1997–98 Minnesota Timberwolves season
Head coachFlip Saunders
General managerKevin McHale
Owner(s)Glen Taylor
ArenaTarget Center
Results
Record45–37 (.549)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Midwest)
Conference: 7th (Western)
Playoff finishFirst round
(lost to SuperSonics 2–3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKARE
KLGT-TV
Midwest Sports Channel
RadioKFAN

The 1997–98 NBA season was the Timberwolves' 9th season in the National Basketball Association.[1] During the off-season, the Timberwolves acquired Stanley Roberts from the Los Angeles Clippers,[2][3][4] and later on signed free agent Tom Hammonds in November.[5][6] In October, All-Star forward Kevin Garnett signed a six-year contract extension with the Timberwolves, which was worth $126 million.[7][8][9][10] After a 4–1 start to the season, the team played around .500 before posting a seven-game winning streak in January. However, they would lose Tom Gugliotta for the remainder of the season to an ankle injury after 41 games.[11][12][13] Chris Carr, who became the team's starting shooting guard this season, also went down with an ankle injury, only playing 51 games.[14] At midseason, the team traded long-time guard Doug West to the Vancouver Grizzlies in exchange for Anthony Peeler.[15][16][17][18] The Timberwolves held a 26–20 record at the All-Star break,[19] and won seven of their final eight games posting their first winning record at 45–37, third in the Midwest Division, and making their second consecutive playoff appearance.[20]

Garnett and second-year star Stephon Marbury both continued to establish themselves as two of the brightest stars in the NBA, as Garnett averaged 18.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.8 blocks per game, and was selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game,[21][22][23][24] while Marbury averaged 17.7 points, 8.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game. In addition, Gugliotta provided the team with 20.1 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game, while Sam Mitchell provided with 12.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, Carr contributed 9.9 points per game, and Terry Porter contributed 9.5 points and 3.3 assists per game off the bench. On the defensive side, Cherokee Parks averaged 7.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, while Roberts contributed 6.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, and Hammonds provided with 6.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game off the bench.[25]

In the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Timberwolves faced off against the 2nd-seeded Seattle SuperSonics. After losing Game 1 on the road, 108–83, the Timberwolves won their first ever playoff game with a 98–93 road win in Game 2.[26][27] Despite taking a 2–1 series lead,[28][29][30] the Timberwolves would lose the next two games to the SuperSonics, thus losing the series in five games.[31][32][33][34]

Following the season, Gugliotta signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Suns,[35][36][37][38] while Porter signed with the Miami Heat,[37][39][40][41] Roberts signed with the Houston Rockets,[42] Parks signed with the Vancouver Grizzlies,[43] and the oft-injured Michael Williams, who returned to play for the Timberwolves for the first time in two years due to a left heel injury,[44][45] was released to free agency.[46]

Draft picks

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
120Paul GrantC United StatesWisconsin
243Gordon Malone United StatesWest Virginia

Roster

1997–98 Minnesota Timberwolves roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
G 43 Carr, Chris Injured 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 207 lb (94 kg) 1974–03–12 Southern Illinois
F 17 Curley, Bill 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1972–05–29 Boston College
F/C 21 Garnett, Kevin (C) 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1976–05–19 Farragut Academy (IL)
F 24 Gugliotta, Tom Injured 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1969–12–19 NC State
F 20 Hammonds, Tom 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1967–03–27 Georgia Tech
G 31 Jordan, Reggie 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1968–01–26 New Mexico State
G 3 Marbury, Stephon (C) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1977–02–20 Georgia Tech
F 42 Mitchell, Sam 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1963–09–02 Mercer
C 44 Parks, Cherokee 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1972–10–11 Duke
G 1 Peeler, Anthony 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 208 lb (94 kg) 1969–11–25 Missouri
G 30 Porter, Terry 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1963–04–08 UW–Stevens Point
C 53 Roberts, Stanley 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 285 lb (129 kg) 1970–02–07 LSU
G 6 Wheat, DeJuan 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1973–10–14 Louisville
G 4 Williams, Micheal 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1966–07–23 Baylor
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (IN) Inactive
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: February 18, 1998

