1989–90 Minnesota Timberwolves season
Encyclopedia
The 1989–90 season was the debut season of the Minnesota Timberwolves
in the National Basketball Association
(NBA). The Timberwolves finished 22-60, sixth place in the Midwest Division, finishing three games above the second-year Charlotte Hornets
.
The Timberwolves spent the season playing at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
while the Target Center
was under construction; the latter arena would open on October 13, 1990.
|-
! colspan="2" style="background-color: #1C429C; color: #4AB073; text-align: center;" | Minnesota Timberwolves 1990-91 roster
|- style="background-color: #FFFFFF; color: #1C429C; text-align: center;"
! Players !! Coaches
|-
| valign="top" |
{| class="sortable" style="background:transparent; margin:0px; width:100%;"
! Pos. !! # !! Nat. !! Name !! Ht. !! Wt. !! From
|-
, 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.
{| class="wikitable sortable sortable"
! style="background:#245FAC; color:White" width="10%"| Pick
! style="background:#245FAC; color:White" width="20%"| Player
! style="background:#245FAC; color:White" width="15%"| Position
! style="background:#245FAC; color:White" width="20%"| Nationality
! style="background:#245FAC; color:White" width="20%"| Previous Team
|-
| 2
| Rick Mahorn
| F/C
|
| Detroit Pistons
|-
| 4
| Tyrone Corbin
| G/F
|
| Phoenix Suns
|-
| 6
| Steve Johnson
| F/C
|
| Portland Trail Blazers
|-
| 8
| Brad Lohaus
| F/C
|
| Sacramento Kings
|-
| 10
| David Rivers
| G
|
| Los Angeles Lakers
|-
| 12
| Mark Davis
| G/F
|
| Milwaukee Bucks
|-
| 14
| Scott Roth
| F
|
| San Antonio Spurs
|-
| 16
| Shelton Jones
| F
|
| Philadelphia 76ers
|-
| 18
| Eric White
| F
|
| Los Angeles Clippers
|-
| 20
| Maurice Martin
| G/F
|
| Denver Nuggets
|-
| 22
| Gunther Behnke
| C
|
| Cleveland Cavaliers
|}
| *
| 82 || 81 || 38.6 ||style="background:#000000;color:#01A951;"| .457 ||style="background:#000000;color:#01A951;"| .167 || .787 || 5.5 || 2.6 || 1.4 || 0.4 || 23.2
|-
|
| 82 ||style="background:#000000;color:#01A951;"| 80 || 36.7 || .481 || .000 || .770 || 7.4 || 2.6 || 2.1 || 0.5 || 14.7
|-
| *
| 80 || 30 || 30.2 || .446 || .000 || .768 || 5.8 || 1.1 ||style="background:#000000;color:#01A951;"| 0.8 || 0.7 || 12.7
|-
|
| 82 || 48 || 31.5 || 461 || .277 || .589 || 2.6 || 6.8 || 1.6 || 0.3 || 11.4
|-
|
| 51 || 47 || 26.0 || .416 || .000 || .662 || 5.7 || 1.6 || 0.6 || 1.5 || 10.2
|-
|
| 82 || 59 || 30.4 || 471 || .372 || .709 || 6.9 || 1.3 || 0.9 || 0.7 || 8.3
|-
|
| 28 || 24 || 21.1 || .465 || .063 || .808 || 3.9 || 2.2 || 0.5 || 0.8 || 7.5
|-
|
|style="background:#000000;color:#01A951;"| 71 || 3 || 14.9 || .397 || .356 || .696 || 3.0 || 1.9 || .7 || .7 || 9.0
|-
| *
| 66 || 0 || 11.3 || .379 || 346 || .746 || 1.6 || 1.6 || 0.7 || 0.1 || 6.8
|-
|
| 73 ||style="background:#000000;color:#01A951;"| 73 ||style="background:#000000;color:#01A951;"| 8.3 || .470 || .417 || .850 ||style="background:#000000;color:#01A951;"| 15.2 || 2.5 || 0.6 || 0.4 ||style="background:#000000;color:#01A951;"| 20.2
|-
|
| 14 || 0 || 8.1 || .469 || .000 || .557 || 5.2 || 1.5 || .8 ||style="background:#000000;color:#01A951;"| 2.0 || 8.8
|-
|
| 52 || 0 || 7.3 || .517 || .000 || .763 || 3.0 || .4 || .3 || .5 || 5.5
|-
| *
| 80 || 38 || 21.8 || .498 || .000 || .703 || 5.2 || 1.1 || .8 || .7 || 11.7
|-
|
| 22 || 0 || 5.8 || .468 || .440 ||style="background:#000000;color:#01A951;"| .883 || 2.8 ||style="background:#000000;color:#01A951;"| 5.4 || 1.2 || .1 || 11.8
|-
|
| 4 || 0 || 4.3 || .402 || .359 || .733 || 1.5 || 3.0 || .7 || .1 || 7.2
|}
* - Stats with the Timberwolves.
