The 2003–04 NBA season was the 15th season for the
Minnesota Timberwolves in the
National Basketball Association.[1] The season is one of the most memorable in Timberwolves history. During the offseason, the Timberwolves acquired 4-time All-Star guard
Latrell Sprewell. The arrival was seen as controversial as Sprewell was known for his choking incident with then-Warriors head coach
P. J. Carlesimo, though also known for helping the 8th-seeded
New York Knicks to the
NBA Finals in 1999.[2]Sam Cassell, who was known for winning two championships with the
Houston Rockets, and his tenure with the
Milwaukee Bucks, where he helped guide the Bucks to the Eastern Conference finals in
2001,[3] also was acquired to join Garnett, forming a "Big 3". The Timberwolves also signed free agents
Michael Olowakandi and
Trenton Hassell. With a Western Conference-best 58-24 finish, the Wolves set the franchise record for wins, and won its first and only division championship. Power forward
Kevin Garnett averaged 24.2 points, a league-high 13.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.2 blocks per game, winning the regular season
Most Valuable Player Award.
In the first round of the
playoffs, the Timberwolves defeated the
Denver Nuggets in five games, which was their first ever win in a playoff series. The Wolves were then pushed to the limit in the semi-finals by the
Sacramento Kings, who they narrowly defeated in a deciding seventh game. In the Western Conference Finals, they faced the
Los Angeles Lakers, who had defeated them in the prior season's first round in six games. The Lakers team, known for its all-star starting lineup of
Shaquille O'Neal,
Kobe Bryant,
Gary Payton and
Karl Malone, defeated the Wolves in six games, then would go on to lose in the
NBA Finals to the
Detroit Pistons in five games. Garnett, Cassell, and head coach
Flip Saunders represented the Western Conference in the
2004 NBA All-Star Game. The 2004 All-Star Game was Cassell's only All-Star appearance in his career.
As of 2023, this remains the only season the Timberwolves have ever won a playoff series; Minnesota would not make the playoffs again until
2018, losing in the first round. This also remains their lone division title; Minnesota currently has the longest active division title drought in the NBA.
Kevin Garnett was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played November 16 through November 22.
Kevin Garnett was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played December 14 through December 20.
Sam Cassell was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played December 21 through December 27.
Kevin Garnett was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played January 18 through January 24.
Kevin Garnett was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played January 25 through January 31.
Kevin Garnett was named Western Conference Player of the Month for December.
Kevin Garnett was named Western Conference Player of the Month for January.
Kevin Garnett was named Western Conference Player of the Month for February.
Kevin Garnett was named Western Conference Player of the Month for April.
Flip Saunders was named Western Conference Coach of the Month for April.
All-Star
Kevin Garnett was voted as a starter for the Western Conference in the
All-Star Game. It was his seventh consecutive All-Star selection. Garnett finished first among Western Conference players in voting with 1,780,918 votes.
Sam Cassell was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the
All-Star Game. It was his first and only All-Star selection.
Flip Saunders coached the Western Conference to a 136–132 victory over the Eastern Conference.