2002–03 Minnesota Timberwolves season

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

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

{{NBA season

| team = Minnesota Timberwolves

| end_year = 2003

| wins = 51

| losses = 31

| division = Midwest

| division_place = 3

| conf_place = 4

| coach = Flip Saunders

| gm = Kevin McHale

| owner = Glen Taylor

| arena = Target Center

| television =

• KMSP-TV
• WFTC
• Fox Sports Net North

| radio = WFAN

| playoffs = First round
(lost to Lakers 2–4)

| bbr_team = MIN

}}

The 2002–03 NBA season was the 14th season the Timberwolves has competed in the National Basketball Association.[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIN/2003.html 2002-03 Minnesota Timberwolves] During the off-season, the Timberwolves signed free agents Troy Hudson and Kendall Gill.{{cite news | last = | first = | title = Report: Wolves Sign G Troy Hudson | work = United Press International | date = August 26, 2002 | url = https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2002/08/26/Report-Wolves-sign-G-Troy-Hudson/19401030389732/ | access-date = June 11, 2022}}{{cite news | last = | first = | title = Timberwolves Sign Kendall Gill | work = United Press International | date = September 26, 2002 | url = https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2002/09/26/Timberwolves-sign-Kendall-Gill/71771033058189/ | access-date = June 11, 2022}}{{cite news | last = | first = | title = WESTERN CONFERENCE: Team-by-Team Preview | work = The New York Times | date = October 28, 2002 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/28/sports/basketball/teambyteam-preview-2002102890660337665.html | access-date = July 16, 2022}} Kevin Garnett performed well throughout the season, winning the All-Star MVP award in the 2003 NBA All-Star Game in Atlanta,{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Garnett Is the M.V.P. in Jordan's Final All-Star Game | work = The New York Times | date = February 9, 2003 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/09/sports/basketball/garnett-is-the-mvp-in-jordans-final-allstar-game.html | access-date = January 13, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Wyche | first = Steve | title = Passing the Torch | work = The Washington Post | date = February 10, 2003 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2003/02/10/passing-the-torch/e9bf0ebe-a63d-4d23-8e1c-ef03027ba5e8/ | access-date = June 12, 2022}}{{cite news | title = 2003 NBA All-Star Game: West 155, East 145 (2OT) | work = Basketball-Reference | date = | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_2003.html | access-date = January 13, 2022}}{{cite news | title = NBA & ABA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award Winners | work = Basketball-Reference | date = | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/all_star_mvp.html | access-date = November 29, 2022}} and finishing second in MVP voting behind MVP Tim Duncan with 43 first-place votes,{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = PRO BASKETBALL; Duncan Is M.V.P. Once Again | work = The New York Times | date = May 5, 2003 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/05/sports/pro-basketball-duncan-is-mvp-once-again.html | access-date = June 11, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Teaford | first = Elliott | title = Duncan to Win Second MVP in a Row | work = Los Angeles Times | date = May 4, 2003 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-may-04-sp-duncan4-story.html | access-date = September 13, 2022}} plus also finishing in third place in Defensive Player of the Year voting.{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Wallace Chosen Best Defender | work = Los Angeles Times | date = April 24, 2003 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-apr-24-sp-nbanotes24-story.html?_amp=true | access-date = September 13, 2022}}{{cite news | title = 2002–03 NBA Awards Voting | work = Basketball-Reference | date = | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_2003.html | accessdate = February 2, 2022}} Despite losing both Terrell Brandon and Felipe Lopez for the entire season to knee injuries,{{cite news | last = | first = | title = Timberwolves' Hudson Hurts Ankle | work = Midland Daily News | date = January 12, 2003 | url = https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Timberwolves-Hudson-Hurts-Ankle-7045758.php | access-date = June 11, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Heisler | first = Mark | title = He's Guy Bringing Dread to the Lakers | work = Los Angeles Times | date = April 28, 2003 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-apr-28-sp-heisler28-story.html | access-date = October 27, 2022}} the Timberwolves posted a 12–1 record in February, held a 29–20 record at the All-Star break,{{cite news | title = NBA Games Played on February 6, 2003 | work = Basketball-Reference | date = | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/?month=2&day=6&year=2003 | access-date = September 13, 2022}} and finished the season with a 51–31 record, good enough to earn the fourth seed in the Western Conference and home court advantage for the playoffs.{{cite web|title=2002–03 Minnesota Timberwolves Schedule and Results|publisher=Basketball-Reference|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIN/2003_games.html|access-date=January 13, 2022}}

Garnett averaged 23.0 points, 13.4 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.6 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, and the NBA All-Defensive First Team. In addition, Wally Szczerbiak averaged 17.6 points per game, while Hudson provided the team with 14.2 points and 5.7 assists per game, Rasho Nesterovic provided with 11.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, and Joe Smith contributed 7.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.{{cite web|title=2002–03 Minnesota Timberwolves Roster and Stats|publisher=Basketball-Reference|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIN/2003.html|access-date=February 2, 2022}}

However, for the seventh straight year in the Garnett era, the Timberwolves did not make it out of the first round of the playoffs, as they lost to the 5th-seeded and the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in six games in the Western Conference First Round.{{cite news | last = Wise | first = Mike | title = PRO BASKETBALL; Looking Like Champs, Lakers Advance | work = The New York Times | date = May 2, 2003 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/02/sports/pro-basketball-looking-like-champs-lakers-advance.html | access-date = January 13, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Brown | first = Tim | title = Lakers Earn Their Spurs | work = Los Angeles Times | date = May 2, 2003 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-may-02-sp-lakers2-story.html | access-date = June 11, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Neiman | first = David | title = Lakers Finish Timberwolves to Advance to West Semis | work = The Washington Post | date = May 2, 2003 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2003/05/02/lakers-finish-timberwolves-to-advance-to-west-semis/b0505ebd-d58e-490c-abc8-d0275a267739/ | access-date = November 27, 2022}} Following the season, Smith was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks,{{cite news | last = Broussard | first = Chris | title = PRO BASKETBALL; In Fallout from Draft, Bucks Trade Cassell | work = The New York Times | date = June 28, 2003 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/28/sports/pro-basketball-in-fallout-from-draft-bucks-trade-cassell.html | access-date = June 11, 2022}}{{cite news | last = | first = | title = Bucks Send Cassell to Minnesota | work = United Press International | date = June 27, 2003 | url = https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2003/06/27/Bucks-send-Cassell-to-Minnesota/23201056745933/ | access-date = October 27, 2022}} while Anthony Peeler signed as a free agent with the Sacramento Kings,{{cite news | last = | first = | title = Kings Ink Anthony Peeler | work = United Press International | date = August 15, 2003 | url = https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2003/08/15/Kings-ink-Anthony-Peeler/77001060983961/ | access-date = July 15, 2022}} Gill signed with the Chicago Bulls,{{cite news | last = Johnson | first = K.C. | title = Kendall Gill's 'Pizza' Diet | work = Chicago Tribune | date = October 28, 2003 | url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2003-10-28-0310280307-story.html | access-date = October 27, 2022}} and Brandon was traded to the Atlanta Hawks.{{cite news | last = | first = | title = Sprewell Is Part of 4-Team Trade | work = Los Angeles Times | date = July 24, 2003 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jul-24-sp-nbareport24-story.html | access-date = July 15, 2022}}