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 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, 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 midseason, 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.
| 2001–02 Minnesota Timberwolves season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Flip Saunders |
| General manager | Kevin McHale |
| Owners | Glen Taylor |
| Arena | Target Center |
| Results | |
| Record | 50–32 (.610) |
| Place | Division: 3rd (Midwest) Conference: 5th (Western) |
| Playoff finish | First round (lost to Mavericks 0–3) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
| Local media | |
| Television | KMSP-TV WFTC Fox Sports Net North |
| Radio | KFAN |
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. 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.