2001–02 Minnesota Timberwolves season

The 2001–02 NBA season was the Timberwolves' 13th season in the National Basketball Association. The Timberwolves were able to re-sign free agent Joe Smith during the off-season, with Smith arriving from the Detroit Pistons, where he played the previous season. In addition, the team also signed free agent Gary Trent.

The Timberwolves won nine of their first ten games, which led them to a 28–9 start as of January 15, 2002, but started to slow down a bit holding a 33–16 record at the All-Star break. Terrell Brandon sustained a knee injury after 32 games and was out for the remainder of the season, as the team suffered a 7-game losing streak in March. At mid-season, the team traded Dean Garrett to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for second-year center Marc Jackson, and signed free agent Robert Pack in March. The Timberwolves finished third in the Midwest Division with a solid 50–32 record.

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. Garnett and Szczerbiak were both selected for the 2002 NBA All-Star Game in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Garnett also finished in second place in Defensive Player of the Year voting.

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.

Following the season, Billups signed as a free agent with the Detroit Pistons, 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.

Draft picks

Main article: 2001 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	29	Forfeited pick
2	45	Loren Woods	C	United States	Arizona

Roster

2001–02 Minnesota Timberwolves roster

Players

Coaches

Pos.	No.	Name	Height	Weight	DOB	From
G	5	Avery, William	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	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	1970–05–20	Oregon
G	1	Evans, Maurice	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	1978–11–08	Texas
F/C	21	Garnett, Kevin	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

Flip Saunders

Assistant coach(es)

Legend

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

Roster
Last transaction: March 18, 2002

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-San Antonio Spurs	58	24	.707	–	32–9	26–15	21–3
x-Dallas Mavericks	57	25	.695	1	30–11	27–14	16–8
x-Minnesota Timberwolves	50	32	.610	8	29–12	21–20	15–9
x-Utah Jazz	44	38	.537	14	25–16	19–22	8–16
Houston Rockets	28	54	.341	30	18–23	10–31	9–15
Denver Nuggets	27	55	.329	31	20–21	7–34	8–16
Memphis Grizzlies	23	59	.280	35	15–26	8–33	7–17

#	Western Conference v t e
#	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Sacramento Kings	61	21	.744	–
2	y-San Antonio Spurs	58	24	.707	3
3	x-Los Angeles Lakers	58	24	.707	3
4	x-Dallas Mavericks	57	25	.695	4
5	x-Minnesota Timberwolves	50	32	.610	11
6	x-Portland Trail Blazers	49	33	.598	12
7	x-Seattle SuperSonics	45	37	.549	16
8	x-Utah Jazz	44	38	.537	17

9	Los Angeles Clippers	39	43	.476	22
10	Phoenix Suns	36	46	.439	25
11	Houston Rockets	28	54	.341	33
12	Denver Nuggets	27	55	.329	34
13	Memphis Grizzlies	23	59	.280	38
14	Golden State Warriors	21	61	.256	40

