The greatest sixth man from each NBA team

Greatest sixth man in Minnesota Timberwolves history: Sam Mitchell

The Minnesota Timberwolves began as a franchise in 1989 and have struggled to get their footing ever since. It was a slow start for the team, as they missed the playoffs for seven consecutive seasons before Kevin Garnett began leading them into the postseason.

While Garnett is the greatest player in Minnesota franchise history, and others have been more prolific, few have had the long-term connection that Sam Mitchell has. Signed as part of the original roster in 1989, Mitchell averaged 12.7 points per game and mostly came off of the bench.

He was mostly a starter for the next two seasons before the Timberwolves traded him, but Mitchell didn’t stay away for long. He returned in 1995 as a free agent and was the sixth man for the rise of Garnett and the Timberwolves’ first forays into the playoffs.

His second stint with the team lasted for seven years, and although he occasionally found his way into the starting lineup, he was mostly a bench fixture. Years after retiring Mitchell returned again to the Timberwolves in 2014 and was the first coach for Karl-Anthony Towns. His long boomerang tenure with the franchise began in 1989 as a sixth man.