1989–90 Minnesota Timberwolves season


The 1989–90 NBA season was the Timberwolves' 1st season in the National Basketball Association. Nearly 30 years since the Lakers left for Los Angeles, the NBA returned to Minnesota with an expansion team known as the "Timberwolves". The T-Wolves made their debut on November 3 losing to the Seattle SuperSonics, 106–94 on the road. Five days later, they made their home debut at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome losing to the Chicago Bulls 96–84. Just two nights later, the Wolves would finally get their first win beating the Philadelphia 76ers at home in overtime, 125–118 on November 10. However, the Timberwolves struggled in their first season, posting two nine-game losing streaks, finishing sixth place in the Midwest Division with a 22–60 record. Tony Campbell led the team in scoring averaging 23.2 points per game, and top draft pick Pooh Richardson made the All-Rookie First Team.

Draft picks

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege
110Pooh RichardsonPGUnited StatesUCLA
234Gary LeonardCUnited StatesMissouri
238Doug WestSGUnited StatesVillanova

Roster

NBA Expansion Draft

Prior to the 1989 NBA draft, the NBA held a coin toss between the Timberwolves and the other new expansion team, the Orlando Magic, to determine their order for the NBA Draft and the expansion draft. The Magic won the coin toss and chose to have the first pick in the expansion draft and pick 11th in the NBA Draft, while the Timberwolves picked second in the expansion draft and 10th in the NBA Draft.
The previous season's expansion teams, the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat, were not involved in this year's expansion draft and did not lose any player.
PickPlayerPositionNationalityPrevious Team
2Rick MahornF/CUnited StatesDetroit Pistons
4Tyrone CorbinG/FUnited StatesPhoenix Suns
6Steve JohnsonF/CUnited StatesPortland Trail Blazers
8Brad LohausF/CUnited StatesSacramento Kings
10David RiversGUnited StatesLos Angeles Lakers
12Mark DavisG/FUnited StatesMilwaukee Bucks
14Scott RothFUnited StatesSan Antonio Spurs
16Shelton JonesFUnited StatesPhiladelphia 76ers
18Eric WhiteFUnited StatesLos Angeles Clippers
20Maurice MartinG/FUnited StatesDenver Nuggets
22Gunther BehnkeCWest GermanyCleveland Cavaliers

Regular season

Standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Player statistics

Awards and honors