2001–02 Minnesota Timberwolves season explained

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] [3] [4]} In addition, the team also signed free agent Gary Trent.^{[5] [6]} 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.^[7] Terrell Brandon sustained a knee injury after 32 games and was out for the remainder of the season,^{[8] [9] [10]} 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,^{[11] [12] [13]} and signed free agent Robert Pack in March.^[14] The Timberwolves finished third in the Midwest Division with a solid 50–32 record.^[15]

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.^[16] Garnett and Szczerbiak were both selected for the 2002 NBA All-Star Game.^{[17] [18] [19]} Garnett also finished in second place in Defensive Player of the Year voting.^{[20] [21] [22]}

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.^{[23] [24] [25] [26]} Following the season, Billups signed as a free agent with the Detroit Pistons,^{[27] [28] [29]} 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.^[30]

Draft picks

See main article: 2001 NBA draft.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	29	Forfeited pick
2	45		C		Arizona

Regular season

Season standings

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

2001-02 NBA Records
width=100	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

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| April 21| @ Dallas| L 94–101| Chauncey Billups (25)| Kevin Garnett (21)| Chauncey Billups (9)| American Airlines Center
20,010| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| April 24| @ Dallas| L 110–122| Kevin Garnett (31)| Kevin Garnett (18)| Billups, Garnett (4)| American Airlines Center
20,084| 0–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| April 28| Dallas| L 102–115| Kevin Garnett (22)| Kevin Garnett (17)| Kevin Garnett (5)| Target Center
18,795| 0–3|-

Player statistics

Ragular season

Player
	SF	82	82	3,117	391	257	66	21	1,531	38.0	4.8	3.1	.8	.3	18.7
	C	82	82	2,218	534	75	45	109	687	27.0	6.5	.9	.5	1.3	8.4
	PG	82	54	2,355	226	450	66	17	1,027	28.7	2.8	5.5	.8	.2	12.5
	SG	82	0	2,060	206	177	61	11	737	25.1	2.5	2.2	.7	.1	9.0
	PF	81	81	3,175	981	422	96	126	1,714	39.2	12.1	5.2	1.2	1.6	21.2
	SF	74	10	726	82	45	12	4	244	9.8	1.1	.6	.2	.1	3.3
	C	72	63	1,922	453	82	39	59	767	26.7	6.3	1.1	.5	.8	10.7
	SG	67	0	581	80	39	18	1	169	8.7	1.2	.6	.3	.0	2.5
	PF	64	10	1,140	270	60	21	27	478	17.8	4.2	.9	.3	.4	7.5
	C	60	0	516	122	22	17	34	110	8.6	2.0	.4	.3	.6	1.8
	PG	32	28	962	93	264	52	6	397	30.1	2.9	8.3	1.6	.2	12.4
^†	C	29	0	152	47	4	5	9	28	5.2	1.6	.1	.2	.3	1.0
	PG	28	0	258	24	36	7	0	71	9.2	.9	1.3	.3	.0	2.5
^†	C	22	0	326	85	7	6	3	102	14.8	3.9	.3	.3	.1	4.6
	PG	16	0	252	23	49	13	0	62	15.8	1.4	3.1	.8	.0	3.9
	SG	10	0	45	4	4	0	0	21	4.5	.4	.4	.0	.0	2.1

Playoffs

Player
	PG	3	3	134	15	17	3	1	66	44.7	5.0	5.7	1.0	.3	22.0
	SF	3	3	131	21	6	2	0	60	43.7	7.0	2.0	.7	.0	20.0
	PF	3	3	130	56	15	5	5	72	43.3	18.7	5.0	1.7	1.7	24.0
	C	3	3	92	20	3	1	0	34	30.7	6.7	1.0	.3	.0	11.3
	SF	3	2	34	2	3	1	1	8	11.3	.7	1.0	.3	.3	2.7
	C	3	1	43	11	0	0	1	13	14.3	3.7	.0	.0	.3	4.3
	SG	3	0	67	13	2	4	0	27	22.3	4.3	.7	1.3	.0	9.0
	PF	3	0	48	9	1	0	0	19	16.0	3.0	.3	.0	.0	6.3
	SG	3	0	30	1	1	1	0	4	10.0	.3	.3	.3	.0	1.3
	PG	3	0	10	0	0	0	0	3	3.3	.0	.0	.0	.0	1.0
	C	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1.0	.0	.0	.0	.0	.0

