Minnesota Timberwolves: Revisiting the 2010s
By Ethan Becker
2017-18 Season
Record: 47-35
High Point: Even just two seasons later, it’s forgotten the Minnesota Timberwolves came close to winning 50 games in the 2017-18 season. That would have given the team home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
There was a lot for the Timberwolves to be happy about in this season. First, snapping one of the worst playoff droughts in pro sports history brought a lot of joy to the fans, even if there was no conceivable way the Timberwolves would beat the Houston Rockets.
There was also the acquisition of Jimmy Butler, a trade that at the time excited many of the fans. But, more on that later.
This was also the year that Karl-Anthony Towns came into his own. In 2017-18, Towns averaged 21.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.4 blocks per game. These numbers were enough to earn him a trip to his first All-Star Game, his first All-NBA team appearance and a top-20 spot in points, blocks, rebounds, PER, true shooting percentage and win shares.
Low Point: Despite the improved record, star-studded team and playoff appearance, the Timberwolves still found themselves with one of the worst attendance figures in the league. With just over 699,000, Minnesota found itself 21st in league attendance.