Head coach Flip Saunders Arena Target Center | Owner(s) Glen Taylor Record 40–42 (.488) | |
Place Division: 3rd (Midwest)
Conference: 6th (Western) Playoff finish West First Round
(eliminated 0-3) | ||
The 1996–97 NBA season was the Timberwolves' 8th season in the National Basketball Association. The Timberwolves selected Ray Allen with the fifth pick in the 1996 NBA draft, but soon traded him to the Milwaukee Bucks for rookie Stephon Marbury. Offseason acquisitions included acquiring James Robinson from the Portland Trail Blazers, and Cherokee Parks from the Dallas Mavericks, while signing free agents Dean Garrett and Chris Carr. The addition of Marbury made a positive effect on the entire team, as second-year star Kevin Garnett and Tom Gugliotta became the first Wolves to be selected to the All-Star team, both being selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game. The Timberwolves went on to make their first ever playoff appearance, finishing third in the Midwest Division with a 40–42 record.
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In the first round of the playoffs, they were swept by the Houston Rockets in three straight games. Following the season, Robinson was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, and Garrett signed with the Denver Nuggets.
For the season, the Timberwolves changed their logo and uniforms adding dark blue and black to their color scheme. Their logo and uniforms would both last until 2008.
Roster notes
Season standings
z – clinched division title y – clinched division title x – clinched playoff spotWest First Round
(3) Houston Rockets vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves Last Playoff Meeting: Not available (first playoff series)