smith
PG
8
0
39
5
6
1
0
6
4.9
.6
.8
.1
.0
.8
† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Timberwolves only.
Awards and honors
Transactions
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adding to it .
(December 2022 )
References
^ 1995-96 Minnesota Timberwolves
^ Wise, Mike (June 29, 1995). "PRO BASKETBALL; Underclassmen Rule Atop N.B.A. Draft Board" . The New York Times . Retrieved July 25, 2021 .
^ 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 .
^ "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 .
^ Nakamura, David (June 29, 1995). "Joe Goes West as Warriors Make Smith No. 1 Pick" . The Washington Post . Retrieved June 3, 2023 .
^ Smith, Sam (November 2, 1995). " 'Kid' Garnett Takes on Man-Sized Job" . Chicago Tribune . Retrieved October 10, 2022 .
^ "1995 NBA Draft" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved December 1, 2022 .
^ "Timberwolves Sign Free Agent Porter" . Eugene Register-Guard . News Service Reports. October 15, 1995. p. 2F. Retrieved October 30, 2024 .
^ Smith, Sam (October 15, 1995). "Rookies Provide Proviso Influence" . Chicago Tribune . Retrieved January 29, 2023 .
^ "Transactions" . The New York Times . October 15, 1995. Retrieved January 14, 2022 .
^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; McHale Moves to Improve Timberwolves" . The New York Times . October 17, 1995. Retrieved July 25, 2022 .
^ "NBA Locks Out Refs After Pledge Rejected" . Los Angeles Times . Staff and Wire Reports. September 30, 1995. Retrieved January 30, 2023 .
^ "NBA Off-Season Transactions" . United Press International . October 5, 1995. Retrieved June 30, 2022 .
^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Minnesota Throws Coach to the Wolves" . The New York Times . December 19, 1995. Retrieved July 25, 2022 .
^ "At 6-14, Timberwolves Fire Blair as Coach" . Los Angeles Times . Staff and Wire Reports. December 19, 1995. Retrieved January 30, 2023 .
^ "Another Year, Another Firing: Timberwolves Dump Blair" . Chicago Tribune . December 19, 1995. Retrieved January 30, 2023 .
^ "PLUS: BASKETBALL; Williams Cleared" . The New York Times . Associated Press. September 26, 1997. Retrieved November 8, 2022 .
^ "Timberwolves' Williams Finally Returns" . United Press International . December 12, 1997. Retrieved November 8, 2022 .
^ "Hawks Trade Lang, Webb to Timberwolves for Laettner, Rooks" . Associated Press . February 22, 1996. Retrieved June 21, 2023 .
^ "Laettner, Rooks Traded to Hawks" . United Press International . February 22, 1996. Retrieved July 29, 2021 .
^ Brown, Clifton (February 23, 1996). "PRO BASKETBALL; On Deadline, Riley Makes Bold Moves" . The New York Times . Retrieved July 24, 2022 .
^ "Hardaway Heads for the Heat in Trade" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. February 23, 1996. Retrieved September 24, 2022 .
^ a b Baker, Chris (February 11, 1997). "He's Tiny, But His Presence Is Huge" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved November 8, 2022 .
^ "NBA Games Played on February 8, 1996" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved January 2, 2023 .
^ "1995–96 Minnesota Timberwolves Schedule and Results" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 1, 2021 .
^ "Stoudamire Named Top Rookie After Lukewarm NBA Reception" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. May 16, 1996. Retrieved February 1, 2023 .
^ "Raptors' Stoudamire Easily Captures Rookie Honors" . Chicago Tribune . Tribune News Services. May 16, 1996. Retrieved February 1, 2023 .
^ "1995–96 NBA Awards Voting" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved February 1, 2023 .
^ "1995–96 Minnesota Timberwolves Roster and Stats" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 1, 2021 .
^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Rider, Then Anderson, Join the Trail Blazers" . The New York Times . July 24, 1996. Retrieved January 8, 2023 .
^ "Portland Gets Rider, Signs Anderson" . Los Angeles Times . Staff and Wire Reports. July 24, 1996. Retrieved September 24, 2022 .
^ "Rider, Anderson to Blazers" . Tampa Bay Times . July 24, 1996. Retrieved June 23, 2023 .
^ "Rider Traded to Blazers for 2 Players" . United Press International . July 24, 1996. Retrieved July 21, 2017 .
^ "Bucks Acquire Andrew Lang from Timberwolves" . Associated Press . July 11, 1996. Retrieved June 30, 2022 .
^ Baker, Chris (September 20, 1996). "Clippers Sign Former Bruin" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved September 18, 2022 .
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