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The Minnesota Golden Gophers have had a rich history in basketball, with the team first playing in 1899. The Gophers have won multiple national championships, including three consecutive titles from 1934 to 1936, and have produced several notable players and coaches. While the team's performance has fluctuated over the years, with some notable successes and disappointing seasons, they have consistently been a part of the NCAA Tournament and have a dedicated fan base. In 2024, the Minnesota State Mavericks men's and women's basketball teams both won Division II NCAA championships, showcasing the continued development of basketball talent in the state.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Minnesota's NBA team | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| Location | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Seasons | 36; 1989-90 to 2024-25 |
| Record | 1188-1678, .415 W-L% Playoff Appearances: 12 |
| Championships | 0 |
| Official mascot | Crunch the Wolf |
| High School Girls Basketball State Championship winner | The Lions |
| High School Boys Basketball State Championship winner | Alexandria (Class 3A), Albany (2A), Dawson-Boyd (1A) |
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What You'll Learn
Minnesota Timberwolves' history and performance
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
The Timberwolves began play in 1989 as an expansion team alongside the Eastern Conference's Orlando Magic. They struggled in their initial years, winning no more than 29 games in their first seven seasons. In 1995, the Timberwolves drafted teenage forward Kevin Garnett straight out of high school. Garnett soon led the team to their first playoff berth in 1996-97 and their first winning season in 1997-98. Despite Garnett's efforts, the team was unable to advance past the first round of postseason play in any of their first seven playoff appearances.
In 2003-04, the Timberwolves had a successful season, finishing as the top seed in the Western Conference with a record of 58-24. Garnett had his best season, and both Sprewell and Cassell had career-highs. Garnett and Cassell made the All-Star team, and Garnett was named the first-team All-NBA and earned his first MVP award. During the 2004 playoffs, the Timberwolves won their first playoff series, advancing to their first Western Conference finals.
In 2007, the Timberwolves traded Garnett to the Boston Celtics, receiving multiple players and draft picks in return. Garnett and the Celtics went on to win the 2008 NBA Finals. The Timberwolves then entered a period of rebuilding, trading away other star players like Kevin Love and acquiring new talent.
In recent years, the Timberwolves have shown promise, returning to the postseason in 2017-18 after a 14-year drought and making a surprising run in the 2024 playoffs, sweeping the Phoenix Suns 4-0 and advancing to the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2004. They finished the 2021-22 season with a 46-36 record, the second-most regular-season wins since their 2004 conference finals appearance.
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Minnesota's high school basketball tournaments
Minnesota has a number of high school basketball tournaments for both boys and girls. The boys' tournaments are hosted by the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) and include the State Class A Basketball Tournament. The MSHSL also provides coverage of the girls' high school basketball tournaments, including scores, schedules, rankings, and statistics.
The MN Girls Basketball Hub is dedicated to covering girls' high school basketball in Minnesota, including news, scores, and standings. The Star Tribune also covers girls' high school basketball, selecting 25 players from across the state. Notable players include Maddyn Greenway of the Lions, who scored 40 points and led her team to become Minnesota's first girls' basketball team to win four consecutive titles. The Red Knights are the sixth girls' basketball team to win three titles in the MSHSL era.
The boys' high school basketball season typically starts in late November, with the first available contest date falling in late November or early December. The maximum number of contests is limited to 26, and the last day to hold a section tournament or competition is typically in mid-March. The MSHSL State Tournament photos are available for purchase on the MSHSL SmugMug Gallery.
The MN Girls Basketball Hub provides up-to-the-minute scoring updates, player and team stats, and news on state tournament games. Notable state tournament games include Cherry defeating Nevis 79-70 and Dawson-Boyd beating Red Lake County 80-66 in the state semifinals.
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Minnesota Lynx, the Timberwolves' WNBA sister-club
The Minnesota Lynx is the WNBA sister-club of the Timberwolves. The Lynx is an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The team was founded prior to the 1999 season and is owned by Glen Taylor, who also owns the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Lynx compete in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) as part of the Western Conference. They have won the WNBA title four times: in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017. The Lynx have qualified for the WNBA playoffs in 15 of their 26 years of existence.
The Minnesota Lynx have had several notable players over the years, including Katie Smith, Seimone Augustus, Lindsay Whalen, Maya Moore, Rebekkah Brunson, and Sylvia Fowles. In 2010, the team made several off-season transactions, including selecting Rebekkah Brunson in the dispersal draft and trading for Lindsay Whalen. These moves positioned the Lynx for a successful 2010 season, with 45% of WNBA general managers predicting the team would be the most improved.
