The 2003–04 Minnesota Timberwolves season was the 15th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). During the offseason, the Timberwolves signed free agents Michael Olowakandi and Trenton Hassell. With a Western Conference-best 58–24 finish, the Wolves set the franchise record for wins, and won its first and only division championship. Power forward Kevin Garnett averaged 24.2 points, a league-high 13.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.2 blocks per game, winning the regular season Most Valuable Player Award.
After defeating the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs, the Wolves were pushed to the limit in the semifinals by the Sacramento Kings, who they narrowly defeated in a deciding seventh game. In the Western Conference Finals, they faced a Los Angeles Lakers team featuring Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Gary Payton and Karl Malone, who defeated them in six games. As of 2016, the Timberwolves have not made it back to the playoffs.
The season is memorable, acquiring 4-time All-Star but controversial guard Latrell Sprewell, who was known his choking incident with then-Warriors head coach P.J. Carlesimo and helping the 8th seeded New York Knicks to the NBA Finals in 1999 and Sam Cassell, who was known for winning two championships with the Houston Rockets and his tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks, where he helped guide the Bucks to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2001, to join Garnett, forming a "Big 3". Garnett, Cassell, and coach Saunders represented the Western Conference in the 2004 NBA All-Star Game. The 2004 All-Star game was Cassell's only All-Star appearance in his career.
The team's season roster is featured in the video games NBA 2K16 and NBA 2K17.
(1) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (8) Denver Nuggets: Timberwolves win series 4–1
Game 1 @ Target Center, Minneapolis: Minnesota 106, Denver 92 TNT 9:30et
Game 2 @ Target Center, Minneapolis: Minnesota 95, Denver 81
Game 3 @ Pepsi Center, Denver: Denver 107, Minnesota 86 ESPN 10:30et
Game 4 @ Pepsi Center, Denver: Minnesota 84, Denver 82 TNT 10:30et
Game 5 @ Target Center, Minneapolis: Minnesota 102, Denver 91 ESPN 9:30et
Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Timberwolves and Nuggets.
(1) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (4) Sacramento Kings Timberwolves win series 4–3
Game 1 @ Target Center, Minneapolis: Sacramento 104, Minnesota 98 TNT 9:30et
Game 2 @ Target Center, Minneapolis: Minnesota 94, Sacramento 89 ESPN 9:30et
Game 3 @ ARCO Arena, Sacramento: Minnesota 114, Sacramento 113 (OT) TNT 10:30et
Game 4 @ ARCO Arena, Sacramento: Sacramento 87, Minnesota 81 TNT 10:30et
Game 5 @ Target Center, Minneapolis: Minnesota 86, Sacramento 74 TNT 9:30et
Game 6 @ ARCO Arena, Sacramento: Sacramento 104, Minnesota 87 ABC 3:30et
Game 7 @ Target Center, Minneapolis: Minnesota 83, Sacramento 80 TNT 9:00et
Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Timberwolves and Kings.
(1) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (2) Los Angeles Lakers: Lakers win series 4–2
Game 1 @ Target Center, Minneapolis: Los Angeles 97, Minnesota 88 TNT 9:00pm/8:00ct
Game 2 @ Target Center, Minneapolis: Minnesota 89, Los Angeles 71 TNT 9:00pm/8:00ct
Game 3 @ Staples Center, Los Angeles: Los Angeles 100, Minnesota 89 TNT 9:00pm/6:00pt
Game 4 @ Staples Center, Los Angeles: Los Angeles 92, Minnesota 85 TNT 9:00pm/6:00pt
Game 5 @ Target Center, Minneapolis: Minnesota 98, Los Angeles 96 TNT 9:00pm/8:00ct
Game 6 @ Staples Center, Los Angeles: Los Angeles 96, Minnesota 90 TNT 9:00pm/6:00pt
Last Playoff Meeting: 2003 Western Conference First Round (Los Angeles won 4-2)
Kevin Garnett was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played November 16 through November 22.
Kevin Garnett was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played December 14 through December 20.
Sam Cassell was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played December 21 through December 27.
Kevin Garnett was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played January 18 through January 24.
Kevin Garnett was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played January 25 through January 31.
Kevin Garnett was named Western Conference Player of the Month for December.
Kevin Garnett was named Western Conference Player of the Month for January.
Kevin Garnett was named Western Conference Player of the Month for February.
Kevin Garnett was named Western Conference Player of the Month for April.
Flip Saunders was named Western Conference Coach of the Month for April.
Kevin Garnett was voted as a starter for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his seventh consecutive All-Star selection. Garnett finished first among Western Conference players in voting with 1,780,918 votes.
Sam Cassell was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his first and only All-Star selection.
Flip Saunders coached the Western Conference to a 136–132 victory over the Eastern Conference.
Kevin Garnett received the Most Valuable Player Award.
Kevin Garnett was named to the All-NBA First Team. Garnett also finished sixth in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Sam Cassell was named to the All-NBA Second Team. Cassell also finished tenth in MVP voting.
10/27/03: Troy Hudson: Sprained ankle; placed on injured list until December 20
10/29/03: Wally Szczerbiak: Inflamed arch in foot; placed on injured reserve until February 19
11/22/03: Michael Olowokandi: Knee tendinitis; out until November 28
11/26/03: Mark Madsen: Back spasms; out until December 9
12/05/03: Michael Olowokandi: Knee tendinitis; placed on injured list until February 20
12/12/03: Mark Madsen: Back spasms; out until December 20
12/20/03: Ervin Johnson: Personal reasons; did not play
12/26/03: Troy Hudson: Sprained ankle; out until January 19
01/10/04: Gary Trent: Sprained ankle; out until January 19
01/23/04: Ervin Johnson: Personal reasons; did not play
01/25/04: Ervin Johnson: Personal reasons; did not play
02/01/04: Troy Hudson: Sprained ankle; out until February 17
02/19/04: Ndudi Ebi: Knee tendinitis; placed on injured list for rest of season
02/25/04: Sam Cassell: Ankle tendinitis; did not play
02/27/04: Wally Szczerbiak: Flu; did not play
03/21/04: Troy Hudson: Sore ankle; did not play
03/23/04: Troy Hudson: Sore ankle; did not play
03/31/04: Troy Hudson: Sprained ankle; placed on injured list for rest of season
04/27/04: Wally Szczerbiak: Cracked vertebrae; out until May 14
05/29/04: Sam Cassell: Back spasms; did not play
05/31/04: Sam Cassell: Back spasms; did not play
* – Stats with the Timberwolves.
^ – Minimum 125 free throws made.
† – Minimum 20 field goals made.
^ – Minimum 5 three-pointers made.
