2000–01 Minnesota Timberwolves season explained

The 2000–01 NBA season was the Timberwolves' 12th season in the National Basketball Association.[1] After the tragic death of Malik Sealy, the Timberwolves scrambled to find a replacement for him, signing free agent Chauncey Billups,[2] [3] a close friend of Kevin Garnett, and signing LaPhonso Ellis during the off-season.[4] [5] Meanwhile, the Timberwolves secret free agent deal signed by Joe Smith was voided by the NBA, who ruled their proper procedure in signing the contract, while stripping their first round draft picks for the next five seasons and fined the team $3.5 million; Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor, and General Manager Kevin McHale were both suspended for one year.[6] [7] [8] [9] Smith would later on sign a free-agent deal with the Detroit Pistons.[10] [11]

Despite the troubles, and losing four of their first six games, the Timberwolves won 13 of their next 18 games, posted an 11-game winning streak between January and February, and held a 32–18 record at the All-Star break.[12] At midseason, the team signed free agent Felipe López, who was previously released by the Washington Wizards.[13] The Timberwolves finished fourth in the Midwest Division with a 47–35 record.[14]

Garnett averaged 22.0 points, 11.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.8 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, NBA All-Defensive First Team, and selected for the 2001 NBA All-Star Game.[15] [16] [17] In addition, second-year star Wally Szczerbiak averaged 14.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, and won the MVP award in the Rookie-Sophomore Game during the All-Star Weekend,[18] [19] while Terrell Brandon provided the team with 16.0 points, 7.5 assists and 2.1 steals per game, Anthony Peeler contributed 10.5 points per game, Billups contributed 9.3 points and 3.4 assists per game, and Ellis provided with 9.4 points and 6.0 rebounds per game off the bench.[20] Garnett also finished in fifth place in Most Valuable Player voting with 1 first-place vote,[21] and finished in second place in Defensive Player of the Year voting,[22] while Ellis finished in third place in Sixth Man of the Year voting.[23]

However, in the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the T-Wolves would lose in four games to the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs.[24] [25] [26] [27] Following the season, Ellis signed as a free agent with the Miami Heat,[28] and Tom Hammonds retired.

Draft picks

See main article: 2000 NBA draft.

Regular season

Season standings

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

2000-01 NBA Records
width=100TeamATLBOSCHACHICLEDALDENDETGSWHOUINDLACLALMIAMILMINNJNNYKORLPHIPHOPORSACSASSEATORUTAVANWAS
Atlanta— 1–3 0–4 2–2 2–2 0–2 1–1 0–4 2–0 0–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–3 1–3 0–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 0–3 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–2 0–2 1–1 2–2
Boston3–1 — 0–4 2–1 2–1 0–2 2–0 3–1 0–2 1–1 1–3 2–0 0–2 2–2 1–3 1–1 4–0 1–3 1–3 0–4 2–0 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–3 1–1 0–2 3–1
Charlotte4–0 4–0 — 3–1 2–2 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–0 0–2 3–1 2–0 0–2 2–2 3–1 1–1 4–0 1–2 2–1 2–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–2
Chicago2–2 1–2 1–3 — 1–3 0–2 0–2 0–4 0–2 0–2 0–4 0–2 0–2 1–3 0–4 0–2 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–4 0–2 1–1 2–1
Cleveland2–2 1–2 2–2 3–1 — 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–0 0–2 1–3 0–2 0–2 2–2 1–3 0–2 3–0 2–2 1–3 0–4 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–1 1–1 2–2
Dallas2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 — 3–1 1–1 4–0 2–2 1–1 4–0 0–4 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 2–0
Denver1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–3 — 1–1 4–0 3–1 1–1 2–2 2–2 0–2 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–4 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 0–2 1–3 4–0 1–1
Detroit4–0 1–3 2–2 4–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 — 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–3 0–2 4–0 1–2 2–2 0–4 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–0 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–2
Golden State0–2 2–0 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–4 0–4 1–1 — 1–3 2–0 1–3 1–3 0–2 0–2 2–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–2 0–4 0–4 0–4 0–4 0–2 1–3 1–3 0–2
Houston2–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–2 1–3 2–0 3–1 — 2–0 1–3 1–3 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–3 0–4 1–3 2–2 2–0 1–3 4–0 2–0
Indiana2–2 3–1 1–3 4–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 0–2 0–2 — 2–0 1–1 1–2 2–2 1–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 0–3 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–4 0–2 2–0 4–0
L.A. Clippers1–1 0–2 0–2 2–0 2–0 0–4 2–2 2–0 3–1 3–1 0–2 — 1–3 0–2 1–1 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–4 0–4 1–1 0–4 2–2 1–1
L.A. Lakers1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 4–0 2–2 2–0 3–1 3–1 1–1 3–1 — 1–1 0–2 3–1 2–0 0–2 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–2 0–4 2–0 2–2 4–0 2–0
Miami3–0 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 0–2 2–0 4–0 2–0 1–1 2–1 2–0 1–1 — 1–2 1–1 3–1 2–3 3–1 1–3 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 2–0 4–0
Milwaukee3–1 3–1 1–3 4–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 0–2 2–2 1–1 2–0 2–1 — 0–2 4–0 1–2 4–0 2–2 0–2 0–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 3–1
Minnesota2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–3 2–2 2–0 2–2 2–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 1–1 2–0 — 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–1 3–1 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–1
New Jersey3–1 0–4 0–4 2–2 0–3 0–2 1–1 0–4 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–0 0–2 1–3 0–4 1–1 — 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–2 0–2 1–1 3–1
New York2–2 3–1 2–1 3–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–1 2–0 0–2 2–2 1–1 2–0 3–2 2–1 2–0 2–2 — 3–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–3 0–2 1–1 4–0
Orlando3–1 3–1 1–2 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–4 1–1 3–1 1–3 — 3–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–1 0–2 2–0 3–1
Philadelphia3–0 4–0 2–2 3–1 4–0 1–1 1–1 4–0 2–0 1–1 3–0 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–3 — 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 2–0 4–0
Phoenix2–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 4–0 1–1 2–2 3–1 1–1 2–2 1–3 2–0 2–0 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 — 3–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–1
Portland1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–2 2–0 4–0 3–1 2–0 2–2 2–2 1–1 2–0 1–3 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–3 — 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–0
Sacramento1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–2 2–0 4–0 4–0 0–2 3–1 1–3 1–1 0–2 2–2 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 3–1 — 2–2 2–2 2–0 3–1 4–0 2–0
San Antonio2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–0 4–0 3–1 2–0 4–0 2–2 1–1 0–2 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 3–1 2–2 — 3–1 1–1 4–0 4–0 2–0
Seattle1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–3 2–2 0–2 4–0 2–2 1–1 4–0 4–0 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 1–3 — 0–2 0–4 3–1 2–0
Toronto2–2 3–1 1–3 4–0 4–0 0–2 2–0 2–2 2–0 0–2 4–0 1–1 0–2 2–2 1–3 0–2 2–1 3–1 1–2 3–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–0 — 1–1 2–0 4–0
Utah2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 3–1 2–0 3–1 3–1 2–0 4–0 2–2 1–1 0–2 2–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–2 1–3 1–3 4–0 1–3 0–2 — 4–0 2–0
Vancouver1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–3 0–4 1–1 3–1 0–4 0–2 2–2 0–4 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–3 2–2 0–4 0–4 1–3 0–2 0–4 — 2–0
Washington2–2 1–3 2–2 1–2 2–2 0–2 1–1 2–1 2–0 0–2 0–4 1–1 0–2 0–4 1–3 1–1 1–3 0–4 1–3 0–4 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 0–2 0–2 —

