1997–98 Minnesota Timberwolves season

{{short description|NBA professional basketball team season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{NBA season

| team = Minnesota Timberwolves

| end_year = 1998

| wins = 45

| losses = 37

| division = Midwest

| division_place = 3

| conf_place = 7

| coach = Flip Saunders

| gm = Kevin McHale

| owner = Glen Taylor

| arena = Target Center

| television = KARE
KLGT-TV
Midwest Sports Channel

| radio = KFAN

| playoffs = First round
(lost to SuperSonics 2–3)

| bbr_team = MIN

}}

The 1997–98 NBA season was the Timberwolves' 9th season in the National Basketball Association.[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIN/1998.html 1997-98 Minnesota Timberwolves] During the off-season, the Timberwolves acquired Stanley Roberts from the Los Angeles Clippers,{{cite news | last = Gardner | first = Kris | title = ARCHIVE: Houston Roundball Review NBA Trade Analyses -- 1997 NBA Draft Day Deals | work = The Houston Roundball Review | date = June 25, 1997 | url = https://www.thehrr.com/nba/trade_archive/062597draftdaydeals.html | access-date = September 25, 2023}}{{cite news | last = Howard-Cooper | first = Scott | title = Draft Over, But Not Finished | work = Los Angeles Times | date = June 26, 1997 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-06-26-sp-7001-story.html | access-date = January 14, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Howard-Cooper | first = Scott | title = Goodbye, Stanley, We Barely Knew You | work = Los Angeles Times | date = June 27, 1997 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-06-27-sp-7555-story.html | access-date = November 18, 2022}} and later on signed free agent Tom Hammonds in November.{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = The Houston Rockets, Who Will Be Without... | work = Los Angeles Times | date = November 26, 1997 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-nov-26-sp-57886-story.html | access-date = July 12, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Facer | first = Dick | title = 24-Second Clock | work = Deseret News | date = November 30, 1997 | url = https://www.deseret.com/1997/11/30/19348738/24-second-clock | access-date = February 4, 2023}} In October, All-Star forward Kevin Garnett signed a six-year contract extension with the Timberwolves, which was worth $126 million.{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Garnett's Big Deal: More Than $121 Million | work = Los Angeles Times | date = October 2, 1997 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-oct-02-sp-38389-story.html | access-date = June 27, 2022}}{{cite news | title = Minnesota Timberwolves and Kevin Garnett Reach Terms for Record Six-Year, $121 Million | work = Associated Press | date = October 2, 1997 | url = https://apnews.com/article/ae1556819fed18a1eef07a11f66cea56 | access-date = June 25, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Smith | first = Sam | title = Garnett Hits Jackpot of $123 Million | work = Chicago Tribune | date = October 2, 1997 | url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1997-10-02-9710020351-story.html | access-date = October 20, 2023}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Garnett's $126 Million: Wolves' Bargain or Bust? | work = Deseret News | date = October 17, 1997 | url = https://www.deseret.com/1997/10/17/19340199/garnett-s-126-million-wolves-bargain-or-bust | access-date = December 12, 2022}}

After a 4–1 start to the regular season, the team played around .500 before posting a seven-game winning streak in January. However, they would lose Tom Gugliotta for the remainder of the season to an ankle injury after 41 games.{{cite news | title = Wolves' Gugliotta Out for Season | work = Associated Press | date = February 20, 1998 | url = https://apnews.com/article/ba154178016bac16f7bc39bdd95c79f4 | access-date = June 19, 2021 }}{{cite news | agency = Times Wire Services | title = Referee Pleads Guilty | work = Los Angeles Times | date = February 21, 1998 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-feb-21-sp-21574-story.html | access-date = October 3, 2022}}{{cite news | title = T-Wolves' Gugliotta Out for Season | work = Deseret News | date = January 21, 1998 | url = https://www.deseret.com/1998/2/21/19364871/t-wolves-gugliotta-out-for-season | access-date = December 15, 2022}} Chris Carr, who became the team's starting shooting guard this season, also went down with an ankle injury, only playing 51 games.{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Grizzlies' West Vows to Deal with Drinking | work = Los Angeles Times | date = February 25, 1998 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-feb-25-sp-22789-story.html?_amp=true | access-date = January 15, 2022}} At mid-season, the team traded long-time guard Doug West to the Vancouver Grizzlies in exchange for Anthony Peeler.{{cite news | last = Heisler | first = Mark | title = It's a Big Deal for Clippers: There Are No Slam Dunks in the Flurry of NBA Deals | work = Los Angeles Times | date = February 20, 1998 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-feb-20-sp-21072-story.html | access-date = December 4, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Smith | first = Sam | title = NBA's Rash of Trades Ends with Another Seikaly Deal | work = Chicago Tribune | date = February 20, 1998 | url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-02-20-9802200078-story.html | access-date = June 22, 2023}}{{cite news | title = Trade Completed | newspaper = The Washington Post | date = February 22, 1998 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1998/02/22/trade-completed/837c37b1-3e95-46e1-b749-1318026d6b1a/ | access-date = November 9, 2022}}{{cite news | title = Timberwolves Guard to Get Treatment | work = Associated Press | date = February 23, 1998 | url = https://apnews.com/article/9ef4595963df110a48572425cbd1231d | access-date = July 4, 2021}} The Timberwolves held a 26–20 record at the All-Star break,{{cite web | title = NBA Games Played on February 5, 1998 | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/?month=2&day=5&year=1998 | access-date = July 20, 2022}} and won seven of their final eight games posting their first winning record at 45–37, third place in the Midwest Division, and making their second consecutive playoff appearance.{{cite web | title = 1997–98 Minnesota Timberwolves Schedule and Results | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIN/1998_games.html | access-date = June 21, 2021}}

