2001–02 Minnesota Timberwolves season

The 2001–02 NBA season was the Timberwolves' 13th season in the National Basketball Association.[1] The Timberwolves were able to re-sign Joe Smith during the off-season, with Smith arriving from the Detroit Pistons, where he played the previous season.[2][3][4] In addition, the team also signed free agent Gary Trent.[5][6] The Timberwolves won nine of their first ten games, which led them to a 28–9 start as of January 15, but started to slow down a bit holding a 33–16 record at the All-Star break.[7] Terrell Brandon sustained a knee injury after 32 games and was out for the remainder of the season,[8][9][10] as the team suffered a 7-game losing streak in March. At midseason, the team traded Dean Garrett to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for second-year center Marc Jackson,[11][12][13] and signed free agent Robert Pack in March.[14] The Timberwolves finished third in the Midwest Division with a solid 50–32 record.[15]

2001–02 Minnesota Timberwolves season
Head coachFlip Saunders
General managerKevin McHale
OwnersGlen Taylor
ArenaTarget Center
Results
Record50–32 (.610)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Midwest)
Conference: 5th (Western)
Playoff finishFirst round
(lost to Mavericks 0–3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKMSP-TV
WFTC
Fox Sports Net North
RadioKFAN

Kevin Garnett continued to establish himself as one of the top players in the NBA averaging 21.2 points, 12.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.6 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, and to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. In addition, Wally Szczerbiak averaged 18.7 points per game, which was second on the team in scoring, while Chauncey Billups provided the team with 12.5 points and 5.5 assists per game, Brandon contributed 12.4 points, 8.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game, and Smith provided with 10.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.[16] Garnett and Szczerbiak were both selected for the 2002 NBA All-Star Game.[17][18][19] Garnett also finished in second place in Defensive Player of the Year voting.[20][21][22]

However, in the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Timberwolves lost to the Dallas Mavericks in three straight games, and losing in the opening round of the playoffs for the sixth straight season.[23][24][25][26] Following the season, Billups signed as a free agent with the Detroit Pistons,[27][28][29] while Pack was released to free agency, and veteran forward Sam Mitchell, who was the only member left from the team's inaugural season, retired.[30]

Draft picks
Main article: 2001 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
129Forfeited pick
245Loren WoodsC United StatesArizona

Roster
2001–02 Minnesota Timberwolves roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
G 5 Avery, William Injured 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 197 lb (89 kg) 1979–08–08 Duke
G 4 Billups, Chauncey 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 202 lb (92 kg) 1976–09–25 Colorado
G 7 Brandon, Terrell Injured 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1970–05–20 Oregon
G 1 Evans, Maurice Injured 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1978–11–08 Texas
F/C 21 Garnett, Kevin (C) 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1976–05–19 Farragut Academy (IL)
C 25 Jackson, Marc 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 270 lb (122 kg) 1975–01–16 Temple
G 13 López, Felipe 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1974–12–19 St. John's
F 42 Mitchell, Sam 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1963–09–02 Mercer
C 8 Nesterović, Rasho 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1976–05–30 Slovenia
G 14 Pack, Robert 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1969–02–03 USC
G 44 Peeler, Anthony 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 208 lb (94 kg) 1969–11–25 Missouri
C 32 Smith, Joe 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1975–07–26 Maryland
G/F 10 Szczerbiak, Wally 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 244 lb (111 kg) 1977–03–05 Miami (OH)
F 20 Trent, Gary 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1974–09–22 Ohio
C 3 Woods, Loren 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 260 lb (118 kg) 1978–06–21 Arizona
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: March 18, 2002