Game log

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| April 21| @ San Antonio| L 82–87| Kevin Garnett (25)| Kevin Garnett (13)| Terrell Brandon (8)| Alamodome
33,983| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| April 23| @ San Antonio| L 69–86| Kevin Garnett (18)| Kevin Garnett (12)| six players tied (2)| Alamodome
31,759| 0–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| April 28| San Antonio| W 93–84| Kevin Garnett (22)| Kevin Garnett (8)| Terrell Brandon (9)| Target Center
17,676| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| April 30| San Antonio| L 84–97| Wally Szczerbiak (20)| Kevin Garnett (15)| Terrell Brandon (6)| Target Center
16,336| 1–3|-

Player statistics

Ragular season

Player
SF82 82 2,856 447 260 59 33 1,145 34.8 5.5 3.2 .7 .4 14.0
PF82 5 1,948 494 93 67 74 772 23.8 6.0 1.1 .8 .9 9.4
SF82 4 983 123 57 26 10 285 12.0 1.5 .7 .3 .1 3.5
PF81 81 3,202 921 401 111 145 1,784 39.5 11.4 5.0 1.4 1.8 22.0
PG78 78 2,821 298 583 161 21 1,250 36.2 3.8 7.5 2.1 .3 16.0
SG77 33 1,790 158 260 51 11 713 23.2 2.1 3.4 .7 .1 9.3
SG75 41 2,126 192 192 91 18 791 28.3 2.6 2.6 1.2 .2 10.5
C73 39 1,233 286 45 25 63 328 16.9 3.9 .6 .3 .9 4.5
C70 21 831 217 24 26 49 177 11.9 3.1 .3 .4 .7 2.5
PF55 16 686 186 26 18 9 254 12.5 3.4 .5 .3 .2 4.6
PG55 0 463 29 75 13 4 154 8.4 .5 1.4 .2 .1 2.8
SG31 0 345 37 28 10 7 132 11.1 1.2 .9 .3 .2 4.3
†PG23 10 457 74 34 21 12 170 19.9 3.2 1.5 .9 .5 7.4
PG14 0 59 6 4 3 0 20 4.2 .4 .3 .2 .0 1.4
PF7 0 30 4 1 0 0 7 4.3 .6 .1 .0 .0 1.0

