The Minnesota Timberwolves, founded in 1989, have had ups and downs in their history. They won their first division championship in 2004 and ended a 14-year playoff drought in 2018.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have made 12 playoff appearances in their franchise history.
1945
Formation of Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves were established in 1945.
1946-06-06
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are a professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They were established in 1989 as an expansion team.
1955
Flip Saunders becomes head coach of Timberwolves
In 1955, Flip Saunders was appointed as the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
1960
Minneapolis Lakers move to Los Angeles
Owner Bob Short relocated the Minneapolis Lakers to Los Angeles in 1960, leading to a gap of almost thirty years before professional basketball returned to Minnesota.
1986-10
Minnesota Timberwolves Name Selection
In October 1986, a naming contest was held to decide the nickname for a potential expansion team in Minnesota. Out of 6,076 entries, the name 'Timberwolves' was chosen by Minnesota's 842 city councils.
1986-12
Team Name Selection as Timberwolves
In December of 1986, Minnesota's expansion team was officially named the 'Timberwolves' after a 'Name the Team' contest that drew over 6,000 entries.
1987-09-17
Unveiling of First Logo
The first logo of the Timberwolves was unveiled on September 17, 1987, featuring a design described as 'aggressive, but not sinister' by the team's president.
1989-06-06
NBA Team Founding - Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves joined the NBA in 1989 and have been a part of the league's Western Conference.
1989-11-03
Minnesota Timberwolves First Game
On November 3, 1989, the Minnesota Timberwolves played their first game against the Seattle Supersonics, resulting in a 106–94 loss. It marked the beginning of the Timberwolves' journey in the NBA.
1989-11-08
Timberwolves Home Opener
The Timberwolves had their home opener on November 8, 1989, facing the Chicago Bulls and losing 96–84. It was an important moment for the team playing in front of their home crowd.
1989-11-10
Timberwolves First Win
On November 10, 1989, the Timberwolves secured their first win by defeating the 76ers with a final score of 125–118. It was a significant milestone for the young team.
1990-10
Minneapolis Target Center Opening
In October of 1990, the Minnesota Timberwolves moved into the Minneapolis Target Center, their new home arena.
1994
Timberwolves Ownership Change
In 1994, the Minnesota Timberwolves were sold to Mankato businessman Glen Taylor for $88 million. This ownership change marked a new chapter for the franchise.
1995-06-28
Kevin Garnett Drafted by Minnesota Timberwolves
On June 28, 1995, at the 1995 NBA Draft in Toronto, the Minnesota Timberwolves selected Kevin Garnett as the fifth overall pick from Farragut Career Academy, making him the first player to be drafted straight out of high school in 20 years.
1996-01-09
Flip Saunders Becomes Timberwolves Head Coach
Flip Saunders replaced Bill Blair as the head coach of the Timberwolves.
1996-05-18
Introduction of New Logo Design
On May 18, 1996, the Timberwolves introduced a new logo design featuring a more competitive and aggressive look, signifying a shift towards a new era of Wolves basketball.
1997-04-25
Minnesota loses to Seattle in NBA Western Conference First Round
Minnesota Timberwolves were defeated by the Seattle team in the NBA Western Conference First Round, losing the series 3 games to 2.
1997-08-25
Signing of Clifford Robinson
Minnesota Timberwolves signed Clifford Robinson, who previously played for Portland, as a free agent in August 1997.
1997-10-01
Trade involving Wesley Person and Antonio McDyess
Minnesota Timberwolves traded Wesley Person to Cleveland for a first-round draft choice, then traded two first-round draft choices and two second-round draft choices to Denver for Antonio McDyess in October 1997.
1998
Timberwolves Sign Kevin Garnett to $126 Million Contract
In 1998, the Timberwolves signed Kevin Garnett to a six-year, $126 million contract, making him one of the highest-paid players in the NBA at the time.
1999
Joe Smith's Free Agent Deal Voided by NBA
The NBA voided Joe Smith's free agent deal with the Timberwolves due to improper procedure in signing the contract. The Timberwolves were stripped of draft picks and fined, while their general manager was suspended.
2000
Malik Sealy's Death
In the summer of 2000, Timberwolves guard Malik Sealy was killed in a car accident by a drunk driver, leading to the retirement of his jersey number 2 by the team.
2001-02
Minnesota Timberwolves NBA Season
During the 2001-02 NBA season, the Minnesota Timberwolves finished with a record of 50-32, ranking 3rd out of 29 teams in the league. They had a strong performance led by head coach Flip Saunders and star player Kevin Garnett.
2002-03
Minnesota Timberwolves in NBA Season 2002-03
In the 2002-03 NBA season, the Minnesota Timberwolves had a successful run finishing with a record of 51-31. They reached the Western Conference 1st Round but unfortunately lost. Flip Saunders was the head coach with Kevin Garnett leading the team.
2003-04
Minnesota Timberwolves 2003-04 Season Success
The 2003-04 season was the most successful in Minnesota Timberwolves franchise history. They finished first in the Western Conference with a record of 58-24.
