NBA professional basketball team season
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] and signed free agent Tom Hammonds . After a 4–1 start to the season, the Timberwolves 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. Gugliotta led the team in scoring averaging 20.1 points per game, and contributed 8.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.[3] Chris Carr , who became the team's starting shooting guard this season, also went down with an ankle injury, only playing 51 games.[4] At midseason, the team traded long-time guard Doug West to the Vancouver Grizzlies for Anthony Peeler .[5] The Timberwolves 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.[6]
Kevin 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 ,[7] while Marbury averaged 17.7 points and 8.6 assists per game. In addition, Sam Mitchell provided the team with 12.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, while Carr contributed 9.9 points per game, and Terry Porter provided with 9.5 points and 3.3 assists per game off the bench.[8] In the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs , the Timberwolves took a 2–1 series lead over the 2nd-seeded Seattle SuperSonics ,[9] but went on to lose the series in five games.[10]
Following the season, Porter signed as a free agent with the Miami Heat ,[11] while Roberts signed with the Houston Rockets , Cherokee Parks signed with the Vancouver Grizzlies , 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, was released to free agency.[12]
Draft picks [ ]
Main article: 1997 NBA Draft
Roster [ ]
1997–98 Minnesota Timberwolves roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB (YYYY-MM-DD)
From
G
43
Carr, Chris
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 (HS)
F
24
Gugliotta, Tom
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1969–12–19
North Carolina 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
Wisconsin-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 Injured
Roster Last transaction: February 18, 1998
Roster Notes [ ]
Rookie center Paul Grant missed the entire season due to a foot injury.
Regular season [ ]
Season standings [ ]
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
–
2–1
4–0
1–3
4–0
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
1–3
2–0
0–2
1–3
3–1
0–2
1–2
2–2
2–2
3–1
0–2
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
4–0
0–2
2–0
4–0
Boston
1–2
–
1–2
1–3
1–3
1–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
1–1
0–4
2–0
1–1
0–4
2–2
1–1
2–2
2–2
2–2
3–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–0
0–2
2–0
3–2
Charlotte
0–4
2–1
–
1–3
2–2
2–0
2–0
3–1
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
1–1
3–1
3–1
1–1
2–2
1–3
3–1
2–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
4–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
Chicago
3–1
3–1
3–1
–
2–2
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
2–1
4–0
1–1
4–0
4–0
3–1
2–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–1
4–0
0–2
2–0
3–1
Cleveland
0–4
3–1
2–2
2–2
–
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
1–1
2–2
2–0
1–1
1–3
2–2
2–0
3–1
1–2
2–2
3–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
0–2
0–2
3–1
1–1
2–0
1–2
Dallas
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
–
3–1
0–2
1–3
0–4
1–1
1–3
0–4
0–2
0–2
2–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–4
0–4
0–4
0–4
2–2
1–1
0–4
4–0
1–1
Denver
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–3
–
0–2
1–3
0–4
0–2
2–2
0–4
0–2
0–2
1–3
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–4
2–2
1–3
0–4
0–4
0–2
0–4
1–3
1–1
Detroit
2–2
2–2
1–3
1–3
1–3
2–0
2–0
–
2–0
1–1
1–3
2–0
0–2
1–2
2–2
0–2
2–2
2–2
1–2
3–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
4–0
0–2
0–2
2–2
Golden State
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
3–1
3–1
0–2
–
1–3
0–2
1–3
1–3
0–2
0–2
0–4
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–4
1–3
2–2
1–3
1–3
0–2
0–4
1–3
0–2
Houston
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
4–0
4–0
1–1
3–1
–
1–1
4–0
1–3
0–2
1–1
1–3
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–3
1–3
4–0
2–2
1–3
2–0
0–4
3–1
1–1
Indiana
3–1
4–0
1–3
2–2
2–2
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
1–1
–
2–0
0–2
3–1
4–0
2–0
2–1
2–1
3–1
4–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
0–2
0–2
4–0
1–1
2–0
4–0
L.A. Clippers
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
3–1
2–2
0–2
3–1
0–4
0–2
–
0–4
0–2
0–2
0–4
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–4
0–4
3–1
1–3
0–4
1–1
1–3
1–3
0–2
L.A. Lakers