Roster Notes

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
z-Utah Jazz 6220.756–36–526–1522–2
x-San Antonio Spurs 5626.683631–1025–1618–6
x-Minnesota Timberwolves 4537.5491726–1519–2214–10
x-Houston Rockets 4141.5002124–1717–2414–10
Dallas Mavericks 2062.2444213–287–349–15
Vancouver Grizzlies 1963.2324314–275–364–20
Denver Nuggets 1171.134519–322–393–21
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Utah Jazz6220.756–
2 y-Seattle SuperSonics6121.7441
3 x-Los Angeles Lakers6121.7441
4 x-Phoenix Suns5626.6836
5 x-San Antonio Spurs5626.6836
6 x-Portland Trail Blazers4636.56116
7 x-Minnesota Timberwolves4537.54917
8 x-Houston Rockets4141.50021
9 Sacramento Kings2755.32935
10 Dallas Mavericks2062.24442
11 Vancouver Grizzlies1963.23243
11 Golden State Warriors1963.23243
13 Los Angeles Clippers1765.20745
14 Denver Nuggets1171.13451
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1997-98 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 –2–14–01–34–02–02–02–22–01–11–32–00–21–33–10–21–22–22–23–10–21–12–01–11–14–00–22–04–0
Boston 1–2–1–21–31–31–11–12–21–11–10–42–01–10–42–21–12–22–22–23–10–21–11–10–21–13–00–22–03–2
Charlotte 0–42–1–1–32–22–02–03–11–12–03–12–01–13–13–11–12–21–33–12–11–12–01–11–11–14–01–12–02–2
Chicago 3–13–13–1–2–21–12–03–12–02–02–22–01–12–14–01–14–04–03–12–11–11–12–02–01–14–00–22–03–1
Cleveland 0–43–12–22–2–1–12–03–12–01–12–22–01–11–32–22–03–11–22–23–12–01–12–00–20–23–11–12–01–2
Dallas 0–21–10–21–11–1–3–10–21–30–41–11–30–40–20–22–20–21–10–20–20–40–40–40–42–21–10–44–01–1
Denver 0–21–10–20–20–21–3–0–21–30–40–22–20–40–20–21–30–20–20–20–20–42–21–30–40–40–20–41–31–1
Detroit 2–22–21–31–31–32–02–0–2–01–11–32–00–21–22–20–22–22–21–23–11–10–21–11–10–24–00–20–22–2
Golden State 0–21–11–10–20–23–13–10–2–1–30–21–31–30–20–20–40–21–11–10–20–41–32–21–31–30–20–41–30–2
Houston 1–11–10–20–21–14–04–01–13–1–1–14–01–30–21–11–31–11–10–21–11–31–34–02–21–32–00–43–11–1
Indiana 3–14–01–32–22–21–12–03–12–01–1–2–00–23–14–02–02–12–13–14–01–11–12–00–20–24–01–12–04–0
L.A. Clippers 0–20–20–20–20–23–12–20–23–10–40–2–0–40–20–20–41–10–20–21–10–40–43–11–30–41–11–31–30–2
L.A. Lakers 2–01–11–11–11–14–04–02–03–13–12–04–0–1–12–04–01–11–11–10–22–22–24–04–01–32–03–14–01–1
Miami 3–14–01–31–23–12–02–02–12–02–01–32–01–1–3–11–13–12–23–14–00–22–02–00–20–24–01–12–02–2
Milwaukee 1–32–21–30–42–22–02–02–22–01–10–42–00–21–3–1–10–43–12–12–20–22–02–00–21–13–10–21–11–2
Minnesota 2–01–11–11–10–22–23–12–04–03–10–24–00–41–11–1–2–01–10–22–03–11–33–11–31–31–11–34–00–2
New Jersey 2–12–22–20–41–32–02–02–22–01–11–21–11–11–34–00–2–2–23–13–11–11–12–01–10–23–10–22–01–3
New York 2–22–23–10–42–11–12–02–21–11–11–22–01–12–21–31–12–2–4–02–22–01–11–10–21–13–10–22–01–3
Orlando 2–22–21–31–32–22–02–02–11–12–01–32–01–11–31–22–01–30–4–4–00–22–00–20–21–13–10–22–03–1
Philadelphia 1–31–31–21–21–32–02–01–32–01–10–41–12–00–42–20–21–32–20–4–1–11–11–10–20–22–20–22–03–1
Phoenix 2–02–01–11–10–24–04–01–14–03–11–14–02–22–02–01–31–10–22–01–1–2–23–13–12–22–01–34–01–1
Portland 1–11–10–21–11–14–02–22–03–13–11–14–02–20–20–23–11–11–10–21–12–2–3–12–20–42–03–12–21–1
Sacramento 0–21–11–10–20–24–03–11–12–20–40–21–30–40–20–21–30–21–12–01–11–31–3–0–41–31–12–22–21–1
San Antonio 1–12–01–10–22–04–04–01–13–12–22–03–10–42–02–03–11–12–02–02–01–32–24–0–2–22–01–34–01–1
Seattle 1–11–11–11–12–02–24–02–03–13–12–04–03–12–01–13–12–01–11–12–02–24–03–12–2–2–02–24–01–1
Toronto 0–40–30–40–41–31–12–00–42–00–20–41–10–20–41–31–11–31–31–32–20–20–21–10–20–2–0–21–10–3
Utah 2–02–01–12–01–14–04–02–04–04–01–13–11–31–12–03–12–02–02–02–03–11–32–23–12–22–0–4–00–2
Vancouver 0–20–20–20–20–20–43–12–03–11–30–23–10–40–21–10–40–20–20–20–20–42–22–20–40–41–10–4–1–1
Washington 0–42–32–21–32–11–11–12–22–01–10–42–01–12–22–12–03–13–11–31–31–11–11–11–11–13–02–01–1—

