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NBA professional basketball team season
NBA professional basketball team season
The 2003–04 Minnesota Timberwolves season was the 15th season for the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA).[ 1] The season is one of the most memorable in Timberwolves history. During the offseason, the Timberwolves acquired 4-time All-Star guard Latrell Sprewell . The arrival was seen as controversial as Sprewell was known for his choking incident with then-Golden State Warriors head coach P. J. Carlesimo , though also known for helping the 8th-seeded New York Knicks to the NBA Finals in 1999 .[ 2] 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 ,[ 3] also was acquired to join Garnett, forming a "Big 3". The Timberwolves also 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 .
In the first round of the playoffs , the Timberwolves defeated the Denver Nuggets in five games, which was their first ever win in a playoff series. The Wolves were then pushed to the limit in the semi-finals by the Sacramento Kings , who they narrowly defeated in a deciding seventh game. In the Western Conference Finals , they faced the Los Angeles Lakers , who had defeated them in the prior season's first round in six games. The Lakers team, known for its star-studded starting lineup consisting of Shaquille O'Neal , Kobe Bryant , Gary Payton , and Karl Malone , bested the Wolves in six games, where they would then would go on to lose in the NBA Finals against the Detroit Pistons in five games. Garnett, Cassell, and head coach Flip Saunders represented the Western Conference in the 2004 NBA All-Star Game . The 2004 All-Star Game was Cassell's only NBA All-Star appearance in his entire career.
After this season, the Timberwolves would not reign victorious in another playoff series until 2024 , experiencing a lengthy drought of 21 seasons in which the Timberwolves would go on to defeat the Denver Nuggets in 7 games to advance to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in two decades.
2003–04 Minnesota Timberwolves roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
PG
19
Cassell, Sam
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1969-11-18
Florida State
SF
44
Ebi, Ndudi
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
1984-06-18
Westbury Christian HS (TX)
PF
21
Garnett, Kevin
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1976-05-19
Farragut Academy (IL)
SG
23
Hassell, Trenton
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
1979-03-04
Austin Peay
SG
32
Hoiberg, Fred
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
203 lb (92 kg)
1972-10-15
Iowa State
PG
16
Hudson, Troy
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
1976-03-13
Southern Illinois
C
40
Johnson, Ervin
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
245 lb (111 kg)
1967-12-21
New Orleans
C
35
Madsen, Mark
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1976-01-28
Stanford
PG
15
Martin, Darrick
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
1971-03-06
UCLA
C
3
Miller, Oliver
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
280 lb (127 kg)
1970-04-06
Arkansas
C
34
Olowokandi, Michael
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
269 lb (122 kg)
1975-04-03
Pacific
SF
8
Sprewell, Latrell
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1970-09-08
Alabama
SF
10
Szczerbiak, Wally
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
244 lb (111 kg)
1977-03-05
Miami (OH)
C
20
Trent, Gary
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
250 lb (113 kg)
1974-09-22
Ohio
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Roster Last transaction: January 30, 2004
Record vs. opponents [ edit ]
2003-04 NBA Records
Team
ATL
BOS
CHI
CLE
DAL
DEN
DET
GSW
HOU
IND
LAC
LAL
MEM
MIA
MIL
MIN
NJN
NOH
NYK
ORL
PHI
PHO
POR
SAC
SAS
SEA
TOR
UTA
WAS
Atlanta
–
3–1
3–1
1–3
2–0
2–0
1–3
0–2
0–2
0–4
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–3
2–2
1–1
1–3
2–2
0–3
1–3
1–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–3
0–2
2–2
Boston
1–3
–
1–2
3–1
1–1
2–0
0–3
2–0
1–1
1–3
0–2
0–2
1–1
2–2
1–3
1–1
2–2
0–4
1–3
3–1
3–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–1
1–1
3–1
Chicago
1–3
2–1
–
2–2
0–2
0–2
0–4
1–1
0–2
1–3
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–4
1–3
0–2
0–3
2–2
2–2
3–1
0–4
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
4–0
1–1
1–3
Cleveland
3–1
1–3
2–2
–
0–2
0–2
2–2
0–2
0–2
1–3
1–1
0–2
0–2
2–2
2–2
0–2
1–2
3–1
4–0
2–1
3–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–0
1–3
1–1
2–2
Dallas
0–2
1–1
2–0
2–0
–
2–2
1–1
3–1
3–1
0–2
2–2
2–2
2–2
1–1
1–1
2–2
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