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA). The Timberwolves finished 22-60, sixth place in the Midwest Division, finishing three games above the second-year Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte Hornets (NBA)
The Charlotte Hornets was a professional American basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They played in the Atlantic, Midwest, and Central divisions of the National Basketball Association. The Hornets began play during the 1988–89 NBA season as an expansion franchise, along with the...
.
The Timberwolves spent the season playing at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, commonly called the Metrodome, is a domed sports stadium in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Opened in 1982, it replaced Metropolitan Stadium, which was on the current site of the Mall of America in Bloomington and Memorial Stadium on the University...
while the Target Center
Target Center
The Target Center is an arena in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is sponsored by Target Corporation. The arena has a capacity of 20,500 people. It contains 702 club seats and 68 suites....
was under construction; the latter arena would open on October 13, 1990.
NBA Draft
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | Pooh Richardson Pooh Richardson Jerome "Pooh" Richardson is an American former National Basketball Association player. he was selected in the first round of the 1989 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves, their first draft pick in franchise history... |
G | UCLA UCLA Bruins men's basketball The UCLA Bruins men's basketball program, established in 1920, owns a record 11 Division I NCAA championships. UCLA teams coached by John Wooden won 10 national titles in 12 seasons from 1964 to 1975, including 7 straight from 1967 to 1973. UCLA went undefeated a record 4 times, in 1964, 1967,... |
|
| 2 | 34 | Gary Leonard Gary Leonard Gary Francis Leonard is a retired American professional basketball player. At 7'1" and 295 lbs, he played center.-College career:... |
C | Missouri Missouri Tigers men's basketball The Missouri Tigers men's basketball team represents the University of Missouri in the Big 12 Conference. The Tigers are located in Columbia, Missouri. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2011. The Missouri Tigers men's basketball team plays its home games at... |
|
| 2 | 38 | Doug West Doug West Jeffery Douglas "Doug" West is a retired American professional basketball player.A 6'7" shooting guard/small forward from Villanova University, West was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the 1989 NBA Draft... |
G/F | Villanova Villanova Wildcats men's basketball This is the article about the men's basketball team from Villanova University. The team has competed since the 1920–21 season. Nicknamed the "Wildcats", Villanova is a member of the Big East Conference and the Philadelphia Big Five. The Villanova Wildcats have appeared in the NCAA... |
Roster
{| class="toccolours" style="font-size: 95%; width: 100%;"|-
! colspan="2" style="background-color: #1C429C; color: #4AB073; text-align: center;" | Minnesota Timberwolves 1990-91 roster
|- style="background-color: #FFFFFF; color: #1C429C; text-align: center;"
! Players !! Coaches
|-
| valign="top" |
{| class="sortable" style="background:transparent; margin:0px; width:100%;"
! Pos. !! # !! Nat. !! Name !! Ht. !! Wt. !! From
|-
NBA Expansion Draft
Prior to the 1989 NBA Draft1989 NBA Draft
The 1989 NBA Draft took place on June 27, 1989 in New York City, New York, USA. It has been regarded as one of the worst drafts in NBA history, along with the 1986 NBA Draft and the 2000 NBA Draft. Though the draft produced talented players such as Shawn Kemp, Glen Rice, Sean Elliott, Nick...
, the NBA held a coin toss between the Timberwolves and the other new expansion team, the Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
, 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
Charlotte Hornets (NBA)
The Charlotte Hornets was a professional American basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They played in the Atlantic, Midwest, and Central divisions of the National Basketball Association. The Hornets began play during the 1988–89 NBA season as an expansion franchise, along with the...
and Miami Heat
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
, were not involved in this year's expansion draft and did not lose any player.
{| class="wikitable sortable sortable"
! style="background:#245FAC; color:White" width="10%"| Pick
! style="background:#245FAC; color:White" width="20%"| Player
! style="background:#245FAC; color:White" width="15%"| Position
! style="background:#245FAC; color:White" width="20%"| Nationality
! style="background:#245FAC; color:White" width="20%"| Previous Team
|-
| 2
| Rick Mahorn
Rick Mahorn
Derrick Allen Mahorn is a retired American NBA basketball player who, at 6'10", played power forward and center...
| F/C
|
| Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
|-
| 4
| Tyrone Corbin
Tyrone Corbin
Tyrone Kennedy Corbin is the head coach of the Utah Jazz in the National Basketball Association. He was installed as head coach on February 10, 2011 following the resignation of longtime coach Jerry Sloan....
