# 2000–01 Minnesota Timberwolves season

The 2000–01 NBA season was the Timberwolves' 12th season in the National Basketball Association. After the tragic death of Malik Sealy, the Timberwolves scrambled to find a replacement for him, signing free agent Chauncey Billups, a close friend of Kevin Garnett, and signing LaPhonso Ellis during the off-season. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves secret free-agent deal signed by Joe Smith was voided by the NBA, who ruled their proper procedure in signing the contract, while stripping their first-round draft picks for the next five seasons and fined the team $3.5 million; Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor, and General Manager Kevin McHale were both suspended for one year. Smith would later on sign a free-agent deal with the Detroit Pistons.
Despite the troubles, and losing four of their first six games, the Timberwolves won 13 of their next 18 games, posted an 11-game winning streak between January and February, and held a 32–18 record at the All-Star break. At mid-season, the team signed free agent Felipe López, who was previously released by the Washington Wizards. The Timberwolves finished fourth in the Midwest Division with a 47–35 record.
Garnett averaged 22.0 points, 11.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.8 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, NBA All-Defensive First Team, and selected for the 2001 NBA All-Star Game in Washington, D.C.. In addition, second-year star Wally Szczerbiak averaged 14.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, and won the MVP award in the Rookie-Sophomore Game during the All-Star Weekend, while Terrell Brandon provided the team with 16.0 points, 7.5 assists and 2.1 steals per game, Anthony Peeler contributed 10.5 points per game, Billups contributed 9.3 points and 3.4 assists per game, and Ellis provided with 9.4 points and 6.0 rebounds per game off the bench.
Garnett finished in fifth place in Most Valuable Player voting with one first-place vote, and also finished in second place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, while Ellis finished in third place in Sixth Man of the Year voting.
However, in the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the T-Wolves would lose in four games to the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs. Following the season, Ellis signed as a free agent with the Miami Heat, and Tom Hammonds retired.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 2 | 51 | Igor Rakocevic | PG/SG | Serbia | |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Midwest Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| z-San Antonio Spurs | 58 | 24 | .707 | – | 33–8 | 25–16 | 19–5 |
| x-Utah Jazz | 53 | 29 | .646 | 5 | 28–13 | 25–16 | 14–10 |
| x-Dallas Mavericks | 53 | 29 | .646 | 5 | 28–13 | 25–16 | 14–10 |
| x-Minnesota Timberwolves | 47 | 35 | .573 | 11 | 30–11 | 17–24 | 11–13 |
| Houston Rockets | 45 | 37 | .549 | 13 | 24–17 | 21–20 | 11–13 |
| Denver Nuggets | 40 | 42 | .488 | 18 | 29–12 | 11–30 | 13–11 |
| Vancouver Grizzlies | 23 | 59 | .280 | 35 | 15–26 | 8–33 | 2–22 |
Western Conferencevte :
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-San Antonio Spurs | 58 | 24 | .707 | – |
| 2 | y-Los Angeles Lakers | 56 | 26 | .683 | 2 |
| 3 | x-Sacramento Kings | 55 | 27 | .671 | 3 |
| 4 | x-Utah Jazz | 53 | 29 | .646 | 5 |
| 5 | x-Dallas Mavericks | 53 | 29 | .646 | 5 |
| 6 | x-Phoenix Suns | 51 | 31 | .622 | 7 |
| 7 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 50 | 32 | .610 | 8 |
| 8 | x-Minnesota Timberwolves | 47 | 35 | .573 | 11 |
| 9 | Houston Rockets | 45 | 37 | .549 | 13 |
| 10 | Seattle SuperSonics | 44 | 38 | .537 | 14 |
| 11 | Denver Nuggets | 40 | 42 | .488 | 18 |
| 12 | Los Angeles Clippers | 31 | 51 | .378 | 27 |
| 13 | Vancouver Grizzlies | 23 | 59 | .280 | 35 |
| 14 | Golden State Warriors | 17 | 65 | .207 | 41 |
    z - clinched division title
    y - clinched division title
    x - clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

2000-01 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIA | MIL | MIN | NJN | NYK | ORL | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | TOR | UTA | VAN | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Boston | 3–1 | — | 0–4 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 |
| Charlotte | 4–0 | 4–0 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Chicago | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | — | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 |
| Cleveland | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Dallas | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | — | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–1 | — | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| Houston | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 3–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 |
| Indiana | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
| L.A. Clippers | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 |
| Miami | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 1–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
| Milwaukee | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | — | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Minnesota | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| New Jersey | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| New York | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
| Orlando | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | — | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Philadelphia | 3–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
| Phoenix | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Portland | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | — | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Sacramento | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 |
| San Antonio | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 0–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
| Toronto | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
| Utah | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | — | 4–0 | 2–0 |
| Vancouver | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | — | 2–0 |
| Washington | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — |

### Game log
## Playoffs

2001 playoff game log :
First Round: 1–3 (home: 1–1; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 21
@ San Antonio
L 82–87
Kevin Garnett (25)
Kevin Garnett (13)
Terrell Brandon (8)
Alamodome 33,983
0–1
2
April 23
@ San Antonio
L 69–86
Kevin Garnett (18)
Kevin Garnett (12)
six players tied (2)
Alamodome 31,759
0–2
3
April 28
San Antonio
W 93–84
Kevin Garnett (22)
Kevin Garnett (8)
Terrell Brandon (9)
Target Center 17,676
1–2
4
April 30
San Antonio
L 84–97
Wally Szczerbiak (20)
Kevin Garnett (15)
Terrell Brandon (6)
Target Center 16,336
1–3 :
2001 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Ragular season

| Player | POS | GP | GS | MP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Wally Szczerbiak | SF | 82 | 82 | 2,856 | 447 | 260 | 59 | 33 | 1,145 | 34.8 | 5.5 | 3.2 | .7 | .4 | 14.0 |
| LaPhonso Ellis | PF | 82 | 5 | 1,948 | 494 | 93 | 67 | 74 | 772 | 23.8 | 6.0 | 1.1 | .8 | .9 | 9.4 |
| Sam Mitchell | SF | 82 | 4 | 983 | 123 | 57 | 26 | 10 | 285 | 12.0 | 1.5 | .7 | .3 | .1 | 3.5 |
| Kevin Garnett | PF | 81 | 81 | 3,202 | 921 | 401 | 111 | 145 | 1,784 | 39.5 | 11.4 | 5.0 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 22.0 |
| Terrell Brandon | PG | 78 | 78 | 2,821 | 298 | 583 | 161 | 21 | 1,250 | 36.2 | 3.8 | 7.5 | 2.1 | .3 | 16.0 |
| Chauncey Billups | SG | 77 | 33 | 1,790 | 158 | 260 | 51 | 11 | 713 | 23.2 | 2.1 | 3.4 | .7 | .1 | 9.3 |
| Anthony Peeler | SG | 75 | 41 | 2,126 | 192 | 192 | 91 | 18 | 791 | 28.3 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 1.2 | .2 | 10.5 |
| Rasho Nesterović | C | 73 | 39 | 1,233 | 286 | 45 | 25 | 63 | 328 | 16.9 | 3.9 | .6 | .3 | .9 | 4.5 |
| Dean Garrett | C | 70 | 21 | 831 | 217 | 24 | 26 | 49 | 177 | 11.9 | 3.1 | .3 | .4 | .7 | 2.5 |
| Reggie Slater | PF | 55 | 16 | 686 | 186 | 26 | 18 | 9 | 254 | 12.5 | 3.4 | .5 | .3 | .2 | 4.6 |
| William Avery | PG | 55 | 0 | 463 | 29 | 75 | 13 | 4 | 154 | 8.4 | .5 | 1.4 | .2 | .1 | 2.8 |
| Todd Day | SG | 31 | 0 | 345 | 37 | 28 | 10 | 7 | 132 | 11.1 | 1.2 | .9 | .3 | .2 | 4.3 |
| Felipe López$^†$ | PG | 23 | 10 | 457 | 74 | 34 | 21 | 12 | 170 | 19.9 | 3.2 | 1.5 | .9 | .5 | 7.4 |
| Sam Jacobson | PG | 14 | 0 | 59 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 20 | 4.2 | .4 | .3 | .2 | .0 | 1.4 |
| Tom Hammonds | PF | 7 | 0 | 30 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 4.3 | .6 | .1 | .0 | .0 | 1.0 |
* $^†$ Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Timberwolves only.

### Playoffs

| Player | POS | GP | GS | MP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Kevin Garnett | PF | 4 | 4 | 165 | 48 | 17 | 4 | 6 | 84 | 41.3 | 12.0 | 4.3 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 21.0 |
| Terrell Brandon | PG | 4 | 4 | 153 | 17 | 25 | 4 | 2 | 61 | 38.3 | 4.3 | 6.3 | 1.0 | .5 | 15.3 |
| Wally Szczerbiak | SF | 4 | 4 | 143 | 18 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 56 | 35.8 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 1.3 | .8 | 14.0 |
| Anthony Peeler | SG | 4 | 4 | 137 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 34 | 34.3 | 3.5 | 1.8 | 1.8 | .3 | 8.5 |
| Rasho Nesterović | C | 4 | 2 | 49 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 12.3 | 3.0 | .8 | .3 | .8 | 2.5 |
| LaPhonso Ellis | PF | 4 | 0 | 77 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 24 | 19.3 | 3.5 | .0 | .3 | .8 | 6.0 |
| Felipe López | PG | 4 | 0 | 55 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 17 | 13.8 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 1.0 | .0 | 4.3 |
| Reggie Slater | PF | 4 | 0 | 52 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 13.0 | 3.5 | .0 | .5 | .8 | 3.3 |
| Sam Mitchell | SF | 4 | 0 | 50 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 12.5 | 1.8 | .8 | .3 | .0 | 1.5 |
| Dean Garrett | C | 3 | 2 | 41 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 13.7 | 3.0 | .0 | .3 | .3 | 4.3 |
| Chauncey Billups | SG | 3 | 0 | 26 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8.7 | 1.7 | .7 | .0 | .0 | 1.0 |
| William Avery | PG | 2 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 6.0 | .5 | 1.0 | .0 | .5 | 3.5 |

## Awards and records

* Kevin Garnett, All-NBA Second Team
* Kevin Garnett, NBA All-Defensive First Team