1994–95 Minnesota Timberwolves season

The 1994–95 NBA season was the Timberwolves' 6th season in the National Basketball Association. The Timberwolves received the fourth overall pick in the 1994 NBA draft, and selected Donyell Marshall from the University of Connecticut. During the off-season, the team acquired Sean Rooks from the Dallas Mavericks, and signed free agents Winston Garland, and undrafted rookie guard Darrick Martin in February. Under new head coach Bill Blair, the Timberwolves continued to struggle losing 13 of their first 14 games, including a 7-game losing streak, as Micheal Williams missed all but one game of the season due to a left heel injury.

In December, the team signed free agent Greg Foster, who was previously released by the Chicago Bulls. At midseason, Marshall was traded to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Tom Gugliotta. The Timberwolves held an 11–36 record at the All-Star break, lost nine of their final ten games, and finished last place in the Midwest Division with a 21–61 record, setting a dubious record in becoming the first team ever to lose 60 or more games in four consecutive seasons.

Second-year star Isaiah Rider led the team in scoring with 20.4 points per game, while Christian Laettner averaged 16.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, and Doug West contributed 12.9 points per game. In addition, Rooks provided the team with 10.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, and Garland contributed 6.1 points and 4.4 assists per game as the team's starting point guard in Williams' absence.

Following the season, Martin signed as a free agent with the newly expansion Vancouver Grizzlies, while Foster signed with the Utah Jazz, and Garland, Stacey King, Chris Smith and Mike Brown were all released to free agency.

Draft picks

Main article: 1994 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	4	Donyell Marshall	SF/PF	United States	Connecticut
2	30	Howard Eisley	PG	United States	Boston College

Roster

1994–95 Minnesota Timberwolves roster

Players

Coaches

Pos.	No.	Name	Height	Weight	DOB	From
C	40	Brown, Mike	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	257 lb (117 kg)	––	George Washington
F	30	Durham, Pat	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	––	Colorado State
C	44	Foster, Greg	6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)	240 lb (109 kg)	––	UTEP
G	22	Garland, Winston	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	170 lb (77 kg)	––	Missouri State
F	24	Gugliotta, Tom	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)	240 lb (109 kg)	––	NC State
F	51	Guibert, Andrés	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	––	Cuba
F/C	21	King, Stacey	6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)	230 lb (104 kg)	––	Oklahoma
F	32	Laettner, Christian	6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)	235 lb (107 kg)	––	Duke
G	15	Martin, Darrick	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	170 lb (77 kg)	––	UCLA
G	34	Rider, Isaiah	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	––	UNLV
C	45	Rooks, Sean	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)	250 lb (113 kg)	––	Arizona
G	3	Smith, Chris	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	190 lb (86 kg)		Connecticut
F	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

Bill Blair

Assistant coach(es)

Legend

(DP) Unsigned draft pick
(FA) Free agent
(S) Suspended
Injured

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
z-San Antonio Spurs	62	20	.756	—	33–8	29–12	20–6
x-Utah Jazz	60	22	.732	2	33–8	27–14	17–9
x-Houston Rockets	47	35	.573	15	25–16	22–19	13–13
x-Denver Nuggets	41	41	.500	21	23–18	18–23	13–13
Dallas Mavericks	36	46	.439	26	19–22	17–24	11–15
Minnesota Timberwolves	21	61	.256	41	13–28	8–33	4–22

#	Western Conference v t e
#	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-San Antonio Spurs	62	20	.756	–
2	y-Phoenix Suns	59	23	.720	3
3	x-Utah Jazz	60	22	.732	2
4	x-Seattle SuperSonics	57	25	.695	5
5	x-Los Angeles Lakers	48	34	.585	14
6	x-Houston Rockets	47	35	.573	15
7	x-Portland Trail Blazers	44	38	.537	18
8	x-Denver Nuggets	41	41	.500	21

9	Sacramento Kings	39	43	.476	23
10	Dallas Mavericks	36	46	.439	26
11	Golden State Warriors	26	56	.317	36
12	Minnesota Timberwolves	21	61	.256	41
13	Los Angeles Clippers	17	65	.207	45