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	—	2–2	2–2	3–1	3–1	0–2	2–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–1	1–3	0–2	2–1	1–3	1–3	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	1–1	0–3
Boston	2–2	—	2–1	2–2	4–0	0–2	2–0	2–2	1–1	0–2	3–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–3	1–1	3–1	4–0	3–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–2	1–1	3–1
Charlotte	2–2	1–2	—	4–0	3–1	0–2	2–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–0	2–2	0–2	1–3	2–2	3–1	1–3	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	3–1
Chicago	1–3	2–2	0–4	—	1–3	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–1	2–0	0–4	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–2	0–2	0–4	3–1	0–3	1–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–2	1–3
Cleveland	1–3	0–4	1–3	3–1	—	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–1	2–0	2–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	3–1	3–1	2–0	1–3	2–2	1–3	0–3	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–2	1–2
Dallas	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	—	4–0	1–1	4–0	2–2	2–0	2–2	1–3	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	3–1	1–3	3–1	1–1	3–1	1–1
Denver	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–4	—	0–2	1–3	2–2	0–2	1–3	1–3	3–1	0–2	0–2	2–2	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	3–1	2–2	0–4	0–4	3–1	1–1	1–3	0–2
Detroit	3–1	2–2	3–1	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–0	—	1–1	1–1	3–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–1	2–2	1–1	3–1	3–1	2–2	2–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	3–1	1–1	4–0
Golden State	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–4	3–1	1–1	—	1–3	0–2	2–2	1–3	3–1	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–4	2–2	0–4	0–4	0–4	0–2	0–4	1–1
Houston	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–2	2–2	1–1	3–1	—	0–2	1–3	0–4	1–3	0–2	1–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–2	1–3	0–4	0–4	2–2	1–1	2–2	1–1
Indiana	3–1	0–3	1–3	4–0	2–2	0–2	2–0	1–3	2–0	2–0	—	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–2	1–3	1–1	1–3	2–1	3–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–1	3–1
L.A. Clippers	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–2	3–1	1–1	2–2	3–1	1–1	—	1–3	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	3–1	1–3	1–3	1–3	1–3	1–1	0–4	1–1
L.A. Lakers	1–1	0–2	2–0	0–2	2–0	3–1	3–1	2–0	3–1	4–0	2–0	3–1	—	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–2	3–1	3–1	3–1	1–1	3–1	2–0
Memphis	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–4	1–3	0–2	1–3	3–1	1–1	1–3	1–3	—	1–1	0–2	0–4	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–3	2–2	1–3	0–4	0–4	1–1	3–1	0–2
Miami	1–3	1–3	0–3	3–1	1–3	1–1	2–0	1–2	2–0	2–0	2–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	—	3–1	0–2	1–3	2–2	3–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–3	0–2	2–2
Milwaukee	3–1	3–1	2–2	2–2	1–3	0–2	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	3–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–3	—	0–2	1–2	1–3	2–1	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–0	0–2	4–0	2–0	3–1
Minnesota	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	0–2	2–2	2–2	1–1	3–1	2–2	1–1	2–2	2–2	4–0	2–0	2–0	—	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–1	3–1	2–0
New Jersey	1–2	1–3	3–1	4–0	3–1	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–1	1–1	—	4–0	3–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–1	3–1
New York	3–1	0–4	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–2	3–1	0–2	0–4	—	0–4	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	3–0	1–1	1–3
Orlando	3–1	1–3	1–3	3–0	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	2–0	2–0	1–3	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–3	1–2	1–1	1–3	4–0	—	3–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	3–1	1–1	2–2
Philadelphia	3–1	3–1	3–1	2–1	3–0	1–1	1–1	1–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–0	1–1	0–2	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–2	3–1	1–3	—	2–0	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	0–2	2–3
Phoenix	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–3	1–1	4–0	2–2	1–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	—	2–2	1–3	1–3	2–2	1–1	2–2	0–2
Portland	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–2	2–0	2–2	3–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	2–2	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–2	—	2–2	1–3	3–1	1–1	1–3	2–0
Sacramento	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–3	4–0	2–0	4–0	4–0	0–2	3–1	1–3	3–1	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–2	—	3–1	2–2	2–0	4–0	1–1
San Antonio	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	4–0	2–0	4–0	4–0	1–1	3–1	1–3	4–0	1–1	0–2	2–2	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–1	3–1	3–1	1–3	—	2–2	1–1	4–0	2–0
Seattle	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–3	1–3	1–1	4–0	2–2	2–0	3–1	1–3	4–0	0–2	2–0	2–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–2	—	2–0	1–3	1–1
Toronto	4–0	2–2	2–2	4–0	3–1	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–0	1–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	0–4	1–1	2–2	0–3	1–3	3–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	—	1–1	1–2
Utah	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–3	3–1	1–1	4–0	2–2	1–1	4–0	1–3	1–3	2–0	0–2	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	0–4	0–4	3–1	1–1	—	2–0
Washington	3–0	1–3	1–3	3–1	2–1	1–1	2–0	0–4	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–2	1–3	0–2	1–3	3–1	2–2	3–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–1	0–2	—

Game log

Playoffs

2002 playoff game log

First Round: 0–3 (home: 0–1; road: 0–2)

Game	Date	Team	Score	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Location 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

