2001–02 Minnesota Timberwolves season


The 2001–02 NBA season was the Timberwolves' 13th season in the National Basketball Association. 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. The Timberwolves won nine of their first ten games, which led them to a 28–9 record as of January 15. However, Terrell Brandon sustained a knee injury after 32 games and was out for the remainder of the season, as the team suffered a 7-game losing streak in March. Meanwhile, Kevin Garnett continued to establish himself as one of the top players in the NBA averaging 21.2 points and 12.1 rebounds per game, as the Timberwolves finished third in the Midwest Division with a solid 50–32 record. Garnett and Wally Szczerbiak were both selected to play in the 2002 NBA All-Star Game.
The Timberwolves were again an NBA playoff team and were up against the Dallas Mavericks in the first round. The playoffs didn't go to plan, with the Timberwolves losing to the Dallas Mavericks in three straight games.
Before the start of the next season, Chauncey Billups signed as a free agent with the Detroit Pistons, and Sam Mitchell retired.

Draft picks

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege
129Forfeited pick
245Loren WoodsCArizona

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Playoffs

West First Round

Dallas Mavericks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Mavericks and Timberwolves.
Dirk Nowitzki was virtually unstoppable in this series, averaging around 33 points and 16 rebounds per game.

Player statistics

Season

Playoffs

Awards and records