Garnett and second-year star Stephon Marbury both continued to establish themselves as two of the brightest stars in the NBA; Garnett averaged 18.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.8 blocks per game, and was selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game in New York City, New York,{{cite news | last = Howard-Cooper | first = Scott | title = Lakers Get Four-Star Rating as Van Exel, Jones Honored | work = Los Angeles Times | date = January 28, 1998 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-jan-28-sp-13049-story.html | access-date = April 20, 2023}}{{cite news | agency = NBA.com Staff | title = 1998 NBA All-Star Recap | work = NBA.com | date = September 13, 2021 | url = https://www.nba.com/news/history-all-star-recap-1998 | access-date = May 16, 2023}}{{cite web | title = 1997–98 All-Star Events and Contestants - in New York | website = Eskimo North | url = https://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/misc/all-star98.txt | access-date = December 27, 2022}}{{cite web | title = 1998 NBA All-Star Game: East 135, West 114 | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_1998.html | access-date = November 27, 2021}} and also finished tied in eleventh place in Defensive Player of the Year voting,{{cite web | last = Bender | first = Patricia | title = 1997–98 Regular Season Award Winners | website = Eskimo.com | url = https://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/misc/awards98.html | access-date = December 30, 2024}}{{cite web | title = 1997–98 NBA Awards Voting | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1998.html | access-date = December 30, 2024}} while Marbury averaged 17.7 points, 8.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game. In addition, Gugliotta provided the team with 20.1 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game, while Sam Mitchell provided with 12.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, Carr contributed 9.9 points per game, and Terry Porter contributed 9.5 points and 3.3 assists per game off the bench. On the defensive side, Cherokee Parks averaged 7.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, while Roberts contributed 6.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, and Hammonds provided with 6.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game off the bench.{{cite web | title = 1997–98 Minnesota Timberwolves Roster and Stats | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIN/1998.html | access-date = June 21, 2021}}

In the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Timberwolves faced off against the 2nd-seeded Seattle SuperSonics. After losing Game 1 on the road, 108–83, the Timberwolves won their first ever playoff game with a 98–93 road win in Game 2.{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = N.B.A.: PLAYOFFS; Finally, Post-Season Success | work = The New York Times | date = April 27, 1998 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/27/sports/nba-playoffs-finally-post-season-success.html | access-date = January 29, 2023}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Timberwolves Stun SuperSonics | work = Los Angeles Times | date = April 27, 1998 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-apr-27-sp-43595-story.html | access-date = January 29, 2023}} Despite taking a 2–1 series lead,{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = N.B.A.: PLAYOFFS; Minnesota Shocks Seattle | work = The New York Times | date = April 29, 1998 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/29/sports/nba-playoffs-minnesota-shocks-seattle.html | access-date = January 18, 2022}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = SuperSonics Facing Elimination Again | work = Los Angeles Times | date = April 29, 1998 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-apr-29-sp-44230-story.html | access-date = October 5, 2022}}{{cite news | title = Timberwolves 98, SuperSonics 90 | publisher = United Press International | date = April 29, 1998 | url = https://www.upi.com/Archives/1998/04/29/Timberwolves-98-SuperSonics-90/4570893822400/ | access-date = February 24, 2023}} the Timberwolves would lose the next two games to the SuperSonics, thus losing the series in five games.{{cite news | title = Seattle 97, Minnesota 84 | publisher = United Press International | date = May 2, 1998 | url = https://www.upi.com/Archives/1998/05/02/Seattle-97-Minnesota-84/6325894081600/ | access-date = November 25, 2022}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = THE N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Sonics Advance After Submerging the Spunky Timberwolves | work = The New York Times | date = May 3, 1998 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1998/05/03/sports/the-nba-playoffs-sonics-advance-after-submerging-the-spunky-timberwolves.html | access-date = July 26, 2017}}{{cite news | last = Heisler | first = Mark | title = SuperSonics Put Cubs to Bed | work = Los Angeles Times | date = May 3, 1998 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-may-03-sp-46043-story.html | access-date = May 30, 2022}}{{cite web | title = 1998 NBA Western Conference First Round: Timberwolves vs. SuperSonics | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1998-nba-western-conference-first-round-timberwolves-vs-supersonics.html | access-date = February 4, 2023}}