Playoffs

Player
PF4 4 165 48 17 4 6 84 41.3 12.0 4.3 1.0 1.5 21.0
PG4 4 153 17 25 4 2 61 38.3 4.3 6.3 1.0 .5 15.3
SF4 4 143 18 10 5 3 56 35.8 4.5 2.5 1.3 .8 14.0
SG4 4 137 14 7 7 1 34 34.3 3.5 1.8 1.8 .3 8.5
C4 2 49 12 3 1 3 10 12.3 3.0 .8 .3 .8 2.5
PF4 0 77 14 0 1 3 24 19.3 3.5 .0 .3 .8 6.0
PG4 0 55 11 5 4 0 17 13.8 2.8 1.3 1.0 .0 4.3
PF4 0 52 14 0 2 3 13 13.0 3.5 .0 .5 .8 3.3
SF4 0 50 7 3 1 0 6 12.5 1.8 .8 .3 .0 1.5
C3 2 41 9 0 1 1 13 13.7 3.0 .0 .3 .3 4.3
SG3 0 26 5 2 0 0 3 8.7 1.7 .7 .0 .0 1.0
PG2 0 12 1 2 0 1 7 6.0 .5 1.0 .0 .5 3.5

Awards and records

See also

Notes and References

  1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIN/2001.html 2000-01 Minnesota Timberwolves
  2. News: Timberwolves Sign Billups, Smith . Associated Press . August 28, 2000 . July 27, 2021.
  3. News: NBA Capsule -- Minnesota Timberwolves . United Press International . October 29, 2000 . October 19, 2022.
  4. News: Transactions . The New York Times . October 5, 2000 . October 16, 2021.
  5. News: Wise . Mike . PRO BASKETBALL; West Side Story, the Sequel . The New York Times . October 30, 2000 . July 16, 2022.
  6. News: McKinley Jr. . James C. . PRO BASKETBALL; Timberwolves Pay Dearly for Secret Contract . The New York Times . October 26, 2000 . November 26, 2022.
  7. News: Sheridan . Chris . NBA Fines Minnesota for Secret Deal . Associated Press . October 26, 2000 . June 9, 2022.
  8. News: Wise . Mike . PRO BASKETBALL; Timberwolves Might Face Additional Punishment . The New York Times . October 27, 2000 . March 15, 2017.
  9. News: Adande . J.A. . Minnesota Feels Stern's Wrath . Los Angeles Times . October 28, 2000 . July 2, 2022.
  10. News: Associated Press . PRO BASKETBALL; Smith Is Signed and Sealed, and Pistons Look to Deliver . The New York Times . November 21, 2000 . January 11, 2022.
  11. News: Associated Press . Joe Smith Ends Up Signing with Pistons . Los Angeles Times . November 21, 2000 . October 19, 2022.
  12. News: NBA Games Played on February 8, 2001 . Basketball-Reference . September 12, 2022.
  13. News: Lopez Latches on with Minnesota . United Press International . February 28, 2001 . November 27, 2022.
  14. Web site: 2000–01 Minnesota Timberwolves Schedule and Results. Basketball-Reference. June 26, 2021.
  15. News: NBA.com Staff . 2001 NBA All-Star Recap . NBA.com . September 13, 2021 . May 14, 2023.
  16. News: 2001 All-Star Weekend - at Washington: February 9-11 . Eskimo North . May 14, 2023.
  17. Web site: 2001 NBA All-Star Game: East 111, West 110 . Basketball-Reference . November 28, 2021.
  18. News: Robbins . Liz . BASKETBALL: ALL-STAR NOTEBOOK; Szczerbiak Schools Rookies . The New York Times . February 11, 2001 . October 19, 2022.
  19. News: 2001 NBA Rising Stars: Sophomores 121, Rookies 113 . Basketball-Reference . January 15, 2022.
  20. Web site: 2000–01 Minnesota Timberwolves Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. June 26, 2021.
  21. News: Brown . Clifton . PRO BASKETBALL; 76ers' Fans Called It: Iverson Is Most Valuable Player . The New York Times . May 16, 2001 . May 27, 2022.
  22. News: Mutombo Voted Best Defensive Player for 4th Time . The Washington Post . April 24, 2001 . October 19, 2022.
  23. News: 2000-01 NBA Awards Voting . Basketball-Reference . November 25, 2021.
  24. News: Associated Press . N.B.A.: PLAYOFF ROUNDUP AND SCHEDULE; San Antonio Clinches . The New York Times . May 1, 2001 . May 27, 2022.
  25. News: Associated Press . Spurs Handily Pass Their First Test . Los Angeles Times . May 1, 2001 . June 3, 2022.
  26. News: San Antonio 97, Minnesota 84 . United Press International . April 30, 2001 . November 26, 2022.
  27. Web site: 2001 NBA Western Conference First Round: Timberwolves vs. Spurs . Basketball-Reference . May 14, 2023.
  28. News: PLUS: PRO BASKETBALL; Ellis Moves Again, Signing with Heat . The New York Times . July 29, 2001 . January 12, 2022.

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