1999–2000 Minnesota Timberwolves season

NBA professional basketball team season March 2026 August 2023 Minnesota Timberwolves 2000 50 32 Midwest 3 6 Flip Saunders Kevin McHale Glen Taylor Target Center First round(lost to Trail Blazers 1–3) MIN The 1999–2000 Minnesota Timberwolves season was the 11th season for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the National Basketball Association. Minnesota Timberwolves Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIN/ August 8, 2026 Season summary Off-season The Timberwolves acquired the sixth overall pick in the 1999 NBA draft from the New Jersey Nets via trade, and selected small forward Wally Szczerbiak out of Miami University; the team also selected point guard William Avery out of Duke University with the 14th overall pick. Wise Mike Pro Basketball: Safety First: The Bulls Make Brand the Top Pick The New York Times July 1, 1999 https://www.nytimes.com/1999/07/01/sports/pro-basketball-safety-first-the-bulls-make-brand-the-top-pick.html November 27, 2022 Heisler Mark Dukies Are Way Up Los Angeles Times July 1, 1999 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jul-01-sp-52079-story.html June 4, 2023 1999 NBA Draft Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1999.html December 1, 2022 Regular season Early into the regular season, the Timberwolves traveled overseas to Tokyo, Japan to play their first two games against the Sacramento Kings at the Tokyo Dome. Kings to Open Season in Tokyo Sacramento Business Journal June 29, 1999 https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/1999/06/28/daily5.html June 28, 2022 Associated Press Plus: Pro Basketball -- San Antonio: Spurs to Skip Japan The New York Times June 30, 1999 https://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/30/sports/plus-pro-basketball-san-antonio-spurs-to-skip-japan.html May 25, 2022 In the first game on November 5, 1999, the Timberwolves were the road team and lost to the Kings by a score of 100–95, in front of 32,623 fans in attendance. Kevin Garnett and Terrell Brandon both posted double-doubles, as Garnett finished with 34 points and 17 rebounds, while Brandon contributed 18 points and 12 assists, and Anthony Peeler added 17 points. Associated Press  Season's Longest Road Trip Pays Off for Kings in Japan  The Register-Guard  November 6, 1999  3D  https://books.google.com/books?id=-0xWAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA28&dq=1999+Minnesota+Timberwolves+Sacramento+Kings+100-95&article_id=6659,1403225&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiDjK6yt62TAxUpkokEHY0yJ_cQ6AF6BAgJEAM#v=onepage&q&f=false March 19, 2026 Associated Press  Kings Hold Off T-Wolves; Around the NBA  The Spokesman-Review  November 6, 1999  C3  https://books.google.com/books?id=K49XAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA7&dq=1999+Minnesota+Timberwolves+Sacramento+Kings+100-95&article_id=6706,4426675&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiDjK6yt62TAxUpkokEHY0yJ_cQ6AF6BAgIEAM#v=onepage&q=1999%20Minnesota%20Timberwolves%20Sacramento%20Kings%20100-95&f=false March 19, 2026 Minnesota Timberwolves at Sacramento Kings Box Score, November 5, 1999 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199911050SAC.html March 19, 2026 In the second game on November 6, the Timberwolves were the home team and defeated the Kings by a score of 114–101, in front of 34,013 fans in attendance. Garnett and Brandon both posted double-doubles, as Garnett finished with 31 points and 12 rebounds, while Brandon contributed 15 points and 13 assists; Peeler scored 19 points, and Joe Smith added 17 points and 8 rebounds off the bench. Noonan Tim 66,000 See Timberwolves and Kings Split 2 Games Opening Season: In Tokyo, a Slam Dunk for NBA The New York Times November 8, 1999 https://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/08/sports/66000-see-timberwolves-and-kings-split-2-games-opening-season-in.html July 28, 2017 Associated Press  Kings Lose First-Half Lead, Game  Lodi News-Sentinel  November 8, 1999  9  https://books.google.com/books?id=Tuk0AAAAIBAJ&pg=PA5&dq=1999+Minnesota+Timberwolves+Sacramento+Kings+114-101&article_id=1872,868152&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi0renGua2TAxWBlmoFHR1bA8UQ6AF6BAgKEAM#v=onepage&q&f=false March 19, 2026 Sacramento Kings at Minnesota Timberwolves Box Score, November 