Ragular season

Player	POS	GP	GS	MP	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS	MPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Wally Szczerbiak	SF	82	82	3,117	391	257	66	21	1,531	38.0	4.8	3.1	.8	.3	18.7
Rasho Nesterović	C	82	82	2,218	534	75	45	109	687	27.0	6.5	.9	.5	1.3	8.4
Chauncey Billups	PG	82	54	2,355	226	450	66	17	1,027	28.7	2.8	5.5	.8	.2	12.5
Anthony Peeler	SG	82	0	2,060	206	177	61	11	737	25.1	2.5	2.2	.7	.1	9.0
Kevin Garnett	PF	81	81	3,175	981	422	96	126	1,714	39.2	12.1	5.2	1.2	1.6	21.2
Sam Mitchell	SF	74	10	726	82	45	12	4	244	9.8	1.1	.6	.2	.1	3.3
Joe Smith	C	72	63	1,922	453	82	39	59	767	26.7	6.3	1.1	.5	.8	10.7
Felipe López	SG	67	0	581	80	39	18	1	169	8.7	1.2	.6	.3	.0	2.5
Gary Trent	PF	64	10	1,140	270	60	21	27	478	17.8	4.2	.9	.3	.4	7.5
Loren Woods	C	60	0	516	122	22	17	34	110	8.6	2.0	.4	.3	.6	1.8
Terrell Brandon	PG	32	28	962	93	264	52	6	397	30.1	2.9	8.3	1.6	.2	12.4
Dean Garrett	C	29	0	152	47	4	5	9	28	5.2	1.6	.1	.2	.3	1.0
William Avery	PG	28	0	258	24	36	7	0	71	9.2	.9	1.3	.3	.0	2.5
Marc Jackson	C	22	0	326	85	7	6	3	102	14.8	3.9	.3	.3	.1	4.6
Robert Pack	PG	16	0	252	23	49	13	0	62	15.8	1.4	3.1	.8	.0	3.9
Maurice Evans	SG	10	0	45	4	4	0	0	21	4.5	.4	.4	.0	.0	2.1

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

Playoffs

Player	POS	GP	GS	MP	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS	MPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Chauncey Billups	PG	3	3	134	15	17	3	1	66	44.7	5.0	5.7	1.0	.3	22.0
Wally Szczerbiak	SF	3	3	131	21	6	2	0	60	43.7	7.0	2.0	.7	.0	20.0
Kevin Garnett	PF	3	3	130	56	15	5	5	72	43.3	18.7	5.0	1.7	1.7	24.0
Rasho Nesterović	C	3	3	92	20	3	1	0	34	30.7	6.7	1.0	.3	.0	11.3
Sam Mitchell	SF	3	2	34	2	3	1	1	8	11.3	.7	1.0	.3	.3	2.7
Joe Smith	C	3	1	43	11	0	0	1	13	14.3	3.7	.0	.0	.3	4.3
Anthony Peeler	SG	3	0	67	13	2	4	0	27	22.3	4.3	.7	1.3	.0	9.0
Gary Trent	PF	3	0	48	9	1	0	0	19	16.0	3.0	.3	.0	.0	6.3
Felipe López	SG	3	0	30	1	1	1	0	4	10.0	.3	.3	.3	.0	1.3
Robert Pack	PG	3	0	10	0	0	0	0	3	3.3	.0	.0	.0	.0	1.0
Marc Jackson	C	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1.0	.0	.0	.0	.0	.0

Awards and records

Transactions

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References

2001-02 Minnesota Timberwolves
"Timberwolves Sign Joe Smith". United Press International. July 30, 2001. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
"BASKETBALL: ROUNDUP; Minnesota Signs Smith". The New York Times. July 31, 2001. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
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Brown, Tim (December 2, 2001). "Lakers Serve Up a Half-Pounder". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
"Timberwolves Sign Gary Trent". United Press International. October 2, 2001. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
"Timberwolves Sign Forward Trent". Associated Press. October 2, 2001. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
Wise, Mike (October 30, 2001). "PRO BASKETBALL; Jordan Against the New Generation, Lakers Against the World". The New York Times. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
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"Pistons Sign Free Agent Billups". United Press International. July 17, 2002. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
"PLUS: PRO BASKETBALL; Pistons Sign Billups, But Not to Start". The New York Times. Associated Press. July 18, 2002. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
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Heisler, Mark (October 28, 2002). "West Capsules in Predicted Order of Finish". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 20, 2022.

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

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