Game log

Playoffs

1998 playoff game log
First round: 2–3 (home: 1–1; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 24 @ Seattle L 83–108 Kevin Garnett (18) Kevin Garnett (18) Stephon Marbury (5) KeyArena
17,072		 0–1
2 April 26 @ Seattle W 98–93 Stephon Marbury (25) Anthony Peeler (14) Stephon Marbury (7) KeyArena
17,072		 1–1
3 April 28 Seattle W 98–90 Anthony Peeler (20) Kevin Garnett (8) Stephon Marbury (11) Target Center
19,006		 2–1
4 April 30 Seattle L 88–92 Kevin Garnett (20) Kevin Garnett (10) Stephon Marbury (7) Target Center
19,006		 2–2
5 May 2 @ Seattle L 84–97 Anthony Peeler (28) Reggie Jordan (8) Stephon Marbury (8) KeyArena
17,072		 2–3
1998 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

Season

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Chris Carr 514022.8.420.315.8483.01.7.3.29.9
Bill Curley11113.3.485.000.6672.5.4.3.13.1
Kevin Garnett 828239.3.491.188.7389.64.21.71.818.5
Tom Gugliotta414138.6.502.118.8218.74.11.5.520.1
Tom Hammonds57220.0.516.000.6974.8.6.3.36.1
Reggie Jordan5718.5.478.000.5691.7.9.6.22.6
Stephon Marbury 828138.0.415.313.7312.88.61.3.117.7
Sam Mitchell 813327.6.464.349.8324.81.3.8.312.3
Cherokee Parks 794321.6.499.000.6515.5.7.51.17.1
Anthony Peeler302433.0.445.453.7803.43.81.7.213.0
Terry Porter82821.8.449.395.8562.03.3.8.29.5
Stanley Roberts744417.9.495..4814.9.4.31.06.2
Clifford Rozier605.0.500..0001.0.0.0.01.0
Doug West381018.1.374.000.7252.21.2.3.14.1
DeJuan Wheat3404.4.400.471.600.3.7.2.01.7
Micheal Williams2506.4.333.000.970.61.3.4.12.6

Playoffs

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Bill Curley203.5....0.0.0.0.0
Kevin Garnett 5538.8.480..7789.64.0.82.415.8
Tom Hammonds5122.6.429..7504.4.4.0.27.2
Reggie Jordan2014.5.6251.000.5004.51.5.5.06.0
Stephon Marbury 5541.8.306.280.7833.27.62.4.013.8
Sam Mitchell 5535.4.448.214.8955.41.6.2.214.4
Cherokee Parks101.0....0.0.0.0.0
Anthony Peeler 5542.6.403.4841.0007.63.62.0.616.2
Terry Porter 5437.6.429.400.8335.03.21.0.015.8
Stanley Roberts108.0.000..5002.0.0.0.01.0
DeJuan Wheat103.0.500..1.0.01.0.02.0
Micheal Williams4014.5.400.500.7782.32.8.8.35.0