Awards and records

• Kevin Garnett, All-NBA Second Team
• Kevin Garnett, NBA All-Defensive First Team

See also

• 2001-02 NBA season

Notes and References

1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIN/2002.html 2001-02 Minnesota Timberwolves
2. News: BASKETBALL: ROUNDUP; Minnesota Signs Smith . The New York Times . July 31, 2001 . December 31, 2021.
3. News: Timberwolves Sign Joe Smith . United Press International . July 30, 2001 . June 9, 2022.
4. News: Brown . Tim . Lakers Serve Up a Half-Pounder . Los Angeles Times . December 2, 2001 . July 2, 2022.
5. News: Timberwolves Sign Forward Trent . Associated Press . October 2, 2001 . January 12, 2022.
6. News: Wise . Mike . PRO BASKETBALL; Jordan Against the New Generation, Lakers Against the World . The New York Times . October 30, 2001 . July 16, 2022.
7. News: NBA Games Played on February 7, 2002 . Basketball-Reference . September 11, 2022.
8. News: Brandon Out with Leg Injury . Huron Daily Tribune . February 12, 2002 . July 26, 2021.
9. News: Brandon Goes on Injured List . United Press International . February 13, 2002 . May 5, 2023.
10. News: Springer . Steve . No Chaunce for Lakers . Los Angeles Times . February 28, 2002 . October 20, 2022.
11. News: Warriors Trade Jackson to Wolves . United Press International . February 21, 2002 . January 11, 2022.
12. News: Associated Press . Mavericks Get Van Exel, LaFrentz . Los Angeles Times . February 22, 2002 . October 20, 2022.
13. News: Van Exel, Howard Are Part of Big Trade . The Washington Post . February 22, 2002 . May 5, 2023.
14. News: Associated Press . Garnett Picks Himself Up for Timberwolves . Los Angeles Times . March 29, 2002 . October 24, 2022.
15. Web site: 2001–02 Minnesota Timberwolves Schedule and Results. Basketball-Reference. June 23, 2021.
16. Web site: 2001–02 Minnesota Timberwolves Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. June 23, 2021.
17. News: NBA.com Staff . 2002 NBA All-Star Recap . NBA.com . September 13, 2021 . May 4, 2023.
18. Web site: 2002 All-Star Weekend - at Philadelphia: February 8-10 . Eskimo North . May 4, 2023.
19. Web site: 2002 NBA All-Star Game: West 135, East 120 . Basketball-Reference . October 16, 2021.
20. News: Associated Press . Ben Wallace Named NBA's Top Defender . Deseret News . April 21, 2002 . May 5, 2023.
21. News: Associated Press . Pistons' Wallace Wins Award in a Landslide . ESPN . April 23, 2002 . October 20, 2022.
22. News: 2001–02 NBA Awards Voting . Basketball-Reference . January 11, 2022.
23. News: Associated Press . N.B.A.: ROUNDUP; Lakers and Mavs Advance . The New York Times . April 29, 2002 . July 24, 2021.
24. News: Associated Press . Mavericks' Sweep Is Team Effort . Los Angeles Times . April 29, 2002 . June 2, 2022.
25. News: Dallas 115, Minnesota 102 . United Press International . April 28, 2002 . November 26, 2022.
26. Web site: 2002 NBA Western Conference First Round: Timberwolves vs. Mavericks . Basketball-Reference . May 4, 2023.
27. News: Associated Press . Pistons Ecstatic to Have Billups in Mix . ESPN . July 17, 2002 . May 5, 2023.
28. News: PLUS: PRO BASKETBALL; Pistons Sign Billups, But Not to Start . The New York Times . July 18, 2002 . July 26, 2021.
29. News: Smith . Sam . Eastern Conference Capsules . Chicago Tribune . October 30, 2002 . June 9, 2022.
30. News: Heisler . Mark . West Capsules in Predicted Order of Finish . Los Angeles Times . October 28, 2002 . October 20, 2022.