2004-05-03
Garnett Named NBA's Most Valuable Player
Kevin Garnett was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player in May 2004.
2005-02-13
Coach Flip Saunders Fired
Timberwolves fired Coach Flip Saunders due to the team's poor performance, losing seven of their last eight games and falling to a record of 25-26.
2005-06-17
Dwane Casey Hired as Head Coach
On June 17, 2005, the Timberwolves hired Dwane Casey as their new head coach, making him the seventh head coach in the team's history.
2006-01-23
Dwane Casey Fired
On January 23, 2006, Kevin McHale fired head coach Dwane Casey and replaced him with Randy Wittman due to inconsistency in performance.
2006-01-26
Multiple Trades
On January 26, 2006, the Timberwolves made multiple trades including sending Wally Szczerbiak, Dwayne Jones, and others to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Ricky Davis, Mark Blount, and others.
2007-02-20
Kevin Garnett's Slam Dunk
Kevin Garnett, playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves, executed a powerful slam dunk during a game against the Washington Wizards on February 20, 2007.
2007-07-31
Kevin Garnett Trade
On July 31, 2007, the Timberwolves traded All-Star Kevin Garnett to the Boston Celtics for Al Jefferson, Theo Ratliff, and others, marking the end of the Kevin Garnett era.
2007-10-10
Minnesota Timberwolves lost to Boston Celtics in NBA preseason
The Minnesota Timberwolves lost to the revamped Boston Celtics, led by Kevin Garnett, in the NBA preseason game as part of NBA Europe Live 2007.
2008-10-14
Minnesota Timberwolves unveil updated logo and uniforms
In celebration of the franchise's 20th anniversary, the Timberwolves revealed a new logo and uniforms during the preseason game against the Chicago Bulls.
2008-12-08
Minnesota Timberwolves fire head coach Wittman
After a significant loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, the Timberwolves fired head coach Wittman and Kevin McHale took over the coaching duties.
2009-06-17
Minnesota Timberwolves part ways with coach McHale
New president of basketball operations David Kahn announced that Kevin McHale would not return as the head coach of the Timberwolves, leading to the hiring of Kurt Rambis.
2010-07-12
Minnesota Timberwolves acquire Michael Beasley
The Timberwolves traded for Miami Heat forward Michael Beasley, adding him to the team roster.
2010-11-12
Kevin Love's historic 30-30 game
Kevin Love achieved a franchise-record 31 rebounds and 31 points in a game against the New York Knicks, marking the NBA's first 30-30 game in 28 years.
2011-02-08
Kevin Love breaks double-double record
Kevin Love broke the team record for consecutive double-doubles, surpassing Kevin Garnett's mark in a game against the Houston Rockets.
2011-02-21
Corey Brewer and Kosta Koufos traded to New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets
Corey Brewer and Kosta Koufos were traded to the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets respectively in exchange for Anthony Randolph, Eddy Curry, $3 million cash, and a 2015 second-round draft pick as part of a larger trade involving Carmelo Anthony.
2011-07-12
Kurt Rambis fired as coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves
Kurt Rambis was fired as the coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves after achieving a 32–132 record in two seasons with the team.
2011-09-13
Rick Adelman hired as head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves
Rick Adelman was announced as the new head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves for the upcoming season.
2012-03-09
Ricky Rubio suffers ACL and LCL injury
Ricky Rubio tore his left ACL and LCL in a collision with Kobe Bryant, ending his season and impacting the Timberwolves' playoff chances.
2012-04-06
Rick Adelman wins 1000th game as head coach
Rick Adelman achieved his 1000th career win as a head coach during a game against the Detroit Pistons.
2013-12-25
Marv Wolfenson, 87, Dies
Marv Wolfenson, aged 87, passed away. He was known for leading a revival of the NBA in Minnesota.
2014-03-28
Timberwolves set franchise record for points in a game
On March 28, 2014, the Timberwolves set a franchise record for points in a regular season game with a 143–107 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
2014-04-21
Rick Adelman announces retirement
On April 21, 2014, Rick Adelman announced his retirement from coaching in the NBA after acquiring a 97–133 record in three seasons with the Timberwolves.
2014-08-23
Three-way trade involving Kevin Love
On August 23, 2014, the Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Philadelphia 76ers agreed on a three-way trade that sent Kevin Love to the Cavaliers and brought Andrew Wiggins to Minnesota.
2014-11-12
Timberwolves play international home game
On November 12, 2014, the Timberwolves played an international home game at Mexico City Arena against the Houston Rockets.
2015-05-19
Timberwolves receive first overall pick in NBA draft
On May 19, 2015, the Timberwolves received the first overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft for the first time in franchise history and selected Karl-Anthony Towns.
2015-10-25
Flip Saunders dies of Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Flip Saunders, who had returned to the Timberwolves as the team's head coach in 2014, passed away on October 25, 2015, due to Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
2016-04-20
Tom Thibodeau becomes head coach and president
On April 20, 2016, the Timberwolves signed Tom Thibodeau as their head coach and president of basketball operations.
