Minnesota Timberwolves: Revisiting the 2010s
By Ethan Becker
2012-13 Season
Record: 31-51
High Point: The Minnesota Timberwolves saw a third straight win increase. And although Kevin Love missed most of this season, 2012-13 was the season that marked the coming out of Ricky Rubio. That year, Rubio averaged 7.3 assists per game, which was the 10th-best mark in the league, and 2.4 steals per game, which was the second-best number in the league.
He also led the league in steal percentage at 2.4%.
This season was when Rubio earned the title of a pure point guard, a player who can pass and steal the ball exceptionally well and whose main focus isn’t always scoring.
Low Point: The low point for this season was the multiple injuries to Kevin Love. First, he sustained a fracture to his right hand while doing knuckle push-ups and then he underwent season ending knee surgery, having played just 18 games.
The injuries halted the Timberwolves’ progress and was probably a major reason why the playoff drought lasted as long as it did. They ended up with the 12th-best record in the Western Conference, the 22nd-best record in the NBA and a nine-season playoff drought.