The Lynx's first WNBA title came in 2011 when they swept the Atlanta Dream in three games. Seimone Augustus was named Finals MVP. In 2012, the Lynx started the season with a franchise and league-record of 10 consecutive wins and clinched a playoff berth after just 21 games. However, they fell to the Indiana Fever in the 2012 WNBA Finals. The Lynx used this loss as motivation for the 2013 season and once again had the best record in the West.
In addition to their on-court success, the Minnesota Lynx have also been active in the community and charitable initiatives. During the WNBA's Breast Health Awareness Week, the Lynx have partnered with the Edith Sanford Breast Cancer Foundation, holding a "Pink Out" game and donating a $10,000 grant to the foundation. The Lynx also hold an annual "Catwalk for a Cure" event at the Mall of America to raise funds for breast cancer charities. The team has also partnered with local nonprofits like Big Brothers Big Sisters, signing honorary members to their roster and providing opportunities for one-on-one time with players and access to practices.
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Minnesota Golden Gophers' NCAA Tournament history
The Minnesota Golden Gophers have a long history in the NCAA Tournament, with 14 appearances in total. The team first appeared in the tournament in 1972, losing their opening game to Florida State before beating Marquette in the Mideast Region Consolation Round. After a bye in the first round of the tournament in 1984, the Gophers beat Tennessee Chattanooga but then lost to Louisville in the second round. In 1989, they picked up two tournament wins over Kansas State and Siena, before being beaten by Duke in the Mideast Region Semi-finals.
The Gophers had a strong run in 1990, winning three straight games in the Southeast Region against UTEP, Northern Iowa, and Syracuse. They lost by just two points to Georgia Tech in the Elite Eight. However, scandal struck in 1999 when a report alleged that an academic advisor had completed coursework for basketball players, and the team was forced to vacate wins from several seasons, including from the 1997 tournament when they reached the Final Four.
In the years following the scandal, Minnesota made the tournament four times, most recently in 2013 when they upset UCLA. The Gophers have also appeared in the Big Ten tournament semi-finals, advancing to the championship game for the first time in school history in 2010 under Coach Smith.
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Minnesota's basketball players and coaches
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an NBA basketball team that returned to the Twin Cities in 1989 after a long absence. The Timberwolves have had several notable players and coaches over the years.
One of the most prominent coaches in the history of the Minnesota Timberwolves is Flip Saunders, who had two stints with the team. Saunders was first part of the Timberwolves as a player and later returned as head coach in 2014. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma during his second stint, and he passed away in 2015 at the age of 60. Another notable coach is Tom Thibodeau, who became the head coach and president of basketball operations for the Timberwolves in 2016. Thibodeau had previously served as an assistant coach for the team from 1989 to 1991.
The Timberwolves have had several notable players wear their uniforms. One of the most famous players is Kevin Garnett, who played for the team for 21 seasons before announcing his retirement in 2016. Other notable players include Ricky Rubio, who was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Patrick Beverley, acquired by the Timberwolves in exchange for Juancho Hernangomez and Jarrett Culver.
The Timberwolves also have a rich history of players and coaches who have contributed to the team's success over the years. One such player is Sam Jacobson, a Minnesota native who played for the Timberwolves as well as the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors. Other prominent players coached by Clem Haskins include Voshon Lenard, a sharp-shooter who spent five seasons with the Miami Heat, and Quincy Lewis, a 3rd Team All-American who played for the Utah Jazz and Timberwolves.
In addition to the Timberwolves, Minnesota also has a strong presence in college basketball with the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The Golden Gophers have had their own share of notable players and coaches. One of the most famous coaches is Ben Johnson, who served as head coach from 2021 to 2025. Johnson played for the Golden Gophers himself before becoming a coach. Another prominent figure in the Golden Gophers' history is John Kundla, a Hall of Fame coach who helped lead the team to its 1937 Big Ten Championship.
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Frequently asked questions
The Minnesota Timberwolves have won zero championships.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have a record of 1188-1678, with a .415 W-L percentage. They have made 12 playoff appearances.
The 2024-25 "City" uniform has a mostly white base, with ice blue gradients and black accents. It is meant to capture Minnesota's winter landscape.
Some notable players for the Minnesota Timberwolves include Kevin Garnett, who played for 21 seasons in the NBA before retiring in 2016, and Ricky Rubio, who was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
