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1989–90 Minnesota Timberwolves season

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1989–90 Minnesota Timberwolves season
Head coachBill Musselman
Owners
ArenaHubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Results
Record22–60 (.268)
PlaceDivision: 6th (Midwest)
Conference: 13th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKSTP-TV/KITN-TV
(Kevin Harlan, Len Elmore, Tom Hanneman)
RadioWDGY
(Kevin Harlan, Dave Shea)
1990–91 >

The 1989–90 NBA season was the Timberwolves' 1st season in the National Basketball Association.[1] Nearly 30 years after the Lakers left for Los Angeles, the NBA returned to Minneapolis with an expansion team known as the "Minnesota Timberwolves". The Timberwolves, along with the Orlando Magic, joined the NBA in 1989.[2][3][4][5] The team revealed a new primary logo of a blue wolf with green eyes in front of a silver basketball,[6] and added new uniforms with the color scheme of blue, green and silver.[7][8]

In the 1989 NBA Expansion Draft, the Timberwolves selected veteran players like Rick Mahorn, Tyrone Corbin, Steve Johnson, Brad Lohaus and Scott Roth,[9][10][11][12][13] and signed free agents Tony Campbell,[14][15] Tod Murphy, Sidney Lowe, and undrafted rookie forward Sam Mitchell. However, Mahorn never played for the T-Wolves, as he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.[16][17][18][19] The Timberwolves received the tenth overall pick in the 1989 NBA draft, and selected point guard Pooh Richardson out of UCLA.[20][21][22][23] The team also hired Bill Musselman as their first head coach.[24][25]

The T-Wolves made their debut on November 3, 1989, losing to the Seattle SuperSonics, 106–94 on the road.[26][27] Five days later, they made their home debut at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, losing to the Chicago Bulls, 96–84.[28] Just two nights later, the T-Wolves would finally get their first win, beating the 76ers at home in overtime, 125–118 on November 10.[29][30][31] In January, the team traded Lohaus to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Randy Breuer.[32][33][34] However, the Timberwolves struggled in their first season, posting two nine-game losing streaks, finishing sixth place in the Midwest Division with a 22–60 record.[35]

Campbell led the team in scoring averaging 23.2 points, contributing 5.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game, and finishing in third place in Most Improved Player voting,[36] while Corbin averaged 14.7 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game, and Mitchell provided the team with 12.7 points and 5.8 rebounds. In addition, Richardson contributed 11.4 points, 6.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game, and was selected the NBA All-Rookie First Team, while Murphy provided with 8.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, and Lowe contributed 2.3 points and 4.2 assists per game, only shooting just .319 in field-goal percentage.[37]

The team's primary logo and uniforms both remained in use until 1996.

Draft picks

Main article: 1989 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 10 Pooh Richardson PG  United States UCLA
2 34 Gary Leonard C  United States Missouri
2 38 Doug West SG  United States Villanova

Roster

1989–90 Minnesota Timberwolves roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
C 45 Breuer, Randy 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1960–10–11 Minnesota
G/F 19 Campbell, Tony 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1962–05–07 Ohio State
G/F 23 Corbin, Tyrone 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1962–12–31 DePaul
C 52 Leonard, Gary 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1967–02–16 Missouri
G 35 Lowe, Sidney 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1960–01–21 NC State
F 42 Mitchell, Sam 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1963–09–02 Mercer
C 4 Murphy, Tod 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1963–12–24 UC Irvine
G 24 Richardson, Pooh 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1966–05–14 UCLA
F 3 Roth, Scott 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 212 lb (96 kg) 1963–06–03 Wisconsin
F 15 Royal, Donald 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1966–05–22 Notre Dame
F/C 2 Sellers, Brad 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1962–12–17 Ohio State
G/F 5 West, Doug 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1967–05–27 Villanova
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

NBA Expansion Draft

Main article: 1989 NBA Expansion Draft

Prior to the 1989 NBA draft, the NBA held a coin toss between the Timberwolves and the other new expansion team, the Orlando Magic, to determine their order for the NBA Draft and the expansion draft. The Magic won the coin toss and chose to have the first pick in the expansion draft and pick 11th in the NBA Draft, while the Timberwolves picked second in the expansion draft and 10th in the NBA Draft.

The previous season's expansion teams, the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat, were not involved in this year's expansion draft and did not lose any player.