2016-09-23
Kevin Garnett announces retirement
On September 23, 2016, Kevin Garnett announced his retirement after 21 seasons in the NBA, expressing interest in playing one more year for the Timberwolves.
2017-04-11
New Logo and Uniforms Unveiled
On April 11, 2017, the Timberwolves unveiled a new logo and four new uniforms for the 2017–18 season as part of a Nike-sponsored initiative. The uniforms featured 'Wolves' as the team name and included the Nike Swoosh and Fitbit logos.
2017-06-22
Timberwolves acquire Jimmy Butler
On June 22, 2017, the Timberwolves acquired Jimmy Butler in a trade involving Zach Lavine, Kris Dunn, and draft picks. This trade marked the end of the LaVine and Wiggins duo.
2017-08-10
Association Edition Uniform Revealed
The Timberwolves revealed the Association Edition uniform on August 10, 2017, which consisted of a white uniform with navy and blue stripes and lettering.
2017-08-30
Classic and City Edition Uniforms Unveiled
On August 30, 2018, the Timberwolves unveiled their first 'Classic' edition uniforms based on past alternates. They also revealed a 'City' uniform inspired by Prince's Purple Rain album.
2018-02-15
Retirement of 'FLIP' in Honor of Flip Saunders
The Timberwolves retired 'FLIP' in memory of Flip Saunders, who lost his battle with Hodgkin's lymphoma. Saunders was a beloved figure in the Timberwolves organization.
2018-10-18
Wolves’ Inaugural Metrodome Season
A retrospective on the Minnesota Timberwolves' first season at the Metrodome, reflecting on the unique experience it offered.
2018-11-12
Timberwolves trade Jimmy Butler to 76ers
On November 12, 2018, the Timberwolves traded Jimmy Butler and Justin Patton to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Robert Covington, Dario Šarić, Jerryd Bayless, and a draft pick.
2019-01-06
Thibodeau fired as head coach
On January 6, 2019, Thibodeau was fired as head coach and president of basketball operations of the Timberwolves.
2019-05-28
Wolves Finalizing Deal to Hire Sachin Gupta as New Executive VP of Basketball Operations
The Minnesota Timberwolves were finalizing a deal to hire Sachin Gupta as the new Executive VP of Basketball Operations in May 2019.
2019-06-12
Minnesota Timberwolves First Published
The Minnesota Timberwolves were first published on June 12, 2019.
2019-07-08
Minnesota Timberwolves Last Modified
The Minnesota Timberwolves were last modified on July 8, 2019.
2019-11-20
City Uniform Inspired by Mississippi River
The Timberwolves' 2019–20 'City' uniform, unveiled on November 20, 2019, featured a sky blue base with white letters paying homage to the waters of the Mississippi River and the Twin Cities.
2020-02-06
Timberwolves trade for D'Angelo Russell
On February 6, 2020, the Timberwolves traded Andrew Wiggins to the Golden State Warriors for D'Angelo Russell.
2021-07-21
Lore and Rodriguez purchase 20% of Timberwolves
On July 21, 2021, Lore and Rodriguez purchased 20% of the Timberwolves, with plans to acquire more ownership in the future.
2021-09-22
Gersson Rosas relieved of duties
On September 22, 2021, Gersson Rosas was relieved of his President of Basketball Operations duties, and Sachin Gupta was promoted as the new interim president.
2022-04-23
Key Timberwolves Players to Watch vs. Suns in NBA Playoffs | Game 2
The Minnesota Timberwolves will be taking on the Phoenix Suns in Game 2 of the NBA Playoffs. Watch out for top players from the Timberwolves to see how they contribute to the game.
2022-05-23
Tim Connelly hired as Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations
Tim Connelly, former Denver Nuggets' president of basketball operations, was hired by the Timberwolves to take over Gupta's job. He signed a 5-year, $40 million contract that includes ownership equity.
2022-07-01
Timberwolves trade for Rudy Gobert
The Timberwolves traded multiple players and future draft picks to acquire 3x NBA DPOY Rudy Gobert from the Utah Jazz.
2022-08-11
Retirement of Bill Russell's No. 6
The NBA retired Bill Russell's No. 6 jersey across all its member teams, including the Minnesota Timberwolves, in recognition of his legendary career and contributions to the sport.
2022-11-28
Karl-Anthony Towns suffers calf strain
Karl-Anthony Towns of the Timberwolves suffered a severe calf strain, causing him to miss 52 games. Anthony Edwards stepped into a leadership role during Towns' absence.
2023
Minnesota Timberwolves Won Western Conference 1st Round
In 2023, the Minnesota Timberwolves emerged victorious in the Western Conference 1st Round of the NBA, showcasing their prowess and skill in the competition.
2024-03-31
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Chicago Bulls
The Minnesota Timberwolves faced off against the Chicago Bulls but unfortunately lost with a score of 101-109.
2024-04-02
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Houston Rockets
The Minnesota Timberwolves competed against the Houston Rockets and emerged victorious with a score of 113-106.
2024-04-03
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Toronto Raptors
The Minnesota Timberwolves played against the Toronto Raptors and won with a score of 133-85.