1–1
3–1
3–1
3–1
3–1
3–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
Denver
0–2
0–2
2–0
2–0
2–2
–
0–2
3–1
2–2
0–2
2–2
1–3
2–2
1–1
2–0
1–3
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
4–0
4–0
2–2
1–3
2–2
0–2
3–1
2–0
Detroit
3–1
3–0
4–0
2–2
1–1
2–0
–
1–1
1–1
1–3
2–0
1–1
2–0
4–0
3–1
0–2
2–2
1–3
3–1
3–1
2–2
2–0
2–0
0–2
1–1
1–1
3–1
1–1
3–0
Golden State
2–0
0–2
1–1
2–0
1–3
1–3
1–1
–
2–2
0–2
2–2
1–3
1–3
1–1
1–1
2–2
0–2
0–2
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–2
2–2
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
Houston
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–3
2–2
1–1
2–2
–
1–1
4–0
2–2
1–3
1–1
2–0
2–2
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
1–3
3–1
0–4
0–4
1–3
1–1
2–2
2–0
Indiana
4–0
3–1
3–1
3–1
2–0
2–0
3–1
2–0
1–1
–
2–0
1–1
1–1
3–0
1–3
1–1
3–1
2–2
3–1
3–1
4–0
2–0
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–0
4–0
2–0
2–1
L.A. Clippers
2–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–2
2–2
0–2
2–2
0–4
0–2
–
1–3
0–4
0–2
2–0
0–4
0–2
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
3–1
2–2
0–4
1–3
0–4
1–1
1–3
0–2
L.A. Lakers
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–2
3–1
1–1
3–1
2–2
1–1
3–1
–
2–2
2–0
2–0
1–3
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–1
3–1
2–2
1–3
3–1
3–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
Memphis
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–2
0–2
3–1
3–1
1–1
4–0
2–2
–
1–1
1–1
1–3
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–3
2–0
1–3
2–0
Miami
3–1
2–2
4–0
2–2
1–1
1–1
0–4
1–1
1–1
0–3
2–0
0–2
1–1
–
1–2
0–2
3–2
3–1
1–3
4–0
1–3
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
2–0
2–1
1–1
4–0
Milwaukee
2–2
3–1
3–1
2–2
1–1
0–2
1–3
1–1
0–2
3–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
2–1
–
0–2
3–1
1–3
2–2
3–1
2–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
3–1
1–1
3–1
Minnesota
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–2
3–1
2–0
2–2
2–2
1–1
4–0
3–1
3–1
2–0
2–0
–
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
4–0
1–3
3–1
2–2
3–1
2–0
2–2
2–0
New Jersey
3–1
2–2
3–0
2–1
0–2
2–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
1–3
2–0
0–2
0–2
2–3
1–3
1–1
–
2–1
3–1
4–0
3–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
2–0
2–2
1–1
4–0
New Orleans
2–2
4–0
2–2
1–3
0–2
1–1
3–1
2–0
0–2
2–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–3
3–1
0–2
1–2
–
1–2
4–0
2–2
1–1
2–0
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–3
1–1
3–1
New York
3–0
3–1
2–2
0–4
0–2
1–1
1–3
0–2
0–2
1–3
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–1
2–2
1–1
1–3
2–1
–
3–1
3–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–1
0–2
4–0
Orlando
3–1
1–3
1–3
1–2
0–2
1–1
1–3
1–1
0–2
1–3
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–4
1–3
0–2
0–4
0–4
1–3
–
2–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–2
1–1
4–0
Philadelphia
2–1
1–3
4–0
1–3
1–1
0–2
2–2
1–1
0–2
0–4
1–1
1–1
0–2
3–1
1–2
1–1
1–3
2–2
1–3
2–2
–
1–1
1–1
0–2
2–0
1–1
1–3
0–2
2–2
Phoenix
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–3
0–4
0–2
2–2
3–1
0–2
1–3
1–3
2–2
1–1
1–1
0–4
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
–
2–2
1–3
0–4
2–2
0–2
1–3
1–1
Portland
2–0
2–0
2–0
1–1
1–3
0–4
0–2
2–2
1–3
1–1
2–2
2–2
2–2
2–0
1–1
3–1
2–0
0–2
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–2
–
3–1
0–4
2–2
1–1
2–2
1–1
Sacramento
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–3
2–2
2–0
2–2
4–0
2–0
4–0
3–1
2–2
1–1
1–1
1–3
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–0
3–1
1–3
–
2–2
3–1
2–0
3–1
1–1
San Antonio
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–1
1–3
3–1
1–1
2–2
4–0
1–1
3–1
1–3
1–3
2–0
1–1
2–2
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–0
0–2
4–0
4–0
2–2
–
4–0
2–0
4–0
2–0
Seattle
1–1
1–1
2–0
0–2
1–3
2–2
1–1
1–3
3–1
0–2
4–0
1–3
3–1
0–2
2–0
1–3
0–2
2–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–2
2–2
1–3
0–4
–
1–1
1–3
1–1
Toronto
3–1
1–3
0–4
3–1
1–1
2–0
1–3
1–1
1–1
0–4
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–2
1–3
0–2
2–2
3–1
1–3
2–1
3–1
2–0
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
–
1–1
1–3
Utah
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–2
1–3
1–1
2–2
2–2
0–2
3–1
1–3
3–1
1–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–2
1–3
0–4
3–1
1–1
–
1–1
Washington
2–2
1–3
3–1
2–2
1–1
0–2
0–3
1–1
0–2
1–2
2–0
0–2
0–2
0–4
1–3
0–2
0–4
1–3
0–4
0–4
2–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–1
1–1
—
2004 playoff game log
First round: 4–1 (home: 3–0; road: 1–1)
Conference Semi-finals: 4–3 (home: 3–1; road: 1–2)
Conference finals: 2–4 (home: 2–1; road: 0–3)
2004 schedule
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.