Awards and records

Transactions

References

  1. ↑ 1997-98 Minnesota Timberwolves
  2. ↑ Gardner, Kris (June 25, 1997). "ARCHIVE: Houston Roundball Review NBA Trade Analyses -- 1997 NBA Draft Day Deals". The Houston Roundball Review. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  3. ↑ Howard-Cooper, Scott (June 26, 1997). "Draft Over, But Not Finished". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  4. ↑ Howard-Cooper, Scott (June 27, 1997). "Goodbye, Stanley, We Barely Knew You". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  5. ↑ "The Houston Rockets, Who Will Be Without..." Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. November 26, 1997. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  6. ↑ Facer, Dick (November 30, 1997). "24-Second Clock". Deseret News. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Garnett's Big Deal: More Than $121 Million". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. October 2, 1997. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Minnesota Timberwolves and Kevin Garnett Reach Terms for Record Six-Year, $121 Million". Associated Press. October 2, 1997. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  9. ↑ Smith, Sam (October 2, 1997). "Garnett Hits Jackpot of $123 Million". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Garnett's $126 Million: Wolves' Bargain or Bust?". Deseret News. Associated Press. October 17, 1997. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Wolves' Gugliotta Out for Season". Associated Press. February 20, 1998. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Referee Pleads Guilty". Los Angeles Times. Times Wire Services. February 21, 1998. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  13. ↑ "T-Wolves' Gugliotta Out for Season". Deseret News. January 21, 1998. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Grizzlies' West Vows to Deal with Drinking". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 25, 1998. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  15. ↑ Heisler, Mark (February 20, 1998). "It's a Big Deal for Clippers: There Are No Slam Dunks in the Flurry of NBA Deals". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  16. ↑ Smith, Sam (February 20, 1998). "NBA's Rash of Trades Ends with Another Seikaly Deal". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Trade Completed". The Washington Post. February 22, 1998. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Timberwolves Guard to Get Treatment". Associated Press. February 23, 1998. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  19. ↑ "NBA Games Played on February 5, 1998". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  20. ↑ "1997–98 Minnesota Timberwolves Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  21. ↑ Howard-Cooper, Scott (January 28, 1998). "Lakers Get Four-Star Rating as Van Exel, Jones Honored". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  22. ↑ "1998 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  23. ↑ "1997-98 All-Star Events and Contestants - in New York". Eskimo North. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  24. ↑ "1998 NBA All-Star Game: East 135, West 114". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  25. ↑ "1997–98 Minnesota Timberwolves Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  26. ↑ "N.B.A.: PLAYOFFS; Finally, Post-Season Success". The New York Times. Associated Press. April 27, 1998. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Timberwolves Stun SuperSonics". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. April 27, 1998. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  28. ↑ "N.B.A.: PLAYOFFS; Minnesota Shocks Seattle". The New York Times. Associated Press. April 29, 1998. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  29. ↑ "SuperSonics Facing Elimination Again". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. April 29, 1998. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  30. ↑ "Timberwolves 98, SuperSonics 90". United Press International. April 29, 1998. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  31. ↑ "Seattle 97, Minnesota 84". United Press International. May 2, 1998. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  32. ↑ "THE N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Sonics Advance After Submerging the Spunky Timberwolves". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 3, 1998. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  33. ↑ Heisler, Mark (May 3, 1998). "SuperSonics Put Cubs to Bed". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  34. ↑ "1998 NBA Western Conference First Round: Timberwolves vs. SuperSonics". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  35. ↑ Baum, Bob (January 22, 1999). "Gugliotta Leaves Suns Without Deal". Associated Press. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  36. ↑ "Suns Acquire Tom Gugliotta". CBS News. CBS News.com Staff. January 23, 1999. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  37. 1 2 "NBA DEALINGS: McDyess, Divac and Smith Sign". Kitsap Sun. Associated Press. January 23, 1999. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  38. ↑ "Gugliotta Winds Up in Valley of the Sun". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. January 24, 1999. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  39. ↑ Barnes, Craig (February 5, 1999). "Players Might Need Time to Remove Rust". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  40. ↑ Barnes, Craig (February 7, 1999). "Riley's Evaluation: Enthusiasm Missing". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  41. ↑ "Porter Says Title Potential in Miami Heat". The Journal Times. March 27, 1999. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  42. ↑ "N.B.A.; Rose Finds His Shooting Range as Indiana Starts with Victory". The New York Times. Associated Press. February 6, 1999. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  43. ↑ "Grizzlies Sign Top Pick Bibby". CBS News. January 22, 1999. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  44. ↑ "PLUS: BASKETBALL; Williams Cleared". The New York Times. Associated Press. September 26, 1997. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  45. ↑ "Timberwolves' Williams Finally Returns". United Press International. December 12, 1997. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  46. ↑ Wise, Mike (February 4, 1999). "PRO BASKETBALL; A Scrum for the Title". The New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  47. ↑ "Barkley, NBA Officials to Talk". Tampa Bay Times. October 31, 1997. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  48. ↑ "Utah Inks Paul Grant". United Press International. January 1, 2004. Retrieved May 1, 2023.

See also

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