The 2003–04 Minnesota Timberwolves season was the 15th season for the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA).[1] The season is one of the most memorable in Timberwolves history. During the offseason, the Timberwolves acquired 4-time All-Star guard Latrell Sprewell. The arrival was seen as controversial as Sprewell was known for his choking incident with then-Golden State Warriors head coach P. J. Carlesimo, though also known for helping the 8th-seeded New York Knicks to the NBA Finals in 1999.[2] Sam Cassell, who was known for winning two championships with the Houston Rockets, and his tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks, where he helped guide the Bucks to the Eastern Conference finals in 2001,[3] also was acquired to join Garnett, forming a "Big 3". The Timberwolves also signed free agents Michael Olowakandi and Trenton Hassell. With a Western Conference-best 58-24 finish, the Wolves set the franchise record for wins, and won its first and only division championship. Power forward Kevin Garnett averaged 24.2 points, a league-high 13.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.5 steals, and 2.2 blocks per game, winning the regular season Most Valuable Player Award.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Timberwolves defeated the Denver Nuggets in five games, which was their first ever win in a playoff series. The Wolves were then pushed to the limit in the semi-finals by the Sacramento Kings, who they narrowly defeated in a deciding seventh game. In the Western Conference Finals, they faced the Los Angeles Lakers, who had defeated them in the prior season's first round in six games. The Lakers team, known for its All-Star starting lineup of Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Gary Payton, and Karl Malone, defeated the Wolves in six games, then would go on to lose in the NBA Finals to the Detroit Pistons in five games. Garnett, Cassell, and head coach Flip Saunders represented the Western Conference in the 2004 NBA All-Star Game. The 2004 All-Star Game was Cassell's only All-Star appearance in his career.
Following this season, the Timberwolves would not win another playoff series until 2024, a 21-season drought.
Offseason
NBA draft
<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>
Roster
2003–04 Minnesota Timberwolves roster |
Players |
Coaches |
Pos. |
No. |
Name |
Height |
Weight |
DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) |
From |
PG |
19 |
Cassell, Sam |
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
185 lb (84 kg) |
1969-11-18 |
Florida State |
SF |
44 |
Ebi, Ndudi |
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
200 lb (91 kg) |
1984-06-18 |
Westbury Christian HS (TX) |
PF |
21 |
Garnett, Kevin |
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
220 lb (100 kg) |
1976-05-19 |
Farragut Academy (IL) |
SG |
23 |
Hassell, Trenton |
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
200 lb (91 kg) |
1979-03-04 |
Austin Peay |
SG |
32 |
Hoiberg, Fred |
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
203 lb (92 kg) |
1972-10-15 |
Iowa State |
PG |
16 |
Hudson, Troy |
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
170 lb (77 kg) |
1976-03-13 |
Southern Illinois |
C |
40 |
Johnson, Ervin |
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
245 lb (111 kg) |
1967-12-21 |
New Orleans |
C |
35 |
Madsen, Mark |
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
240 lb (109 kg) |
1976-01-28 |
Stanford |
PG |
15 |
Martin, Darrick |
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
170 lb (77 kg) |
1971-03-06 |
UCLA |
C |
3 |
Miller, Oliver |
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
280 lb (127 kg) |
1970-04-06 |
Arkansas |
C |
34 |
Olowokandi, Michael |
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) |
269 lb (122 kg) |
1975-04-03 |
Pacific |
SF |
8 |
Sprewell, Latrell |
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
190 lb (86 kg) |
1970-09-08 |
Alabama |
SF |
10 |
Szczerbiak, Wally |
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
244 lb (111 kg) |
1977-03-05 |
Miami (OH) |
C |
20 |
Trent, Gary |
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
250 lb (113 kg) |
1974-09-22 |
Ohio |
|
- Head coach
- Assistant coach(es)
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (DP) Unsigned draft pick
- (FA) Free agent
- (S) Suspended
Injured
Roster
Last transaction: January 30, 2004
|
Regular season
Standings
Record vs. opponents
2003-04 NBA Records |
Team |
ATL |
BOS |
CHI |
CLE |
DAL |
DEN |
DET |
GSW |
HOU |
IND |
LAC |
LAL |
MEM |
MIA |
MIL |
MIN |
NJN |
NOH |
NYK |
ORL |
PHI |
PHO |
POR |
SAC |
SAS |
SEA |
TOR |
UTA |
WAS |
Atlanta |
– |
3–1 |
3–1 |
1–3 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
1–3 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
0–4 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–3 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
2–2 |
0–3 |
1–3 |
1–2 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
0–2 |
2–2 |
Boston |
1–3 |
– |
1–2 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
0–3 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
0–4 |
1–3 |
3–1 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
Chicago |
1–3 |
2–1 |
– |
2–2 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