| G/F
|
| Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
|-
| 6
| Steve Johnson
Steve Johnson (basketball)
Clarence Stephen "Steve" Johnson is a retired American professional basketball player, who played for numerous teams. He played the power forward and center positions...
| F/C
|
| Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
|-
| 8
| Brad Lohaus
Brad Lohaus
Bradley Allen "Brad" Lohaus is an American retired professional basketball player who was selected by the Boston Celtics in the second round of the 1987 NBA Draft...
| F/C
|
| Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
|-
| 10
| David Rivers
David Rivers
David Lee Rivers is a retired American basketball player. An explosive point guard, he reached star status in the Euroleague, mostly playing for Olympiacos Piraeus under coach Dusan Ivkovic....
| G
|
| Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
|-
| 12
| Mark Davis
| G/F
|
| Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
|-
| 14
| Scott Roth
Scott roth
Scott Edward Roth is a retired American professional basketball player and an assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors....
| F
|
| San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
|-
| 16
| Shelton Jones
Shelton Jones
Shelton Jones is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2nd round of the 1988 NBA Draft...
| F
|
| Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
|-
| 18
| Eric White
| F
|
| Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
|-
| 20
| Maurice Martin
Maurice Martin
Maurice "Mo" Martin is a retired American basketball player. He played at Saint Joseph's University from 1982 to 1986 and was an Associated Press honorable mention All-American in his senior year. The 1986 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, he was a three-time selection to both the All-Conference...
| G/F
|
| Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
|-
| 22
| Gunther Behnke
| C
|
| Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
|}
Season
|-| *
| 82 || 81 || 38.6 ||style="background:#000000;color:#01A951;"| .457 ||style="background:#000000;color:#01A951;"| .167 || .787 || 5.5 || 2.6 || 1.4 || 0.4 || 23.2
|-
|
| 82 ||style="background:#000000;color:#01A951;"| 80 || 36.7 || .481 || .000 || .770 || 7.4 || 2.6 || 2.1 || 0.5 || 14.7
|-
| *
| 80 || 30 || 30.2 || .446 || .000 || .768 || 5.8 || 1.1 ||style="background:#000000;color:#01A951;"| 0.8 || 0.7 || 12.7
|-
|
| 82 || 48 || 31.5 || 461 || .277 || .589 || 2.6 || 6.8 || 1.6 || 0.3 || 11.4
|-
|
| 51 || 47 || 26.0 || .416 || .000 || .662 || 5.7 || 1.6 || 0.6 || 1.5 || 10.2
|-
|
| 82 || 59 || 30.4 || 471 || .372 || .709 || 6.9 || 1.3 || 0.9 || 0.7 || 8.3
|-
|
| 28 || 24 || 21.1 || .465 || .063 || .808 || 3.9 || 2.2 || 0.5 || 0.8 || 7.5
|-
|
|style="background:#000000;color:#01A951;"| 71 || 3 || 14.9 || .397 || .356 || .696 || 3.0 || 1.9 || .7 || .7 || 9.0
|-
| *
| 66 || 0 || 11.3 || .379 || 346 || .746 || 1.6 || 1.6 || 0.7 || 0.1 || 6.8
|-
|
| 73 ||style="background:#000000;color:#01A951;"| 73 ||style="background:#000000;color:#01A951;"| 8.3 || .470 || .417 || .850 ||style="background:#000000;color:#01A951;"| 15.2 || 2.5 || 0.6 || 0.4 ||style="background:#000000;color:#01A951;"| 20.2
|-
|
| 14 || 0 || 8.1 || .469 || .000 || .557 || 5.2 || 1.5 || .8 ||style="background:#000000;color:#01A951;"| 2.0 || 8.8
|-
|
| 52 || 0 || 7.3 || .517 || .000 || .763 || 3.0 || .4 || .3 || .5 || 5.5
|-
| *
| 80 || 38 || 21.8 || .498 || .000 || .703 || 5.2 || 1.1 || .8 || .7 || 11.7
|-
|
| 22 || 0 || 5.8 || .468 || .440 ||style="background:#000000;color:#01A951;"| .883 || 2.8 ||style="background:#000000;color:#01A951;"| 5.4 || 1.2 || .1 || 11.8
|-
|
| 4 || 0 || 4.3 || .402 || .359 || .733 || 1.5 || 3.0 || .7 || .1 || 7.2
|}
* - Stats with the Timberwolves.
Awards and honors
- Pooh RichardsonPooh RichardsonJerome "Pooh" Richardson is an American former National Basketball Association player. he was selected in the first round of the 1989 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves, their first draft pick in franchise history...
, NBA All-Rookie Team