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1994-95 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	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	—	3–1	2–2	1–4	1–4	2–0	2–0	3–2	2–0	0–2	1–4	2–0	0–2	2–2	1–3	2–0	4–0	2–2	1–3	3–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	4–0
Boston	1–3	—	1–3	0–4	2–2	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	4–1	1–3	2–0	2–3	0–5	2–3	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	3–1
Charlotte	2–2	3–1	—	2–2	3–2	0–2	1–1	5–0	2–0	0–2	1–4	2–0	0–2	3–1	4–1	1–1	3–1	3–1	1–3	3–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	3–1
Chicago	4–1	4–0	2–2	—	2–3	1–1	1–1	5–0	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	3–1	1–4	2–0	2–2	3–1	1–3	4–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–2
Cleveland	4–1	2–2	2–3	3–2	—	0–2	1–1	2–2	2–0	0–2	2–3	1–1	1–1	1–3	4–0	1–1	4–0	2–2	1–3	3–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	3–1
Dallas	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	—	1–4	1–1	3–1	2–3	1–1	3–1	1–3	0–2	1–1	4–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–0	0–4	3–1	2–2	2–3	0–4	2–4	1–1
Denver	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–1	—	1–1	1–3	1–4	1–1	4–0	2–2	2–0	2–0	6–0	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–3	3–1	2–2	1–4	1–3	1–4	2–0
Detroit	2–3	1–3	0–5	0–5	2–2	1–1	1–1	—	1–1	0–2	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	2–3	1–1	2–2	1–3	1–3	4–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	3–1
Golden State	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–3	3–1	1–1	—	0–4	0–2	3–2	3–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–2	1–4	0–5	1–3	1–4	2–2	2–0
Houston	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	3–2	4–1	2–0	4–0	—	1–1	3–1	0–4	2–0	1–1	3–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	2–0	3–1	1–3	3–1	1–5	0–4	2–3	2–0
Indiana	4–1	2–2	4–1	2–2	3–2	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–0	1–1	—	2–0	1–1	2–2	3–2	2–0	3–1	1–3	2–2	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	0–2	3–1
L.A. Clippers	0–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	0–4	1–1	2–3	1–3	0–2	—	2–3	0–2	1–1	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–4	0–5	1–4	0–4	0–5	1–3	0–2
L.A. Lakers	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	2–0	2–3	4–0	1–1	3–2	—	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–4	2–3	3–2	1–3	4–1	2–2	2–0
Miami	2–2	1–4	1–3	1–3	3–1	2–0	0–2	3–1	1–1	0–2	2–2	2–0	1–1	—	4–0	1–1	1–3	1–4	1–3	1–4	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	4–1
Milwaukee	3–1	3–1	1–4	4–1	0–4	1–1	0–2	3–2	2–0	1–1	2–3	1–1	1–1	0–4	—	1–1	2–2	2–2	0–4	3–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	3–1
Minnesota	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–4	0–6	1–1	3–1	2–3	0–2	3–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	—	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–4	0–4	1–3	0–5	0–4	1–4	1–1
New Jersey	0–4	3–2	1–3	2–2	0–4	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	2–0	0–2	3–1	2–2	1–1	—	1–4	2–2	2–3	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–3
New York	2–2	5–0	1–3	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	2–0	4–1	2–2	2–0	4–1	—	2–3	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	0–2	4–0
Orlando	3–1	3–2	3–1	3–1	3–1	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	3–1	4–0	1–1	2–2	3–2	—	4–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–2
Philadelphia	1–3	1–3	1–3	0–4	1–3	0–2	1–1	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–4	1–1	1–1	4–1	1–3	1–1	3–2	0–4	1–4	—	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	3–2
Phoenix	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–0	3–1	1–1	2–3	1–3	1–1	4–1	4–1	2–0	2–0	4–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	—	5–0	4–1	2–2	4–1	2–2	2–0
Portland	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–3	2–0	4–1	3–1	1–1	5–0	3–2	2–0	2–0	4–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–5	—	3–2	1–3	2–3	1–3	2–0
Sacramento	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–1	5–0	1–3	0–2	4–1	2–3	2–0	1–1	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–4	2–3	—	0–4	3–2	0–4	1–1
San Antonio	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–2	4–1	2–0	3–1	5–1	0–2	4–0	3–1	2–0	2–0	5–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	4–0	—	2–2	3–2	2–0
Seattle	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	4–0	3–1	2–0	4–1	4–0	1–1	5–0	1–4	2–0	2–0	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–4	3–2	2–3	2–2	—	1–3	2–0
Utah	2–0	2–0	0–2	2–0	1–1	4–2	4–1	2–0	2–2	3–2	2–0	3–1	2–2	2–0	2–0	4–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	4–0	2–3	3–1	—	2–0
Washington	0–4	1–3	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–2	0–2	1–3	2–0	0–2	1–4	1–3	1–1	3–2	0–4	2–3	2–3	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	—