Pick Player Position Nationality Previous Team
2 Rick Mahorn F/C  United States Detroit Pistons
4 Tyrone Corbin G/F  United States Phoenix Suns
6 Steve Johnson F/C  United States Portland Trail Blazers
8 Brad Lohaus F/C  United States Sacramento Kings
10 David Rivers G  United States Los Angeles Lakers
12 Mark Davis G/F  United States Milwaukee Bucks
14 Scott Roth F  United States San Antonio Spurs
16 Shelton Jones F  United States Philadelphia 76ers
18 Eric White F  United States Los Angeles Clippers
20 Maurice Martin G/F  United States Denver Nuggets
22 Gunther Behnke C  West Germany Cleveland Cavaliers

Regular season

Standings

Midwest Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-San Antonio Spurs 56 26 .683 – 34–7 22–19 19–9
x-Utah Jazz 55 27 .671 1 36–5 19–22 21–7
x-Dallas Mavericks 47 35 .573 9 30–11 17–24 17–11
x-Denver Nuggets 43 39 .524 13 28–13 15–26 15–13
x-Houston Rockets 41 41 .500 15 31–10 10–31 13–15
Minnesota Timberwolves 22 60 .268 34 17–24 5–36 6–22
Charlotte Hornets 19 63 .232 37 13–28 6–35 7–21
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Los Angeles Lakers 63 19 .768 –
2 y-San Antonio Spurs 56 26 .683 7
3 x-Portland Trail Blazers 59 23 .720 4
4 x-Utah Jazz 55 27 .671 8
5 x-Phoenix Suns 54 28 .659 9
6 x-Dallas Mavericks 47 35 .573 16
7 x-Denver Nuggets 43 39 .524 20
8 x-Houston Rockets 41 41 .500 22
9 Seattle SuperSonics 41 41 .500 22
10 Golden State Warriors 37 45 .451 26
11 Los Angeles Clippers 30 52 .366 33
12 Sacramento Kings 23 59 .280 40
13 Minnesota Timberwolves 22 60 .268 41
14 Charlotte Hornets 19 63 .232 44

