The 2001β02 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 28β9 start as of January 15, but started to slow down a bit holding a 33β16 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 50β32 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]
The 2001β02 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 28β9 start as of January 15, but started to slow down a bit holding a 33β16 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 50β32 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]