Injuries/Missed games[ edit ]
[ 4]
Player
POS
GP
GS
MP
REB
AST
STL
BLK
PTS
MPG
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
PPG
Kevin Garnett
PF
82
82
3,231
1,139
409
120
178
1,987
39.4
13.9
5.0
1.5
2.2
24.2
Latrell Sprewell
SF
82
82
3,100
310
286
88
21
1,375
37.8
3.8
3.5
1.1
.3
16.8
Sam Cassell
PG
81
81
2,838
271
592
102
18
1,603
35.0
3.3
7.3
1.3
.2
19.8
Trenton Hassell
SG
81
74
2,264
257
133
36
54
406
28.0
3.2
1.6
.4
.7
5.0
Fred Hoiberg
SG
79
3
1,804
268
109
66
10
530
22.8
3.4
1.4
.8
.1
6.7
Mark Madsen
C
72
12
1,246
272
28
33
18
259
17.3
3.8
.4
.5
.3
3.6
Gary Trent
C
68
2
1,025
216
49
12
17
379
15.1
3.2
.7
.2
.3
5.6
Ervin Johnson
C
66
47
965
232
24
27
43
127
14.6
3.5
.4
.4
.7
1.9
Oliver Miller
C
48
1
506
130
36
19
26
121
10.5
2.7
.8
.4
.5
2.5
Michael Olowokandi
C
43
25
925
245
24
16
68
278
21.5
5.7
.6
.4
1.6
6.5
Keith McLeod
PG
33
0
391
34
59
16
1
88
11.8
1.0
1.8
.5
.0
2.7
Troy Hudson
PG
29
1
503
35
70
7
0
218
17.3
1.2
2.4
.2
.0
7.5
Wally Szczerbiak
SF
28
0
622
88
33
12
1
285
22.2
3.1
1.2
.4
.0
10.2
Ndudi Ebi
SF
17
0
32
3
3
0
4
13
1.9
.2
.2
.0
.2
.8
Darrick Martin
PG
16
0
172
7
23
2
1
55
10.8
.4
1.4
.1
.1
3.4
Quincy Lewis
SF
14
0
65
7
2
2
2
16
4.6
.5
.1
.1
.1
1.1
Anthony Goldwire †
PG
5
0
66
6
10
3
0
13
13.2
1.2
2.0
.6
.0
2.6
† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Timberwolves only.
Player
POS
GP
GS
MP
REB
AST
STL
BLK
PTS
MPG
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
PPG
Kevin Garnett
PF
18
18
783
263
92
24
41
438
43.5
14.6
5.1
1.3
2.3
24.3
Latrell Sprewell
SF
18
18
771
79
72
29
12
357
42.8
4.4
4.0
1.6
.7
19.8
Trenton Hassell
SG
18
18
472
44
27
10
7
138
26.2
2.4
1.5
.6
.4
7.7
Ervin Johnson
C
18
16
356
84
13
11
10
48
19.8
4.7
.7
.6
.6
2.7
Fred Hoiberg
SG
18
0
438
66
23
16
0
115
24.3
3.7
1.3
.9
.0
6.4
Mark Madsen
C
17
0
222
58
2
5
4
47
13.1
3.4
.1
.3
.2
2.8
Sam Cassell
PG
16
15
497
40
70
12
3
265
31.1
2.5
4.4
.8
.2
16.6
Darrick Martin
PG
16
3
182
14
23
4
0
50
11.4
.9
1.4
.3
.0
3.1
Michael Olowokandi
C
15
2
224
52
2
2
11
31
14.9
3.5
.1
.1
.7
2.1
Gary Trent
C
13
0
71
12
2
0
0
21
5.5
.9
.2
.0
.0
1.6
Wally Szczerbiak
SF
12
0
298
39
20
6
2
142
24.8
3.3
1.7
.5
.2
11.8
Oliver Miller
C
8
0
31
5
1
0
3
3
3.9
.6
.1
.0
.4
.4
Date
Player
Contract
Former Team
July 16, 2003
Michael Olowokandi
Signed 3-year contract for $16.2 million
Los Angeles Clippers
July 28, 2003
Fred Hoiberg
Signed 1-year contract for $938,679
Chicago Bulls
July 28, 2003
Mark Madsen
Signed 2-year contract for $1.4 million
Los Angeles Lakers
September 30, 2003
Quincy Lewis
Undisclosed
Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel )
September 30, 2003
Keith McLeod
Undisclosed
Basket Livorno (Italy)
October 25, 2003
Keith McLeod
Undisclosed
Minnesota Timberwolves
October 29, 2003
Trenton Hassell
Signed 1-year contract for $638,679
Chicago Bulls
December 13, 2003
Oliver Miller
Signed 1-year contract for $686,838
Fujian Xunxing (China)
January 7, 2004
Anthony Goldwire
Signed two 10-day contracts
Yakima Sun Kings (CBA )
January 30, 2004
Darrick Martin
Signed two 10-day contracts
Harlem Globetrotters
March 31, 2004
Darrick Martin
Signed for rest of season
Minnesota Timberwolves
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