13. Minnesota Timberwolves 2010s all-decade starting lineup
- Ricky Rubio
- Andrew Wiggins
- Jimmy Butler
- Kevin Love
- Karl-Anthony Towns
It’s interesting to note how as a franchise this decade, the Minnesota Timberwolves have just a single playoff appearance. But in regards to individual talent, the organization has amassed an impressive starting five.
Say what you want about their chemistry, but the trio of Jimmy Butler, Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins brought Minnesota its first postseason outing in over a decade.
Butler, in particular, was instrumental at both ends, as the Wolves won at a 62.7 percent clip with him in the lineup in 2017-18.
Only two times has a center joined the 50/40/80 shooting club in a single season. Both instances belong to Towns, who blends an inside-out touch with incredible volume that creates all sorts of mismatches.
His numbers may not have led to much winning, but Minnesota Kevin Love was much bulkier and a far bigger problem on the glass at both ends. He was also an elite post-up option and a dead-eye 3-point shooter. Slot him next to Towns and you have a ridiculously talented frontcourt that can mesh in so many ways offensively.
Ricky Rubio and Andrew Wiggins mess up the spacing, but the former is a defensive-minded floor general and the perfect point guard to balance the immense scoring talents at his disposal. At his best, the latter is a capable shot maker and defender when engaged.
With Butler locked into a closer role he’s proven more than capable of occupying, it’s up to the players to determine how successful they want to be as a unit after building their reputations mostly as individuals.