0–4 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
0–4 |
1–3 |
0–2 |
0–3 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
3–1 |
0–4 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
4–0 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
Cleveland |
3–1 |
1–3 |
2–2 |
– |
0–2 |
0–2 |
2–2 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
0–2 |
1–2 |
3–1 |
4–0 |
2–1 |
3–1 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
Dallas |
0–2 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
– |
2–2 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
3–1 |
0–2 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
3–1 |
3–1 |
3–1 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
Denver |
0–2 |
0–2 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
2–2 |
– |
0–2 |
3–1 |
2–2 |
0–2 |
2–2 |
1–3 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–3 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
4–0 |
4–0 |
2–2 |
1–3 |
2–2 |
0–2 |
3–1 |
2–0 |
Detroit |
3–1 |
3–0 |
4–0 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
– |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
4–0 |
3–1 |
0–2 |
2–2 |
1–3 |
3–1 |
3–1 |
2–2 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
3–0 |
Golden State |
2–0 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–3 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
– |
2–2 |
0–2 |
2–2 |
1–3 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
Houston |
2–0 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
1–3 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
– |
1–1 |
4–0 |
2–2 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
1–3 |
3–1 |
0–4 |
0–4 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
2–0 |
Indiana |
4–0 |
3–1 |
3–1 |
3–1 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
3–1 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
– |
2–0 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
3–0 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
2–2 |
3–1 |
3–1 |
4–0 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
4–0 |
2–0 |
2–1 |
L.A. Clippers |
2–0 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
0–2 |
2–2 |
0–4 |
0–2 |
– |
1–3 |
0–4 |
0–2 |
2–0 |
0–4 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
2–2 |
0–4 |
1–3 |
0–4 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
0–2 |
L.A. Lakers |
1–1 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
2–2 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
– |
2–2 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
1–3 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
2–2 |
1–3 |
3–1 |
3–1 |
2–0 |
3–1 |
2–0 |
Memphis |
2–0 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
0–2 |
3–1 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
4–0 |
2–2 |
– |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
3–1 |
1–3 |
2–0 |
1–3 |
2–0 |
Miami |
3–1 |
2–2 |
4–0 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
0–4 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
0–3 |
2–0 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
– |
1–2 |
0–2 |
3–2 |
3–1 |
1–3 |
4–0 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
2–0 |
2–1 |
1–1 |
4–0 |
Milwaukee |
2–2 |
3–1 |
3–1 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
3–1 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
2–1 |
– |
0–2 |
3–1 |
1–3 |
2–2 |
3–1 |
2–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
Minnesota |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
2–2 |
3–1 |
2–0 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
4–0 |
3–1 |
3–1 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
– |
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
4–0 |
1–3 |
3–1 |
2–2 |
3–1 |
2–0 |
2–2 |
2–0 |
New Jersey |
3–1 |
2–2 |
3–0 |
2–1 |
0–2 |
2–0 |
2–2 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
2–0 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
2–3 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
– |
2–1 |
3–1 |
4–0 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
2–0 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
4–0 |
New Orleans |
2–2 |
4–0 |
2–2 |
1–3 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
2–0 |
0–2 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
3–1 |
0–2 |
1–2 |
– |
1–2 |
4–0 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
New York |
3–0 |
3–1 |
2–2 |
0–4 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
2–1 |
– |
3–1 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
0–2 |
4–0 |
Orlando |
3–1 |
1–3 |
1–3 |
1–2 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–3 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
0–4 |
1–3 |
0–2 |
0–4 |
0–4 |
1–3 |
– |
2–2 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
1–2 |
1–1 |
4–0 |
Philadelphia |
2–1 |
1–3 |
4–0 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
0–4 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
3–1 |
1–2 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
2–2 |
1–3 |
2–2 |
– |
1–1 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
0–2 |
2–2 |
Phoenix |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–3 |
0–4 |
0–2 |
2–2 |
3–1 |
0–2 |
1–3 |
1–3 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
0–4 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
– |
2–2 |
1–3 |
0–4 |
2–2 |
0–2 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
