The 1996-97 Minnesota Timberwolves marked a pivotal season in the franchise’s history. Under the leadership of head coach Flip Saunders, the team finished with a 40-42 record, securing the 6th seed in the Western Conference and making their first-ever playoff appearance. This season was notable for the emergence of 20-year-old Kevin Garnett, who averaged 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists per game, solidifying his role as a franchise cornerstone.
Point guard Stephon Marbury, acquired via a draft-night trade, made an immediate impact, averaging 15.8 points and 7.8 assists, forming a promising duo with Garnett. Despite their regular-season success, the Timberwolves faced the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs, where they were swept 3-0. Nonetheless, the 1996-97 season was a turning point, setting the foundation for future success by establishing a young and dynamic core.
- Regular Season Record: 40-42
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 0-3
Minnesota Timberwolves Roster and Stats for 1996-97 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Tom Gugliotta | 81 | 20.6 | 8.7 | 4.1 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 25.8 | 3 | 18.3 | 5.3 | 4.3 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 75.0 |
| Kevin Garnett | 77 | 17.0 | 8.0 | 3.1 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 28.6 | 3 | 17.3 | 9.3 | 3.7 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 100.0 |
| Stephon Marbury | 67 | 15.8 | 2.7 | 7.8 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 35.4 | 3 | 21.3 | 4.0 | 7.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 30.0 |
| Sam Mitchell | 82 | 9.3 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 16.0 | 3 | 5.7 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| James Robinson | 69 | 8.3 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 38.2 | 2 | 7.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 40.0 |
| Dean Garrett | 68 | 8.0 | 7.3 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 3 | 12.7 | 11.7 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Doug West | 68 | 7.8 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 33.3 | 3 | 11.0 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Terry Porter | 82 | 6.9 | 2.1 | 3.6 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 33.5 | 3 | 5.3 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 33.3 |
| Chris Carr | 55 | 6.1 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 35.2 | 1 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Stojko Vranković | 53 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Cherokee Parks | 76 | 3.3 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 1 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Reggie Jordan | 10 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Shane Heal | 43 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 30.8 | 2 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 |
Minnesota Timberwolves in the 1997 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Houston Rockets
In the 1997 NBA Playoffs, the Minnesota Timberwolves faced the Houston Rockets in the first round, marking their first-ever playoff appearance. Despite a spirited effort led by the young duo of Kevin Garnett and Stephon Marbury, the Timberwolves were overpowered by the veteran experience of Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, and Clyde Drexler, resulting in a 3-0 series sweep. This matchup underscored the Timberwolves' potential but also highlighted the gap they needed to bridge to compete with elite teams.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 24, 1997 | @ Houston Rockets | L 112-95 | |
| Apr 26, 1997 | @ Houston Rockets | L 96-84 | |
| Apr 29, 1997 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 125-120 |
Minnesota Timberwolves 1996-97 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1996-97 season for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 01, 1996 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 82-78 | |
| Nov 03, 1996 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 91-85 | |
| Nov 05, 1996 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 98-95 | |
| Nov 07, 1996 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 95-94 | |
| Nov 10, 1996 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 81-70 | |
| Nov 12, 1996 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 100-97 | |
| Nov 14, 1996 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 100-90 | |
| Nov 16, 1996 | @ New York Knicks | L 82-79 | |
| Nov 19, 1996 | @ Houston Rockets | L 122-93 | |
| Nov 21, 1996 | @ Orlando Magic | L 90-86 | |
| Nov 23, 1996 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 98-96 | |
| Nov 25, 1996 | @ Washington Bullets | L 105-98 | |
| Nov 27, 1996 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 106-98 | |
| Nov 29, 1996 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 108-103 | |
| Nov 30, 1996 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 79-70 | |
| Dec 03, 1996 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 96-89 | |
| Dec 05, 1996 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 117-86 | |
| Dec 06, 1996 | @ Utah Jazz | L 106-95 | |
| Dec 08, 1996 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 110-86 | |
| Dec 10, 1996 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 96-94 | |
| Dec 11, 1996 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 103-86 | |
| Dec 13, 1996 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 108-105 | |
| Dec 14, 1996 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 101-93 | |
| Dec 18, 1996 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 123-96 | |
| Dec 19, 1996 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 112-105 | |
| Dec 21, 1996 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 103-88 | |
| Dec 23, 1996 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 107-98 | |
| Dec 26, 1996 | vs. New York Knicks | W 88-80 | |
| Dec 28, 1996 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 103-96 | |
| Dec 30, 1996 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 108-96 | |
| Jan 03, 1997 | @ Boston Celtics | W 94-84 | |
| Jan 04, 1997 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 97-91 | |
| Jan 07, 1997 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 104-95 | |
| Jan 09, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 110-107 | |
| Jan 11, 1997 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 95-93 | |
| Jan 14, 1997 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 95-93 | |
| Jan 15, 1997 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 112-102 | |
| Jan 18, 1997 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 108-93 | |
| Jan 20, 1997 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 96-83 | |
| Jan 21, 1997 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 118-106 | |
| Jan 23, 1997 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 95-76 | |
| Jan 25, 1997 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 101-94 | |
| Jan 28, 1997 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 91-88 | |
| Jan 30, 1997 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 92-82 | |
| Jan 31, 1997 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 97-95 | |
| Feb 02, 1997 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 103-102 | |
| Feb 04, 1997 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 115-101 | |
| Feb 06, 1997 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 103-86 | |
| Feb 12, 1997 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 100-84 | |
| Feb 14, 1997 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 104-100 | |
| Feb 16, 1997 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 107-96 | |
| Feb 18, 1997 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 95-84 | |
| Feb 19, 1997 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 84-73 | |
| Feb 21, 1997 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 101-82 | |
| Feb 26, 1997 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 108-89 | |
| Feb 27, 1997 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 107-105 | |
| Mar 02, 1997 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | L 108-96 | |
| Mar 05, 1997 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 92-88 | |
| Mar 07, 1997 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 96-83 | |
| Mar 09, 1997 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 115-106 | |
| Mar 11, 1997 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 104-100 | |
| Mar 13, 1997 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 108-92 | |
| Mar 14, 1997 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 109-95 | |
| Mar 16, 1997 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 119-101 | |
| Mar 18, 1997 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 115-97 | |
| Mar 19, 1997 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 95-72 | |
| Mar 21, 1997 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 112-98 | |
| Mar 23, 1997 | vs. Miami Heat | L 113-108 | |
| Mar 25, 1997 | @ Houston Rockets | L 112-103 | |
| Mar 26, 1997 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 102-100 | |
| Mar 28, 1997 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 92-81 | |
| Mar 30, 1997 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 113-102 | |
| Apr 02, 1997 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 94-89 | |
| Apr 04, 1997 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 97-95 | |
| Apr 06, 1997 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 94-83 | |
| Apr 08, 1997 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 115-107 | |
| Apr 10, 1997 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 108-96 | |
| Apr 12, 1997 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 80-66 | |
| Apr 14, 1997 | @ Miami Heat | W 95-87 | |
| Apr 16, 1997 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 92-77 | |
| Apr 18, 1997 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 122-112 | |
| Apr 19, 1997 | @ Utah Jazz | L 101-89 |