Professional Sports Commentary: At the top of the Western Conference, Timberwolves are shaping NBA history
Jan. 2, 2024
By Ariston Nishevci
Staff Writer
The Minnesota Timberwolves look like real contenders for the National Basketball Association Championship even though, in their 34-year history, they have never made it to the finals. They are first in the Western Conference with the best win-loss record despite having the lowest win-loss record percentage in NBA history. This is truly an amazing story that deserves more attention among basketball fans.
The Timberwolves seem to be pulling off a Cinderella story by being first in the Western Conference. It’s so surprising because in the past, the Timberwolves have been relatively low in their standings.
In the 2014-2015 season, the Timberwolves finished last in the NBA with a 16-66 record. In 2015-2016 and 2016-2017, they finished 13th in their conference, which is only two places above where they finished in 2014-2015. In 2017-2018, they barely clinched the playoffs by finishing eighth and having only one more win than ninth place team, the Denver Nuggets. They then proceeded to get knocked out of the first round by the Houston Rockets, going 1-4 in the series.
In 2018-2019, they didn’t make the playoffs, finishing 11th with a 36-46 record. In 2019-2020, they finished 14th with a 19-45 record. In 2020-2021, they finished 13th with a 23-49 record.
The Timberwolves improved significantly in 2021-2022, finishing seventh in a playoff spot with a 46-36 record, but they lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Memphis Grizzlies 4-2 in the series. 2022-2023 brought some hope to Timberwolves fans with a second consecutive playoff in which they finished in 8th place with a 42-40 record, but they again lost in the first playoff round, this time to the Denver Nuggets, going 1-4 in the series.
This season, the Timberwolves are a team to be feared in the NBA, and it’s all thanks to their three star players Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Gobert was drafted to the Denver Nuggets but was later traded to the Utah Jazz on the same day in 2013. In his first season, Gobert didn’t get a lot of minutes and only averaged 2.3 points per game. Gobert committed to improving and becoming a starter for the Jazz. It took him until the 2016-2017 season to really make an impact on the team. In that season he averaged 14 points per game and continued that trend moving forward.
Gobert was relatively successful at the Utah Jazz, but he got traded to the Timberwolves in the 2022-2023 season where he averaged 13.4 points per game. This season, Gobert is averaging 13.3 points per game and is making massive contributions to the team.
Edwards was drafted to the Timberwolves in 2020 and had an immediate impact on the 2020-2021 season. Averaging 22 points per game as a starter, Edwards’ achievements were very impressive, especially for a rookie in his first season. Edwards continued that form in the subsequent seasons, and this season he is averaging 23.6 points per game.
This season, the Timberwolves are a team to be feared in the NBA, and it’s all thanks to their three star players Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Towns was drafted to the Timberwolves back in 2015. In his rookie season, he averaged 18.3 points per game. Much like Edwards, he continued his form during every season to come. This season, he is averaging 21.6 points per game, but his accomplishments extend beyond scoring. He is also a leader.
Towns has had many NBA teams show interest in him over the years, but he has stayed loyal to the Timberwolves even when they were rarely making the playoffs. Towns has trusted the process, and, based on the Timberwolves’ current standing in the Western Conference, it has paid off.
The Timberwolves started their season hot by winning eight out of their first 10 games, even beating the Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors and the current NBA champions, the Denver Nuggets. In addition to Edwards, Gobert and Towns, the Timberwolves’ top performers this season are Naz Reid, who is making a name for himself this season by averaging 13.4 points per game, and Jaden McDaniels, who is averaging 9.8 points per game.
The Timberwolves have built one of the most balanced teams in the NBA, which is reflected in their 24-8 record. If the Timberwolves maintain their form for the rest of the season, not only will they get a favorable draw in the playoffs, but they will be genuine contenders for the NBA championship.