Regular season

Season standings
Midwest Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-San Antonio Spurs 5824.707–32–926–1521–3
x-Dallas Mavericks 5725.695130–1127–1416–8
x-Minnesota Timberwolves 5032.610829–1221–2015–9
x-Utah Jazz 4438.5371425–1619–228–16
Houston Rockets 2854.3413018–2310–319–15
Denver Nuggets 2755.3293120–217–348–16
Memphis Grizzlies 2359.2803515–268–337–17
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Sacramento Kings6121.744–
2 y-San Antonio Spurs5824.7073
3 x-Los Angeles Lakers5824.7073
4 x-Dallas Mavericks5725.6954
5 x-Minnesota Timberwolves5032.61011
6 x-Portland Trail Blazers4933.59812
7 x-Seattle SuperSonics4537.54916
8 x-Utah Jazz4438.53717
9 Los Angeles Clippers3943.47622
10 Phoenix Suns3646.43925
11 Houston Rockets2854.34133
12 Denver Nuggets2755.32934
13 Memphis Grizzlies2359.28038
14 Golden State Warriors2161.25640
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents
2001-02 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MEM MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA WAS
Atlanta —2–22–23–13–10–22–01–32–01–11–31–11–12–03–11–30–22–11–31–31–31–11–10–20–20–20–41–10–3
Boston 2–2—2–12–24–00–22–02–21–10–23–02–02–02–03–11–31–13–14–03–11–31–11–10–20–21–12–21–13–1
Charlotte 2–21–2—4–03–10–22–01–32–01–13–11–10–21–13–02–20–21–32–23–11–32–01–10–21–11–12–21–13–1
Chicago 1–32–20–4—1–30–20–21–31–12–00–40–22–01–11–32–20–20–43–10–31–21–10–20–20–21–10–40–21–3
Cleveland 1–30–41–33–1—0–21–11–31–12–02–20–20–21–13–13–12–01–32–21–30–31–10–20–21–10–21–30–21–2
Dallas 2–02–02–02–02–0—4–01–14–02–22–02–21–34–01–12–02–22–01–11–11–13–12–23–11–33–11–13–11–1
Denver 0–20–20–22–01–10–4—0–21–32–20–21–31–33–10–20–22–21–12–00–21–13–12–20–40–43–11–11–30–2
Detroit 3–12–23–13–13–11–12–0—1–11–13–11–10–22–02–12–21–13–13–12–22–11–10–20–20–21–13–11–14–0
Golden State 0–21–10–21–11–10–43–11–1—1–30–22–21–33–10–20–21–31–11–10–21–10–42–20–40–40–40–20–41–1
Houston 1–12–01–10–20–22–22–21–13–1—0–21–30–41–30–21–12–20–21–10–21–12–21–30–40–42–21–12–21–1
Indiana 3–10–31–34–02–20–22–01–32–02–0—1–10–21–12–21–31–11–32–13–13–11–11–12–01–10–21–31–13–1
L.A. Clippers 1–10–21–12–02–02–23–11–12–23–11–1—1–33–12–01–12–20–22–01–10–23–11–31–31–31–31–10–41–1
L.A. Lakers 1–10–22–00–22–03–13–12–03–14–02–03–1—3–11–12–02–21–12–02–01–12–22–23–13–13–11–13–12–0
Memphis 0–20–21–11–11–10–41–30–21–33–11–11–31–3—1–10–20–40–21–10–22–01–32–21–30–40–41–13–10–2
Miami 1–31–30–33–11–31–12–01–22–02–02–20–21–11–1—3–10–21–32–23–11–31–11–10–21–12–01–30–22–2
Milwaukee 3–13–12–22–21–30–22–02–22–01–13–11–10–22–01–3—0–21–21–32–11–30–20–20–22–00–24–02–03–1
Minnesota 2–01–12–02–00–22–22–21–13–12–21–12–22–24–02–02–0—1–12–01–11–12–22–21–32–22–21–13–12–0
New Jersey 1–21–33–14–03–10–21–11–31–12–03–12–01–12–03–12–11–1—4–03–12–21–11–11–12–01–12–21–13–1
New York 3–10–42–21–32–21–10–21–31–11–11–20–20–21–12–23–10–20–4—0–41–31–11–11–10–22–03–01–11–3
Orlando 3–11–31–33–03–11–12–02–22–02–01–31–10–22–01–31–21–11–34–0—3–12–00–21–10–20–23–11–12–2
Philadelphia 3–13–13–12–13–01–11–11–21–11–11–32–01–10–23–13–11–12–23–11–3—2–00–20–21–11–11–30–22–3
Phoenix 1–11–10–21–11–11–31–31–14–02–21–11–32–23–11–12–02–21–11–10–20–2—2–21–31–32–21–12–20–2
Portland 1–11–11–12–02–02–22–22–02–23–11–13–12–22–21–12–02–21–11–12–02–02–2—2–21–33–11–11–32–0
Sacramento 2–02–02–02–02–01–34–02–04–04–00–23–11–33–12–02–03–11–11–11–12–03–12–2—3–12–22–04–01–1
San Antonio 2–02–01–12–01–13–14–02–04–04–01–13–11–34–01–10–22–20–22–02–01–13–13–11–3—2–21–14–02–0
Seattle 2–01–11–11–12–01–31–31–14–02–22–03–11–34–00–22–02–21–10–22–01–12–21–32–22–2—2–01–31–1
Toronto 4–02–22–24–03–11–11–11–32–01–13–11–11–11–13–10–41–12–20–31–33–11–11–10–21–10–2—1–11–2
Utah 1–11–11–12–02–01–33–11–14–02–21–14–01–31–32–00–21–31–11–11–12–02–23–10–40–43–11–1—2–0
Washington 3–01–31–33–12–11–12–00–41–11–11–31–10–22–02–21–30–21–33–12–23–22–00–21–10–21–12–10–2—

Playoffs
2002 playoff game log
First Round: 0–3 (home: 0–1; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 21 @ Dallas L 94–101 Chauncey Billups (25) Kevin Garnett (21) Chauncey Billups (9) American Airlines Center
20,010		 0–1
2 April 24 @ Dallas L 110–122 Kevin Garnett (31) Kevin Garnett (18) Billups, Garnett (4) American Airlines Center
20,084		 0–2
3 April 28 Dallas L 102–115 Kevin Garnett (22) Kevin Garnett (17) Kevin Garnett (5) Target Center
18,795		 0–3
2002 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