Record vs. opponents

1989–90 NBA records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta – 1–3 2–0 0–5 2–3 0–2 1–1 3–2 2–0 2–0 2–3 1–1 0–2 4–0 3–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 5–0 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–2
Boston 3–1 – 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–1 0–2 5–0 2–2 1–1 5–1 4–1 4–0 3–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–3
Charlotte 0–2 0–2 – 0–2 1–1 1–3 3–2 0–2 2–2 1–4 1–1 2–2 0–4 1–1 0–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–4 1–3 0–5 0–4 0–5 0–2
Chicago 5–0 2–2 2–0 – 5–0 2–0 1–1 1–4 2–0 1–1 2–3 1–1 1–1 4–0 4–1 2–0 3–1 3–1 3–2 2–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 3–1
Cleveland 3–2 1–3 1–1 0–5 – 0–2 0–2 1–4 1–1 0–2 3–2 1–1 1–1 4–0 3–2 1–1 4–0 2–2 4–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1
Dallas 2–0 1–1 3–1 0–2 2–0 – 2–3 1–1 3–1 4–1 2–0 3–1 0–4 2–0 1–1 4–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–3 0–4 3–1 3–2 2–2 1–3 1–1
Denver 1–1 1–1 2–3 1–1 2–0 3–2 – 0–2 2–2 4–1 0–2 2–2 0–4 2–0 1–1 5–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–3 2–2 4–0 1–3 2–2 0–4 1–1
Detroit 2–3 2–2 2–0 4–1 4–1 1–1 2–0 – 1–1 1–1 4–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 3–2 2–0 4–0 4–0 5–0 1–3 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–0
Golden State 0–2 1–1 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–3 2–2 1–1 – 2–2 1–1 3–1 1–4 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–5 2–2 3–2 1–3 2–3 2–2 1–1
Houston 0–2 0–2 4–1 1–1 2–0 1–4 1–4 1–1 2–2 – 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 1–3 4–0 2–2 2–2 3–2 1–1
Indiana 3–2 3–1 1–1 3–2 2–3 0–2 2–0 1–4 1–1 1–1 – 0–2 0–2 3–1 3–2 1–1 4–0 1–3 4–1 0–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1
L.A. Clippers 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–3 2–2 2–0 – 1–4 0–2 1–1 3–1 2–0 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–4 0–5 2–3 0–4 3–2 0–4 1–1
L.A. Lakers 2–0 2–0 4–0 1–1 1–1 4–0 4–0 1–1 4–1 2–2 2–0 4–1 – 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–3 5–0 2–2 4–0 2–2 1–1
Miami 0–4 0–5 1–1 0–4 0–4 0–2 0–2 1–3 0–2 1–1 1–3 2–0 0–2 – 2–2 1–1 1–4 1–5 3–1 0–5 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–3
Milwaukee 2–3 2–2 2–0 1–4 2–3 1–1 1–1 2–3 1–1 1–1 2–3 1–1 1–1 2–2 – 2–0 4–0 2–2 5–0 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 3–1
Minnesota 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–4 0–5 0–2 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–3 0–4 1–1 0–2 – 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–4 1–3 2–2 1–4 1–3 0–5 1–1
New Jersey 2–2 1–5 1–1 1–3 0–4 0–2 0–2 0–4 0–2 1–1 0–4 0–2 0–2 4–1 0–4 1–1 – 1–4 1–3 1–4 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–3
New York 3–1 1–4 1–1 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–4 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 0–2 5–1 2–2 1–1 4–1 – 2–2 2–3 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 5–0
Orlando 0–5 0–4 1–1 2–3 1–4 0–2 0–2 0–5 0–2 0–2 1–4 0–2 1–1 1–3 0–5 1–1 3–1 2–2 – 2–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–4
Philadelphia 2–2 2–3 2–0 2–2 2–2 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 4–0 2–0 1–1 5–0 3–1 1–1 4–1 3–2 2–2 – 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 5–1
Phoenix 2–0 1–1 3–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 3–1 0–2 5–0 2–2 1–1 4–0 1–3 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 – 2–3 5–0 0–4 3–2 3–1 2–0
Portland 1–1 2–0 4–0 1–1 1–1 4–0 2–2 1–1 2–2 3–1 1–1 5–0 3–2 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 3–2 – 4–0 3–1 3–2 2–2 1–1
Sacramento 1–1 0–2 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–4 0–2 2–3 0–4 1–1 3–2 0–5 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–5 0–4 – 0–4 2–2 1–3 1–1
San Antonio 1–1 1–1 5–0 1–1 1–1 2–3 3–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 1–1 4–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 4–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–0 1–3 4–0 – 3–1 3–2 2–0
Seattle 1–1 0–2 4–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–1 3–2 2–2 1–1 2–3 0–4 2–0 0–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–3 2–3 2–2 1–3 – 1–3 2–0
Utah 1–1 1–1 5–0 2–0 1–1 3–1 4–0 1–1 2–2 2–3 1–1 4–0 2–2 1–1 2–0 5–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 2–3 3–1 – 2–0
Washington 2–2 3–2 2–0 1–3 1–3 1–1 1–1 0–4 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 3–2 1–3 1–1 3–2 0–5 4–0 1–5 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 —

Game log

[1]

Player statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
Minnesota Timberwolves statistics
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Tony Campbell* 82 81 38.6 .457 .167 .787 5.5 2.6 1.4 0.4 23.2
Tyrone Corbin 82 80 36.7 .481 .000 .770 7.4 2.6 2.1 0.5 14.7
Sam Mitchell* 80 30 30.2 .446 .000 .768 5.8 1.1 0.8 0.7 12.7
Pooh Richardson 82 48 31.5 461 .277 .589 2.6 6.8 1.6 0.3 11.4
Randy Breuer 51 47 26.0 .416 .000 .662 5.7 1.6 0.6 1.5 10.2
Tod Murphy 82 59 30.4 471 .372 .709 6.9 1.3 0.9 0.7 8.3
Brad Lohaus 28 24 21.1 .465 .063 .808 3.9 2.2 0.5 0.8 7.5
Scott Roth 71 3 14.9 .397 .356 .696 3.0 1.9 .7 .7 9.0
Adrian Branch* 66 0 11.3 .379 346 .746 1.6 1.6 0.7 0.1 6.8
Donald Royal 73 73 11.3 .470 .417 .850 2.1 0.7 0.5 0.1 5.9
Brad Sellers 14 0 8.1 .469 .000 .557 5.2 1.5 .8 2.0 8.8
Doug West 52 0 7.3 .517 .000 .763 3.0 .4 .3 .5 5.5
Sidney Lowe* 80 38 21.8 .498 .000 .703 5.2 1.1 .8 .7 11.7
Gary Leonard 22 0 5.8 .468 .440 .883 2.8 5.4 1.2 .1 11.8
Steve Johnson 4 0 4.3 .402 .359 .733 1.5 3.0 .7 .1 7.2

* – Stats with the Timberwolves.