Game log

Regular season

1994–95 game log
Total: 21–61 (Home: 13–28; Road: 8–33)

November: 1–13 (home: 0–7; road: 1–6)

Game	Date	Team	Score	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Location Attendance	Record
2	November 5, 1994 7:00 p.m. CST	Houston	L 85–115	Rider (18)	Marshall (7)	Smith (4)	Target Center 16,578	0–2

December: 5–7 (home: 2–4; road: 3–3)

Game	Date	Team	Score	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Location Attendance	Record

January: 4–12 (home: 3–4; road: 1–8)

Game	Date	Team	Score	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Location Attendance	Record
35	January 16, 1995 7:00 p.m. CST	Houston	W 94–75	Rider (24)	West (11)	Garland, West (6)	Target Center 12,442	8–27
41	January 28, 1995 7:30 p.m. CST	@ Houston	L 93–114	Eisley, Laettner (14)	Laettner (8)	Eisley, Rider (4)	The Summit 16,611	10–31

February: 4–9 (home: 3–4; road: 1–5)

Game	Date	Team	Score	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Location Attendance	Record
All-Star Break

March: 5–11 (home: 4–5; road: 1–6)

Game	Date	Team	Score	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Location Attendance	Record
57	March 3, 1995 7:00 p.m. CST	Houston	W 108–105	Gugliotta (21)	Laettner (8)	Gugliotta, Laettner (6)	Target Center 17,068	16–41
64	March 16, 1995 7:30 p.m. CST	@ Houston	L 97–104	Rooks (21)	Laettner (8)	Gugliotta, West (5)	The Summit 10,711	17–47

April: 2–9 (home: 1–4; road: 1–5)

Game	Date	Team	Score	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Location Attendance	Record

1994–95 schedule

Player statistics

Regular season

Player	POS	GP	GS	MP	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS	MPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Christian Laettner	C	81	80	2,770	613	234	101	87	1,322	34.2	7.6	2.9	1.2	1.1	16.3
Sean Rooks	C	80	70	2,405	486	97	29	71	868	30.1	6.1	1.2	.4	.9	10.9
Isaiah Rider	SG	75	67	2,645	249	245	69	23	1,532	35.3	3.3	3.3	.9	.3	20.4
Winston Garland	PG	73	58	1,931	168	318	71	13	448	26.5	2.3	4.4	1.0	.2	6.1
Doug West	SG	71	65	2,328	227	185	65	24	919	32.8	3.2	2.6	.9	.3	12.9
Chris Smith	SG	64	17	1,073	73	146	32	22	320	16.8	1.1	2.3	.5	.3	5.0
Greg Foster	PF	61	0	845	205	23	13	20	281	13.9	3.4	.4	.2	.3	4.6
Pat Durham	SF	59	2	852	94	53	36	32	302	14.4	1.6	.9	.6	.5	5.1
Stacey King	PF	50	10	792	165	26	24	20	266	15.8	3.3	.5	.5	.4	5.3
Donyell Marshall	SF	40	8	1,036	196	57	25	50	431	25.9	4.9	1.4	.6	1.3	10.8
Darrick Martin	PG	34	9	803	64	133	34	0	254	23.6	1.9	3.9	1.0	.0	7.5
Howard Eisley	PG	34	4	496	42	77	18	5	113	14.6	1.2	2.3	.5	.1	3.3
Tom Gugliotta	SF	31	17	1,018	222	139	61	28	445	32.8	7.2	4.5	2.0	.9	14.4
Mike Brown	C	27	0	213	45	10	7	0	35	7.9	1.7	.4	.3	.0	1.3
Charles Shackleford	PF	21	2	239	67	8	8	6	94	11.4	3.2	.4	.4	.3	4.5
Andrés Guibert	PF	17	0	167	45	10	8	1	45	9.8	2.6	.6	.5	.1	2.6
Askia Jones	SG	11	0	139	11	16	6	0	45	12.6	1.0	1.5	.5	.0	4.1
Micheal Williams	PG	1	1	28	1	3	2	0	6	28.0	1.0	3.0	2.0	.0	6.0

Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Timberwolves only.

Awards and records

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Transactions

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References

"1994-95 Minnesota Timberwolves". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
Brown, Clifton (June 30, 1994). "BASKETBALL; The Bucks Go with Robinson as No. 1 Pick". The New York Times. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
Denlinger, Ken (June 30, 1994). "Robinson Goes with the Bucks". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
Heisler, Mark (June 30, 1994). "NBA DRAFT: Blockbuster Trade That Wasn't Overshadows Player Selections". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
Howard-Cooper, Scott (June 30, 1994). "NBA DRAFT: Lakers Recall the Past: Pro Basketball: Temple Guard Jones Reminiscent of Former Great Michael Cooper". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
"1994 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
"Mavs Send Rooks to T-Wolves". United Press International. November 1, 1994. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
"Transactions". The New York Times. November 2, 1994. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
"Transactions". The New York Times. November 12, 1994. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
^ Baker, Chris (February 11, 1997). "He's Tiny, But His Presence Is Huge". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
"PRO BASKETBALL; Blair and Hill Named to Head Coach Jobs". The New York Times. Associated Press. August 30, 1994. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
"Timberwolves, Spurs Hire Head Coaches". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. August 30, 1994. 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 January 14, 2022.
"Baseball: Colorado Rockies -- Agreed to Terms with..." The Baltimore Sun. December 17, 1994. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
^ Jorgensen, Loren (November 27, 1997). "Home at Last: After a Series of the Unkindest of Cuts, Greg Foster Is a Hoop Vagabond No More". Deseret News. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
"PRO BASKETBALL; Gugliotta Is Traded". The New York Times. February 19, 1995. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
"Warrior Makeover Continues with Trade: NBA: They Get Rookie Marshall from Minnesota in Exchange for Gugliotta, Who Was Acquired in Controversial Webber Deal". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 19, 1995. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
"Warriors Ship Gugliotta to T-Wolves for Marshall". Deseret News. Associated Press. February 19, 1995. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
Justice, Richard (February 21, 1995). "Timberwolves Gamble Again by Trading Marshall". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
"NBA Games Played on February 9, 1995". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
"Boston Garden Fertile Ground for Memories". The Washington Post. April 22, 1995. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
"1994–95 Minnesota Timberwolves Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
"1994–95 Minnesota Timberwolves Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
Evans, Richard (October 5, 1995). "Jazz Snag Ostertag with 3-Year Contract". Deseret News. Retrieved February 1, 2023.

1994–95 NBA season by team

Eastern

Atlantic	Boston Miami New Jersey New York Orlando Philadelphia Washington
Central	Atlanta Charlotte Chicago Cleveland Detroit Indiana Milwaukee

Western

Midwest	Dallas Denver Houston Minnesota San Antonio Utah
Pacific	Golden State L.A. Clippers L.A. Lakers Phoenix Portland Sacramento Seattle

v t e Minnesota Timberwolves
Founded in 1989 Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Franchise	All-time roster Draft history 1989 Records Head coaches Seasons Current season
Arenas	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Target Center
Personnel	Owner(s) Glen Taylor President Tim Connelly General manager Tim Connelly Head coach Chris Finch
G League affiliate	Iowa Wolves
Retired numbers	2
Rivalries	Denver Nuggets
Culture and lore	Broadcasters Crunch the Wolf Failed relocation to New Orleans Flip Mayo Clinic Square Timberwolves Brasil Starting 5