Regular season
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
William Avery 2809.2.289.171.6840.91.30.30.02.5
Chauncey Billups 825428.7.423.394.8852.85.50.8 0.2 12.5
Terrell Brandon 322830.1.425.174.9882.98.31.60.212.4
Maurice Evans 1004.5.474.000.7500.40.40.00.02.1
Kevin Garnett 818139.2.499.319.80112.15.21.21.621.2
Marc Jackson 22014.8.384.000.8133.90.50.30.44.6
Felipe Lopez 6708.7.378.424.6731.20.60.30.02.5
Sam Mitchell 74109.8.432.286.7761.10.60.20.13.3
Rasho Nesterovic 828227.0.493.000.5496.50.90.51.38.4
Robert Pack 16015.8.368.250.7331.43.10.80.03.9
Anthony Peeler 82025.1.421.392.8622.52.20.70.19.0
Joe Smith 726326.7.511.667.8306.31.10.50.810.7
Wally Szczerbiak 828238.0.508.455.8313.11.20.80.318.7
Gary Trent 641017.8.507.000.6394.20.90.30.47.5
Loren Woods 6008.6.344.000.7332.00.40.30.61.8

Playoffs
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Chauncey Billups 3344.7.385.400.7005.05.71.00.322.0
Kevin Garnett 3343.3.429.500.71918.75.01.71.724.0
Marc Jackson 101.0.000.000.0000.00.00.00.00.0
Felipe Lopez 3010.0.250.500.5000.30.30.30.01.3
Sam Mitchell 3211.3.333.000.1000.71.00.30.32.7
Rasho Nesterovic 3330.7.484.000.4446.71.00.30.011.3
Robert Pack 303.3.200.000.1000.00.00.00.01.0
Anthony Peeler 3022.3.450.556.6674.30.71.30.09.0
Joe Smith 3114.3.000.000.8753.70.00.00.34.3
Wally Szczerbiak 3343.7.477.222.8897.02.0.070.020.0
Gary Trent 305.5.500.000.5003.00.30.00.06.3

Awards and records

Transactions

References
  1. 2001-02 Minnesota Timberwolves
  2. "BASKETBALL: ROUNDUP; Minnesota Signs Smith". The New York Times. July 31, 2001. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  3. "Timberwolves Sign Joe Smith". United Press International. July 30, 2001. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  4. Brown, Tim (December 2, 2001). "Lakers Serve Up a Half-Pounder". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  5. "Timberwolves Sign Forward Trent". Associated Press. October 2, 2001. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  6. Wise, Mike (October 30, 2001). "PRO BASKETBALL; Jordan Against the New Generation, Lakers Against the World". The New York Times. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  7. "NBA Games Played on February 7, 2002". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  8. "Brandon Out with Leg Injury". Huron Daily Tribune. February 12, 2002. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  9. "Brandon Goes on Injured List". United Press International. February 13, 2002. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  10. Springer, Steve (February 28, 2002). "No Chaunce for Lakers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  11. "Warriors Trade Jackson to Wolves". United Press International. February 21, 2002. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  12. "Mavericks Get Van Exel, LaFrentz". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 22, 2002. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  13. "Van Exel, Howard Are Part of Big Trade". The Washington Post. February 22, 2002. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  14. "Garnett Picks Himself Up for Timberwolves". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. March 29, 2002. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  15. "2001–02 Minnesota Timberwolves Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  16. "2001–02 Minnesota Timberwolves Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  17. "2002 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  18. "2002 All-Star Weekend - at Philadelphia: February 8-10". Eskimo North. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  19. "2002 NBA All-Star Game: West 135, East 120". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  20. "Ben Wallace Named NBA's Top Defender". Deseret News. Associated Press. April 21, 2002. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  21. "Pistons' Wallace Wins Award in a Landslide". ESPN. Associated Press. April 23, 2002. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  22. "2001–02 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  23. "N.B.A.: ROUNDUP; Lakers and Mavs Advance". The New York Times. Associated Press. April 29, 2002. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  24. "Mavericks' Sweep Is Team Effort". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. April 29, 2002. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  25. "Dallas 115, Minnesota 102". United Press International. April 28, 2002. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  26. "2002 NBA Western Conference First Round: Timberwolves vs. Mavericks". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  27. "Pistons Ecstatic to Have Billups in Mix". ESPN. Associated Press. July 17, 2002. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  28. "PLUS: PRO BASKETBALL; Pistons Sign Billups, But Not to Start". The New York Times. July 18, 2002. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  29. Smith, Sam (October 30, 2002). "Eastern Conference Capsules". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  30. Heisler, Mark (October 28, 2002). "West Capsules in Predicted Order of Finish". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 20, 2022.

See also
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