6, 1999 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199911060MIN.html March 19, 2026 With the addition of Szczerbiak, the Timberwolves got off to a 7–5 start to the regular season, but then struggled posting an eight-game losing streak in December afterwards, falling below .500 in winning percentage. Kawakami Tim So This Is What Triangle Means Los Angeles Times December 18, 1999 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-dec-18-sp-45211-story.html October 12, 2022 However, the team soon recovered and played above .500 for the remainder of the season, winning 20 of their next 25 games, and holding a 27–20 record at the All-Star break. NBA Games Played on February 10, 2000 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/?month=2&day=10&year=2000 July 22, 2022 The Timberwolves posted a six-game winning streak in March, and finished in third place in the Midwest Division with a 50–32 record, earning the sixth seed in the Western Conference; it was their first 50-win season in franchise history. 1999–2000 Minnesota Timberwolves Schedule and Results Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIN/2000_games.html June 23, 2021 Garnett averaged 22.9 points, 11.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.6 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, and to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. In addition, Brandon averaged 17.1 points, 8.9 assists and 1.9 steals per game, while Szczerbiak provided the team with 11.6 points per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, and Malik Sealy contributed 11.3 points per game. Off the bench, Smith provided with 9.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, while Peeler contributed 9.8 points per game, Sam Mitchell averaged 6.5 points per game, second-year center Rasho Nesterovic averaged 5.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game as the team's starting center, and Bobby Jackson contributed 5.1 points and 2.4 assists per game. 1999–2000 Minnesota Timberwolves Roster and Stats Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIN/2000.html June 23, 2021 During the NBA All-Star weekend at The Arena in Oakland in Oakland, California, Garnett was selected for the 2000 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Western Conference All-Star team. Garnett scored 24 points along with 10 rebounds and 5 assists, as the Western Conference defeated the Eastern Conference, 137–126. NBA All-Star 2000 Deseret News February 13, 2000 https://www.deseret.com/2000/2/13/19490723/nba-all-star-2000 January 9, 2023 NBA.com Staff 2000 NBA All-Star Recap NBA.com September 13, 2021 https://www.nba.com/news/history-all-star-recap-2000 May 15, 2023 2000 NBA All-Star Game: West 137, East 126 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_2000.html November 27, 2021 Meanwhile, Szczerbiak was selected for the NBA Rookie Challenge Game, as a member of the Rookies team. Sports Scoreboard Times-Union February 12, 2000 3B https://books.google.com/books?id=7bI_AAAAIBAJ&pg=PA11&dq=2000+NBA+2+ball+steve+francis&article_id=6195,2369314&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwji0aWep_CPAxVo4skDHSp2FjcQ6AF6BAgKEAM#v=onepage&q=2000%20NBA%202%20ball%20steve%20francis&f=false September 24, 2025 2000 NBA Rising Stars: Rookies 92, Sophomores 83 (OT) Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_2000_rookie.html September 24, 2025 Garnett finished in second place in Most Valuable Player voting, behind Shaquille O'Neal of the Los Angeles Lakers, Associated Press Shaq Receives All But One Vote ESPN May 10, 2000 https://www.espn.com/nba/news/2000/0509/523579.html. March 17, 2024 1999–2000 NBA Awards Voting Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_2000.html January 2, 2022 and also finished in seventh place in Defensive Player of the Year voting. The Timberwolves finished 14th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 690,012 at the Target Center during the regular season. 1999–2000 NBA Season Summary Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2000.html January 23, 2026 NBA playoffs In the Western Conference First Round of the 2000 NBA playoffs, the Timberwolves faced off against the 3rd–seeded Portland Trail Blazers, who were led by All-Star forward Rasheed Wallace, Scottie Pippen and Steve Smith. The Timberwolves lost the first two games to the Trail Blazers on the road at the Rose Garden Arena, but managed to win Game 3 at home, 94–87 at the Target Center. 