Awards and honors

Transactions

References

  1. ^ 1989-90 Minnesota Timberwolves
  2. ^ Goldaper, Sam (April 23, 1987). "No Headline". The New York Times. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  3. ^ "NBA Gives Florida Two Franchises -- Miami, Orlando: League Also Grants Expansion Teams to Minneapolis and Charlotte for $32.5 Million". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. April 23, 1987. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  4. ^ Cotton, Anthony (April 23, 1987). "NBA Accepts Miami, Charlotte, Orlando, Twin Cities". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  5. ^ Fowler, Bob (April 23, 1987). "Minnesota Gets 2nd Chance with Another NBA Franchise". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  6. ^ "Minnesota Timberwolves Logo". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  7. ^ "Minnesota Timberwolves Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  8. ^ "Minnesota Timberwolves Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  9. ^ Brown, Clifton (June 16, 1989). "Knicks' Green Is Taken First in N.B.A.'s Expansion Draft". The New York Times. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  10. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (June 16, 1989). "NBA Expansion Draft: Timberwolves Get Mahorn; Lakers Lose Rivers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  11. ^ Cotton, Anthony (June 16, 1989). "Green Tabbed No. 1, Mahorn No. 2 in NBA Expansion Draft". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  12. ^ Smith, Sam (June 16, 1989). "Magic Day for Vincent, Not for Mahorn". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  13. ^ "1989 NBA Expansion Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  14. ^ "Lakers Free Agent Campbell Signs Deal with Timberwolves". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. September 13, 1989. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  15. ^ "Names in the News". Los Angeles Times. September 14, 1989. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  16. ^ "Mahorn Traded to 76ers". The New York Times. October 28, 1989. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  17. ^ "Mahorn Is Traded to 76ers". Los Angeles Times. October 28, 1989. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  18. ^ "Timberwolves Trade Mahorn to the 76ers". The Washington Post. October 28, 1989. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  19. ^ "Minnesota Trades Mahorn to Philadelphia". Deseret News. October 28, 1989. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  20. ^ Goldaper, Sam (June 28, 1989). "Kings Take Ellison First in N.B.A. Draft; Clippers Pick Ferry". The New York Times. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  21. ^ McManis, Sam (June 28, 1989). "THE NBA DRAFT: The Other Teams: Sacramento's Secret Is Out: It's Ellison". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  22. ^ Cooper, Barry (June 28, 1989). "Magic Goes for Quick Fix". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  23. ^ "1989 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  24. ^ Huguenin, Mike (August 7, 1988). "Timberwolves Have 4 Coach Candidates". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  25. ^ Winderman, Ira (September 18, 1988). "Two Coaches Will Have Year Without a Team". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  26. ^ "SuperSonics 106, Timberwolves 94". United Press International. November 4, 1989. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  27. ^ "Minnesota Timberwolves at Seattle SuperSonics Box Score, November 3, 1989". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  28. ^ "Chicago Bulls at Minnesota Timberwolves Box Score, November 8, 1989". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  29. ^ "BASKETBALL; First Victory for Wolves". The New York Times. Associated Press. November 11, 1989. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  30. ^ "It Takes Time, But Timberwolves Get Their First NBA Victory". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. November 11, 1989. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  31. ^ "Philadelphia 76ers at Minnesota Timberwolves Box Score, November 10, 1989". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  32. ^ "Breuer Thrilled to Be Back in Minnesota". Tampa Bay Times. January 6, 1990. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  33. ^ "Maxwell: "I'm Not to Blame"". Orlando Sentinel. February 14, 1990. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  34. ^ DiGiovanni, Joe (April 16, 1990). "Timberwolves Castoff Key to Bucks Success". United Press International. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  35. ^ "1989–90 Minnesota Timberwolves Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  36. ^ "1989–90 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  37. ^ "1989–90 Minnesota Timberwolves Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
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