Following the season, Gugliotta signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Suns,{{cite news | last = Baum | first = Bob | title = Gugliotta Leaves Suns Without Deal | work = Associated Press | date = January 22, 1999 | url = https://apnews.com/article/7d690e21dfa5c00b5dd7207a3d90a59c | access-date = February 2, 2023}}{{cite news | agency = CBS News.com Staff | title = Suns Acquire Tom Gugliotta | work = CBS News | date = January 23, 1999 | url = https://www.cbsnews.com/news/suns-acquire-tom-gugliotta/ | access-date = February 2, 2023}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = NBA DEALINGS: McDyess, Divac and Smith Sign | work = Kitsap Sun | date = January 23, 1999 | url = https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/1999/01-23/0066_nba_dealings__mcdyess__divac_and_.html | access-date = June 25, 2023}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Gugliotta Winds Up in Valley of the Sun | work = Los Angeles Times | date = January 24, 1999 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jan-24-sp-1302-story.html | access-date = February 2, 2023}} while Porter signed with the Miami Heat,{{cite news | last = Barnes | first = Craig | title = Players Might Need Time to Remove Rust | work = Sun Sentinel | date = February 5, 1999 | url = https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1999-02-05-9902040702-story.html | access-date = October 10, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Barnes | first = Craig | title = Riley's Evaluation: Enthusiasm Missing | work = Sun Sentinel | date = February 7, 1999 | url = https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1999-02-07-9902070100-story.html | access-date = January 30, 2023}}{{cite news | title = Porter Says Title Potential in Miami Heat | work = The Journal Times | date = March 27, 1999 | url = https://journaltimes.com/news/local/porter-say-title-potential-in-miami-heat/article_0fdcf98f-030d-54eb-9449-4cae12d181af.html | access-date = July 27, 2021}} Roberts signed with the Houston Rockets,{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = N.B.A.; Rose Finds His Shooting Range as Indiana Starts with Victory | work = The New York Times | date = February 6, 1999 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/06/sports/nba-rose-finds-his-shooting-range-as-indiana-starts-with-victory.html | access-date = September 18, 2022}} Parks signed with the Vancouver Grizzlies,{{cite news | agency = CBS News.com Staff | title = Grizzlies Sign Top Pick Bibby | work = CBS News | date = January 22, 1999 | url = https://www.cbsnews.com/news/grizzlies-sign-top-pick-bibby/#app | access-date = November 18, 2022}} and the oft-injured Michael Williams, who returned to play for the Timberwolves for the first time in two years due to a left heel injury,{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = PLUS: BASKETBALL; Williams Cleared | work = The New York Times | date = September 26, 1997 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/26/sports/plus-basketball-williams-cleared.html | access-date = November 8, 2022}}{{cite news | title = Timberwolves' Williams Finally Returns | publisher = United Press International | date = December 12, 1997 | url = https://www.upi.com/amp/Archives/1997/12/23/Timberwolves-Williams-finally-returns/3223882853200/ | access-date = July 18, 2021}} was released to free agency.{{cite news | last = Wise | first = Mike | title = PRO BASKETBALL; A Scrum for the Title | work = The New York Times | date = February 4, 1999 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/04/sports/pro-basketball-a-scrum-for-the-title.html | access-date = June 28, 2022}}