2000 NBA Western Conference First Round Game 3: Portland Trail Blazers at Minnesota Timberwolves Box Score, April 30, 2000 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200004300MIN.html June 11, 2026 However, the Timberwolves lost Game 4 to the Trail Blazers at home, 85–77, thus losing the series in four games; this was the fourth consecutive year that the Timberwolves lost in the opening round of the NBA playoffs. Portland 85, Minnesota 77 United Press International May 2, 2000 https://www.upi.com/Archives/2000/05/02/Portland-85-Minnesota-77/7925957240000/ July 14, 2021 Associated Press Blazers Knock Out T-Wolves Deseret News May 3, 2000 https://www.deseret.com/2000/5/3/19558582/blazers-knock-out-t-wolves June 3, 2022 2000 NBA Western Conference First Round: Timberwolves vs. Trail Blazers Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2000-nba-western-conference-first-round-timberwolves-vs-trail-blazers.html February 14, 2023 Notable highlights One notable highlight of the regular season occurred on January 17, 2000, in a home game against the Indiana Pacers at the Target Center. Sealy, a former Pacers player, hit a game winning three-point shot at the buzzer as the Timberwolves defeated the Pacers, 101–100. Associated Press T'Wolves Halt Pacers at Buzzer CBS News January 17, 2000 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/twolves-halt-pacers-at-buzzer/ July 2, 2023 Associated Press N.B.A.: Yesterday: Sealy's 3-Pointer at the Buzzer Lifts Minnesota Over Indiana The New York Times January 18, 2000 https://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/18/sports/nba-yesterday-sealy-s-3-pointer-at-the-buzzer-lifts-minnesota-over-indiana.html January 15, 2022 Indiana Pacers at Minnesota Timberwolves Box Score, January 17, 2000 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200001170MIN.html June 11, 2026 Aftermath Tragedy struck on May 20, 2000, when Sealy died in a car accident, in which he was killed by a drunk driver, who was driving on the wrong side of the road; Sealy, who was 30 years old, was just coming home from a birthday party for his teammate Garnett, who had just turned 24 years old the previous day on May 19. Robbins Liz Pro Basketball: Wolves' Sealy, Former Star for St. John's, Dies in Car Crash The New York Times May 21, 2000 https://www.nytimes.com/2000/05/21/sports/pro-basketball-wolves-sealy-former-star-for-st-john-s-dies-in-car-crash.html October 15, 2021 White Lonnie Former Clipper Sealy Dies in Minnesota Highway Crash Los Angeles Times May 21, 2000 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-may-21-sp-32631-story.html September 13, 2022 Sealy Dies in Auto Accident The Washington Post May 21, 2000 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2000/05/21/sealy-dies-in-auto-accident/b6e2b69d-a427-42d5-8e0f-3de002d7bc55/ November 26, 2022 The driver involved in the crash, Souksangouane Phengsene, was sentenced to four years in prison. Associated Press Plus: Pro Basketball: A Guilty Plea in Sealy's Death The New York Times September 26, 2000 https://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/26/sports/plus-pro-basketball-a-guilty-plea-in-sealy-s-death.html January 5, 2022 Associated Press Sealy Crash Driver Sentenced CBS News October 18, 2000 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sealy-crash-driver-sentenced/ May 2, 2023 Associated Press Driver in Sealy's Death Gets Four Years in Prison Los Angeles Times October 19, 2000 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-oct-19-sp-38867-story.html September 13, 2022 Following the season, Jackson signed as a free agent with the Sacramento Kings. Wise Mike Pro Basketball: West Side Story, the Sequel The New York Times October 30, 2000 https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/30/sports/pro-basketball-west-side-story-the-sequel.html October 12, 2022 Best Free Agent Signings in Sacramento Kings History A Royal Pain July 7, 2014 https://aroyalpain.com/2014/07/07/best-free-agent-signings-sacramento-kings-history/ January 12, 2022 Draft picks 1999 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 6 Wally Szczerbiak SF Miami (OH) 1 14 William Avery PG Duke 2 42 Louis Bullock SG Michigan Roster Minnesota