2001–02 Minnesota Timberwolves season

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2001–02 Minnesota Timberwolves season
Head coachFlip Saunders
OwnersGlen Taylor
ArenaTarget Center
Results
Record50–32 (.610)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Midwest)
Conference: 5th (Western)
Playoff finishFirst Round
(Lost to Mavericks 0–3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKMSP-TV
WFTC
Fox Sports Net North
RadioKFAN
< 2000–01 2002–03 >

The 2001–02 NBA season was the Timberwolves' 13th season in the National Basketball Association.[1] The Timberwolves were able to re-sign Joe Smith during the off-season, with Smith arriving from the Detroit Pistons, where he played the previous season.[2] In addition, the team also signed free agent Gary Trent.[3] The Timberwolves won nine of their first ten games, which led them to a 28–9 start as of January 15. However, Terrell Brandon sustained a knee injury after 32 games and was out for the remainder of the season,[4] as the team suffered a 7-game losing streak in March. At midseason, the team traded Dean Garrett to the Golden State Warriors for second-year center Marc Jackson.[5] The Timberwolves finished third in the Midwest Division with a solid 50–32 record.[6]

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.[7] Garnett and Szczerbiak were both selected for the 2002 NBA All-Star Game.[8] Garnett also finished in second place in Defensive Player of the Year voting.[9]

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.[10] Following the season, Billups signed as a free agent with the Detroit Pistons,[11] 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 (YYYY-MM-DD) From
G 5 Avery, William Injured 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 Injured 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1970–05–20 Oregon
G 1 Evans, Maurice Injured 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1978–11–08 Texas
F/C 21 Garnett, Kevin (C) 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1976–05–19 Farragut Academy (HS)
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 Southern California
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
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: March 18, 2002

Regular season[]

Season standings[]

Midwest Division
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
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[]

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
William Avery 28 0 9.2 .289 .171 .684 0.9 1.3 0.3 0.0 2.5
Chauncey Billups 82 54 28.7 .423 .394 .885 2.8 5.5 0.8 0.2 12.5
Terrell Brandon 32 28 30.1 .425 .174 .988 2.9 8.3 1.6 0.2 12.4
Maurice Evans 10 0 4.5 .474 .000 .750 0.4 0.4 0.0 0.0 2.1
Kevin Garnett 81 81 39.2 .499 .319 .801 12.1 5.2 1.2 1.6 21.2
Marc Jackson 22 0 14.8 .384 .000 .813 3.9 0.5 0.3 0.4 4.6
Felipe Lopez 67 0 8.7 .378 .424 .673 1.2 0.6 0.3 0.0 2.5
Sam Mitchell 74 10 9.8 .432 .286 .776 1.1 0.6 0.2 0.1 3.3
Rasho Nesterovic 82 82 27.0 .493 .000 .549 6.5 0.9 0.5 1.3 8.4
Robert Pack 16 0 15.8 .368 .250 .733 1.4 3.1 0.8 0.0 3.9
Anthony Peeler 82 0 25.1 .421 .392 .862 2.5 2.2 0.7 0.1 9.0
Joe Smith 72 63 26.7 .511 .667 .830 6.3 1.1 0.5 0.8 10.7
Wally Szczerbiak 82 82 38.0 .508 .455 .831 3.1 1.2 0.8 0.3 18.7
Gary Trent 64 10 17.8 .507 .000 .639 4.2 0.9 0.3 0.4 7.5
Loren Woods 60 0 8.6 .344 .000 .733 2.0 0.4 0.3 0.6 1.8

Playoffs[]

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Chauncey Billups 3 3 44.7 .385 .400 .700 5.0 5.7 1.0 0.3 22.0
Kevin Garnett 3 3 43.3 .429 .500 .719 18.7 5.0 1.7 1.7 24.0
Marc Jackson 1 0 1.0 .000 .000 .000 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Felipe Lopez 3 0 10.0 .250 .500 .500 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.0 1.3
Sam Mitchell 3 2 11.3 .333 .000 .100 0.7 1.0 0.3 0.3 2.7
Rasho Nesterovic 3 3 30.7 .484 .000 .444 6.7 1.0 0.3 0.0 11.3
Robert Pack 3 0 3.3 .200 .000 .100 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0
Anthony Peeler 3 0 22.3 .450 .556 .667 4.3 0.7 1.3 0.0 9.0
Joe Smith 3 1 14.3 .000 .000 .875 3.7 0.0 0.0 0.3 4.3
Wally Szczerbiak 3 3 43.7 .477 .222 .889 7.0 2.0 .07 0.0 20.0
Gary Trent 3 0 5.5 .500 .000 .500 3.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 6.3

Awards and records[]

Transactions[]

References[]

  1. ^ 2001-02 Minnesota Timberwolves
  2. ^ "BASKETBALL: ROUNDUP; Minnesota Signs Smith". New York Times. July 31, 2001. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  3. ^ "Timberwolves Sign Forward Trent". AP News. October 2, 2001. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  4. ^ "Brandon Out With Leg Injury". Huron Daily Tribune. February 12, 2002. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  5. ^ "Warriors trade Jackson to Wolves". UPI Archives. February 21, 2002. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  6. ^ "2001–02 Minnesota Timberwolves Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  7. ^ "2001–02 Minnesota Timberwolves Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  8. ^ "2002 NBA All-Star Game: West 135, East 120". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  9. ^ "2001–02 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  10. ^ "N.B.A.: ROUNDUP; Lakers And Mavs Advance". New York Times. April 29, 2002. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  11. ^ "PLUS: PRO BASKETBALL; Pistons Sign Billups, But Not to Start". New York Times. July 18, 2002. Retrieved July 26, 2021.

See also[]

  • 2001-02 NBA season
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