Portland |
2–0 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
0–4 |
0–2 |
2–2 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
2–0 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
– |
3–1 |
0–4 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
Sacramento |
2–0 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
1–3 |
2–2 |
2–0 |
2–2 |
4–0 |
2–0 |
4–0 |
3–1 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
3–1 |
1–3 |
– |
2–2 |
3–1 |
2–0 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
San Antonio |
1–1 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
4–0 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
1–3 |
1–3 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
0–2 |
4–0 |
4–0 |
2–2 |
– |
4–0 |
2–0 |
4–0 |
2–0 |
Seattle |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
0–2 |
1–3 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
1–3 |
3–1 |
0–2 |
4–0 |
1–3 |
3–1 |
0–2 |
2–0 |
1–3 |
0–2 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
1–3 |
0–4 |
– |
1–1 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
Toronto |
3–1 |
1–3 |
0–4 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
0–4 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
1–2 |
1–3 |
0–2 |
2–2 |
3–1 |
1–3 |
2–1 |
3–1 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
– |
1–1 |
1–3 |
Utah |
2–0 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
1–3 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
0–2 |
3–1 |
1–3 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
3–1 |
2–2 |
1–3 |
0–4 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
– |
1–1 |
Washington |
2–2 |
1–3 |
3–1 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
0–3 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–2 |
2–0 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
0–4 |
1–3 |
0–2 |
0–4 |
1–3 |
0–4 |
0–4 |
2–2 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
3–1 |
1–1 |
— |
Playoffs
2004 playoff game log |
First round: 4–1 (Home: 3–0; Road: 1–1)
|
Conference Semi-finals: 4–3 (Home: 3–1; Road: 1–2)
|
Conference finals: 2–4 (Home: 2–1; Road: 0–3)
|
2004 playoff schedule |
Awards and honors
Week/Month
- Kevin Garnett was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played November 16 through November 22.
- Kevin Garnett was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played December 14 through December 20.
- Sam Cassell was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played December 21 through December 27.
- Kevin Garnett was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played January 18 through January 24.
- Kevin Garnett was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played January 25 through January 31.
- Kevin Garnett was named Western Conference Player of the Month for December.
- Kevin Garnett was named Western Conference Player of the Month for January.
- Kevin Garnett was named Western Conference Player of the Month for February.
- Kevin Garnett was named Western Conference Player of the Month for April.
- Flip Saunders was named Western Conference Coach of the Month for April.
All-Star
- Kevin Garnett was voted as a starter for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his seventh consecutive All-Star selection. Garnett finished first among Western Conference players in voting with 1,780,918 votes.
- Sam Cassell was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his first and only All-Star selection.
- Flip Saunders coached the Western Conference to a 136–132 victory over the Eastern Conference.
Season
Injuries/Missed games
[4]
Player statistics
Regular season
* – Stats with the Timberwolves.
^ – Minimum 125 free throws made.
Playoffs
† – Minimum 20 field goals made.
^ – Minimum 5 three-pointers made.
Transactions
Trades
Free agents
Additions
Date |
Player |
Contract |
Former Team |
July 16, 2003 |
Michael Olowokandi |
Signed 3-year contract for $16.2 million |
Los Angeles Clippers |
July 28, 2003 |
Fred Hoiberg |
Signed 1-year contract for $938,679 |
Chicago Bulls |
July 28, 2003 |
Mark Madsen |
Signed 2-year contract for $1.4 million |
Los Angeles Lakers |
September 30, 2003 |
Quincy Lewis |
Undisclosed |
Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel) |
September 30, 2003 |
Keith McLeod |
Undisclosed |
Basket Livorno (Italy) |
October 25, 2003 |
Keith McLeod |
Undisclosed |
Minnesota Timberwolves |
October 29, 2003 |
Trenton Hassell |
Signed 1-year contract for $638,679 |
Chicago Bulls |
December 13, 2003 |
Oliver Miller |
Signed 1-year contract for $686,838 |
Fujian Xunxing (China) |
January 7, 2004 |
Anthony Goldwire |
Signed two 10-day contracts |
Yakima Sun Kings (CBA) |
January 30, 2004 |
Darrick Martin |
Signed two 10-day contracts |
Harlem Globetrotters |
March 31, 2004 |
Darrick Martin |
Signed for rest of season |
Minnesota Timberwolves |
Subtractions
[5]
References
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Franchise |
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Arenas |
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Personnel |
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G League affiliate |
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Retired numbers |
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Culture and lore |
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