No. 10 – Jimmy Butler
Stats – 1 season (2017-current) – 22.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 2.0 steals, One-Time All-Star
Okay, okay so the very first player on the real list has only played one season for the team. He’s the only one on the list, I promise.
Butler’s contributions to the playoff-drought-ending 2017-18 Wolves team cannot be overstated. When he injured his knee on Feb. 23, the Wolves were in third place in the Western Conference standings.
He was named an all-star, an honor which only six(!!!) other players have ever earned with the franchise.
The only player in franchise history to ever match or exceed Butler’s stat line in a single season? Kevin Garnett. That’s it.
Wiggins embodies Coach Tom Thibodeau’s mantra of defense and toughness, and his offensive contributions have come a long way.
All in all, that is enough to snag him a spot on our list.
No. 9 – Sam Mitchell
Stats – 10 seasons (1989-1992, 1995-2002) – 9.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists
One of the original Timberwolves, Mitchell spent almost his entire career with the young franchise. The sheer length of his career and his durability make him one of the top 10 Timberwolves of all time.
At present, he ranks top 10 in franchise history in games played (2nd), points (2nd), field goals made (2nd), total rebounds (3rd), steals (4th) and blocks (10th).
Leaving him off this list, even with per-game numbers that don’t jump off of the page, was never an option.
No. 8 – Al Jefferson
Stats – 3 seasons (2007-2010) – 20.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.4 blocks
Jefferson came to the Wolves as part of the massive Kevin Garnett trade in the summer of 2007 (more on that Garnett guy later).
He gave the Wolves a steady, low-post offensive option in the post-Big Ticket years, but all those 20 and 10s did not accomplish much in the win column. The Wolves never won more than 24 games in Jefferson’s tenure.
One player cannot win games after a franchise loses a superstar, so Jefferson’s efforts to keep the team afloat in the post-Garnett era cannot be overlooked.
No. 7 – Tony Campbell
Stats – 3 seasons (1989-1992) – 20.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.3 steals
Campbell came to the Timberwolves during the expansion draft that gave them their first roster. During the first five years of his career, Campbell never averaged more than 11.0 points per game and never played more than 18 minutes a night.
The second he got to Minnesota, everything changed. During his first Wolves season, Campbell averaged 23.2 points per game. He followed up his stellar inaugural season by averaging 21.8 and 16.8 over the next two years before leaving Minnesota.
Campbell was the first great scorer in franchise history.
No. 6 -Tom Gugliotta
Stats – 4 seasons (1994-1998) – 18.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.7 steals, 1.0 blocks, One-Time All-Star
Gugliotta helped the Timberwolves make their first two playoff appearance in history (’96-97, ’97-98) by averaging over 20 points per game in both seasons.
He was one of two Wolves players to be named to the 1997 All-Star team, the first time any player had ever received that honor in franchise history. Can you guess who the other was? That Garnett guy.
Being in the same sentence with Garnett is an accomplishment.