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
4–0
4–0
2–0
3–1
3–1
2–0
4–0
–
1–1
2–0
4–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
2–2
2–2
4–0
4–0
1–3
2–0
3–1
4–0
1–1
Miami
3–1
4–0
1–3
1–2
3–1
2–0
2–0
2–1
2–0
2–0
1–3
2–0
1–1
–
3–1
1–1
3–1
2–2
3–1
4–0
0–2
2–0
2–0
0–2
0–2
4–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
Milwaukee
1–3
2–2
1–3
0–4
2–2
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
0–4
2–0
0–2
1–3
–
1–1
0–4
3–1
2–1
2–2
0–2
2–0
2–0
0–2
1–1
3–1
0–2
1–1
1–2
Minnesota
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
2–2
3–1
2–0
4–0
3–1
0–2
4–0
0–4
1–1
1–1
–
2–0
1–1
0–2
2–0
3–1
1–3
3–1
1–3
1–3
1–1
1–3
4–0
0–2
New Jersey
2–1
2–2
2–2
0–4
1–3
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
1–2
1–1
1–1
1–3
4–0
0–2
–
2–2
3–1
3–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
0–2
3–1
0–2
2–0
1–3
New York
2–2
2–2
3–1
0–4
2–1
1–1
2–0
2–2
1–1
1–1
1–2
2–0
1–1
2–2
1–3
1–1
2–2
–
4–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–1
0–2
2–0
1–3
Orlando
2–2
2–2
1–3
1–3
2–2
2–0
2–0
2–1
1–1
2–0
1–3
2–0
1–1
1–3
1–2
2–0
1–3
0–4
–
4–0
0–2
2–0
0–2
0–2
1–1
3–1
0–2
2–0
3–1
Philadelphia
1–3
1–3
1–2
1–2
1–3
2–0
2–0
1–3
2–0
1–1
0–4
1–1
2–0
0–4
2–2
0–2
1–3
2–2
0–4
–
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
2–2
0–2
2–0
3–1
Phoenix
2–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
0–2
4–0
4–0
1–1
4–0
3–1
1–1
4–0
2–2
2–0
2–0
1–3
1–1
0–2
2–0
1–1
–
2–2
3–1
3–1
2–2
2–0
1–3
4–0
1–1
Portland
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
4–0
2–2
2–0
3–1
3–1
1–1
4–0
2–2
0–2
0–2
3–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
2��2
–
3–1
2–2
0–4
2–0
3–1
2–2
1–1
Sacramento
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
4–0
3–1
1–1
2–2
0–4
0–2
1–3
0–4
0–2
0–2
1–3
0–2
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–3
1–3
–
0–4
1–3
1–1
2–2
2–2
1–1
San Antonio
1–1
2–0
1–1
0–2
2–0
4–0
4–0
1–1
3–1
2–2
2–0
3–1
0–4
2–0
2–0
3–1
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
1–3
2–2
4–0
–
2–2
2–0
1–3
4–0
1–1
Seattle
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–2
4–0
2–0
3–1
3–1
2–0
4–0
3–1
2–0
1–1
3–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–2
4–0
3–1
2–2
–
2–0
2–2
4–0
1–1
Toronto
0–4
0–3
0–4
0–4
1–3
1–1
2–0
0–4
2–0
0–2
0–4
1–1
0–2
0–4
1–3
1–1
1–3
1–3
1–3
2–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
–
0–2
1–1
0–3
Utah
2–0
2–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
4–0
4–0
2–0
4–0
4–0
1–1
3–1
1–3
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
3–1
1–3
2–2
3–1
2–2
2–0
–
4–0
0–2
Vancouver
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–4
3–1
2–0
3–1
1–3
0–2
3–1
0–4
0–2
1–1
0–4
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–4
2–2
2–2
0–4
0–4
1–1
0–4
–
1–1
Washington
0–4
2–3
2–2
1–3
2–1
1–1
1–1
2–2
2–0
1–1
0–4
2–0
1–1
2–2
2–1
2–0
3–1
3–1
1–3
1–3
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
3–0
2–0
1–1
—
Game log [ ]
Playoffs [ ]
1998 playoff game log
First round: 2–3 (Home: 1–1; Road: 1–2)
1998 schedule
Player statistics [ ]
Season [ ]
Playoffs [ ]
Awards and records [ ]
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Transactions [ ]
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References [ ]
^ 1997-98 Minnesota Timberwolves
^ "Draft Over, But Not Finished" . Los Angeles Times . June 26, 1997. Retrieved January 14, 2022 .
^ "Wolves' Gugliotta Out for Season" . AP News . February 20, 1998. Retrieved June 19, 2021 .
^ "Grizzlies' West Vows to Deal With Drinking" . Los Angeles Times . February 25, 1998. Retrieved January 15, 2022 .
^ "Timberwolves Guard To Get Treatment" . AP News . February 23, 1998. Retrieved July 4, 2021 .
^ "1997–98 Minnesota Timberwolves Schedule and Results" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021 .
^ "1998 NBA All-Star Game: East 135, West 114" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved November 27, 2021 .
^ "1997–98 Minnesota Timberwolves Roster and Stats" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021 .
^ "N.B.A.: PLAYOFFS; Minnesota Shocks Seattle" . New York Times . April 29, 1998. Retrieved January 18, 2022 .
^ "THE N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Sonics Advance After Submerging the Spunky Timberwolves" . New York Times . May 3, 1998. Retrieved July 26, 2017 .
^ "Porter say title potential in Miami Heat" . The Journal Times . March 27, 1999. Retrieved July 27, 2021 .
^ "Timberwolves' Williams finally returns" . UPI Archives . December 12, 1997. Retrieved July 18, 2021 .
See also [ ]
Franchise Arenas Personnel G League affiliate Retired numbers Culture and lore