Timberwolves 1999–2000 #005083 #FFFFFF #000000 #FFFFFF 5 William Avery basketball PG 6 2 197 1979–08–08 Duke University 7 Terrell Brandon PG 5 11 180 1970–05–20 Oregon 21 Kevin Garnett PF 6 11 220 1976–05–19 Farragut Academy (IL) 22 Dean Garrett C 6 10 225 1966–11–27 Indiana 20 Tom Hammonds PF 6 9 215 1967–03–27 Georgia Tech 24 Bobby Jackson PG 6 1 185 1973–03–13 University of Minnesota 42 Sam Mitchell basketball SF 6 6 210 1963–09–02 Mercer 8 Rasho Nesterovic Radoslav Nesterović C 7 0 255 1976–05–30 Slovenia 45 Andrae Patterson PF 6 7 238 1975–11–12 Indiana 1 Anthony Peeler SG 6 4 208 1969–11–25 Missouri 2 Malik Sealy SF 6 8 200 1970–02–01 St. John's 32 Joe Smith basketball C 6 10 225 1975–07–26 Maryland 10 Wally Szczerbiak SF 6 7 244 1977–03–05 Miami University Flip Saunders Greg Ballard Sidney Lowe Jerry Sichting https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIN/2000.html January 3, 2000 Roster notes Shooting guard Malik Sealy died in a car accident on May 20, 2000. Regular season Season standings MIN MIN z - clinched division title y - clinched division title x - clinched playoff spot Playoffs Minnesota Timberwolves 2000 yes #005083 #8c92ac Minnesota Timberwolves #228B22 #000000 First Round yes yes no 1 1 0 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | April 23 | @ Portland | L 88–91 | Malik Sealy (23) | Kevin Garnett (10) | Terrell Brandon (12) | Rose Garden19,980 | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | April 26 | @ Portland | L 82–86 | Kevin Garnett (23) | Kevin Garnett (10) | Terrell Brandon (6) | Rose Garden20,568 | 0–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | April 30 | Portland | W 94–87 | Terrell Brandon (28) | Kevin Garnett (13) | Terrell Brandon (12) | Target Center19,006 | 1–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | May 2 | Portland | L 77–85 | Kevin Garnett (17) | Kevin Garnett (10) | Kevin Garnett (9) | Target Center19,006 | 1–3 |- MIN yes 2000 Player statistics Ragular season Player POS Position GP Games played GS Games starter MP Minutes played REB Rebounds AST Assists STL Steals BLK Blocks PTS Points MPG Minutes per game RPG Rebounds per game APG Assists per game SPG Steals per game BPG Blocks per game PPG Points per gameMalik SealySF82 61 2,392 352 197 76 19 929 29.2 4.3 2.4 .9 .2 11.3Rasho NesterovićC82 55 1,723 379 93 21 85 471 21.0 4.6 1.1 .3 1.0 5.7Anthony PeelerSG82 22 2,073 232 195 62 10 804 25.3 2.8 2.4 .8 .1 9.8Kevin GarnettPF 81 81 3,243 956 401 120 126 1,857 40.0 11.8 5.0 1.5 1.6 22.9Joe Smith basketballC 78 9 1,975 484 88 45 85 774 25.3 6.2 1.1 .6 1.1 9.9Wally SzczerbiakSF 73 53 2,171 272 201 58 23 845 29.7 3.7 2.8 .8 .3 11.6Bobby JacksonPG 73 10 1,034 153 172 48 7 369 14.2 2.1 2.4 .7 .1 5.1Terrell BrandonPG 71 71 2,587 238 629 134 30 1,212 36.4 3.4 8.9 1.9 .4 17.1Sam Mitchell basketballSF 66 24 1,227 138 111 27 14 427 18.6 2.1 1.7 .4 .2 6.5William Avery basketballPG 59 1 484 40 88 14 2 154 8.2 .7 1.5 .2 .0 2.6Dean GarrettC 56 23 604 140 19 8 40 114 10.8 2.5 .3 .1 .7 2.0Tom HammondsPF 56 0 372 101 10 8 3 117 6.6 1.8 .2 .1 .1 2.1Andrae PattersonPF 5 0 20 2 1 1 0 6 4.0 .4 .2 .2 .0 1.2 Playoffs Player POS Position GP Games played GS Games starter MP Minutes played REB Rebounds AST Assists STL Steals BLK Blocks PTS Points MPG Minutes per game RPG Rebounds per game APG Assists per game SPG Steals per game BPG Blocks per game PPG Points per gameKevin GarnettPF4 4 171 43 35 5 3 75 42.8 10.8 8.8 1.3 .8 18.8Terrell BrandonPG4 4 162 23 34 3 0 78 40.5 5.8 8.5 .8 .0 19.5Rasho NesterovićC4 4 126 13 6 3 7 25 31.5 3.3 1.5 .8 1.8 6.3Malik SealySF4 4 122 18 5 2 0 50 30.5 4.5 1.3 .5 .0 12.5Wally SzczerbiakSF4 4 94 8 2 3 1 24 23.5 2.0 .5 .8 .3 6.0Anthony PeelerSG4 0 90 9 5 3 1 30 22.5 2.3 1.3 .8 .3 7.5Joe Smith basketballC4 0 79 12 1 3 1 18 19.8 3.0 .3 .8 .3 4.5Sam Mitchell basketballSF4 0 68 7 2 0 1 23 17.0 1.8 .5 .0 .3 5.8Bobby JacksonPG 3 0 30 5 4 2 1 15 10.0 1.7 1.3 .7 .3 5.0Dean GarrettC 3 0 16 2 0 0 1 3 5.3 .7 .0 .0 .3 1.0Tom HammondsPF 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2.0 .0 .0 .0 .0 .0 Awards and records Kevin Garnett, All-NBA First Team Kevin Garnett, NBA All-Defensive First Team Wally Szczerbiak, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team References Category:Minnesota Timberwolves seasons Minnesota Category:1999 in sports in Minnesota Category:2000 in sports in Minnesota