The 2015–16 Minnesota Timberwolves season was the 27th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA).[1] Before the season, the Timberwolves announced that head coach and team president Flip Saunders will not coach the team this season as he continued his battle with cancer. Sam Mitchell was named interim head coach. On October 25, 2015, Saunders died and the Wolves announced that Mitchell as the interim coach for the rest of the season. Around the start of the season, the Timberwolves were the first team in NBA history with four players that were around 20 or younger, between Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Tyus Jones to start out a season.[a]
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It also marked the final season of Kevin Garnett's career in the NBA and his first time since 2006-07 playing with the Timberwolves. Playing 21 years in the league, Garnett previously played for the Wolves from 1995 to 2007 until being traded to the Boston Celtics, where he won a championship with them in 2008. Prior to his second stint with the Wolves, Garnett played two disappointing seasons with the Brooklyn Nets, one of them with fellow Celtics Paul Pierce and Jason Terry. Garnett is believed by many as the greatest Timberwolf of all time. He was also the last remaining active player from the 1995 NBA draft.
The Timberwolves missed the playoffs for the 12th consecutive season, equalling the second-longest postseason appearance drought in NBA history of the Golden State Warriors between 1994–95 and 2005–06, only behind the Los Angeles Clippers[b] between 1976–77 and 1990–91. However, the Timberwolves had their second straight Rookie of the Year winner with #1 pick Karl-Anthony Towns earning the award.
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More information Players, Coaches ...
2015–16 Minnesota Timberwolves roster
Players |
Coaches |
Pos. |
No. |
Name |
Height |
Weight |
DOB |
From |
PF |
88 |
Bjelica, Nemanja |
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
240 lb (109 kg) |
1988–05–09 |
Serbia |
PF |
21 |
Garnett, Kevin |
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
253 lb (115 kg) |
1976–05–19 |
Farragut Academy (IL) |
C |
5 |
Dieng, Gorgui |
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
245 lb (111 kg) |
1990–01–18 |
Louisville |
PG |
1 |
Jones, Tyus |
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
195 lb (88 kg) |
1996–05–10 |
Duke |
SG |
8 |
LaVine, Zach |
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
189 lb (86 kg) |
1995–03–10 |
UCLA |
SG |
15 |
Muhammad, Shabazz |
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
223 lb (101 kg) |
1992–11–13 |
UCLA |
PF |
33 |
Payne, Adreian |
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
237 lb (108 kg) |
1991–02–19 |
Michigan State |
C |
14 |
Peković, Nikola |
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
307 lb (139 kg) |
1986–01–03 |
Montenegro |
SF |
12 |
Prince, Tayshaun |
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
212 lb (96 kg) |
1980–02–28 |
Kentucky |
PG |
9 |
Rubio, Ricky |
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
194 lb (88 kg) |
1990–10–21 |
Spain |
SF |
10 |
Rudež, Damjan |
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
228 lb (103 kg) |
1986–06–17 |
Croatia |
PF |
4 |
Smith, Greg |
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
250 lb (113 kg) |
1991–01–08 |
Fresno State |
C |
32 |
Towns, Karl-Anthony |
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) |
250 lb (113 kg) |
1995–11–15 |
Dominican Republic |
SG |
22 |
Wiggins, Andrew |
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
200 lb (91 kg) |
1995–02–23 |
Kansas |
|
- Head coach
- Assistant coach(es)
- Legend
- (DP) Unsigned draft pick
- (FA) Free agent
- (S) Suspended
- (DL) On assignment to D-League affiliate
- Injured
Roster Last transaction: 2016–04–13 |
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More information 2015 pre-season game log Total: 2–5 (Home: 2–2; Road: 0–3), Game ...
2015 pre-season game log Total: 2–5 (Home: 2–2; Road: 0–3) |
Pre-season: 2–5 (home: 2–2; road: 0–3)
Game | Date | Team | Score | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Location Attendance | Record |
1 |
October 7 |
Oklahoma City |
99–122 |
Dieng, Towns (18) |
Bjelica, Towns (5) |
Tyus Jones (4) |
Staples Center 8,601 |
0–1 |
2 |
October 10 |
Chicago |
105–114 |
Tyus Jones (18) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (10) |
Tyus Jones (9) |
MTS Centre 15,294 |
0–2 |
3 |
October 12 |
@ Toronto |
105–112 |
Andrew Wiggins (21) |
Dieng, Payne, Towns (6) |
Lorenzo Brown (5) |
Air Canada Centre 19,277 |
0–3 |
4 |
October 14 |
Toronto |
89–87 |
Gorgui Dieng (14) |
Nemanja Bjelica (6) |
Zach LaVine (5) |
Canadian Tire Centre 15,522 |
1–3 |
5 |
October 18 |
@ Memphis |
68–90 |
Zach LaVine (12) |
Dieng, Towns (7) |
Ricky Rubio (4) |
FedExForum 13,387 |
1–4 |
6 |
October 20 |
@ Milwaukee |
88–106 |
Shabazz Muhammad (18) |
Nemanja Bjelica (7) |
Garnett, Muhammad, Martin (4) |
Kohl Center 12,381 |
1–5 |
7 |
October 23 |
Milwaukee |
112–108 |
Andrew Wiggins (24) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (12) |
Ricky Rubio (6) |
Target Center 10,101 |
2–5 |
|
2015–16 season schedule |
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More information 2015–16 game log Total: 29–53 (Home: 14–27; Road: 15–26), Game ...
2015–16 game log Total: 29–53 (Home: 14–27; Road: 15–26) |
October: 2–0 (home: 0–0; road: 2–0)
|
November
: 6–9 (home: 2–6; road: 4–3)
Game | Date | Team | Score | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Location Attendance | Record |
3 |
November 2 |
Portland |
L 101–106 |
Kevin Martin (24) |
Bjelica, Rubio (9) |
Ricky Rubio (9) |
Target Center 18,903 |
2–1 |
4 |
November 5 |
Miami |
L 84–96 |
Martin, Muhammad (14) |
Nemanja Bjelica (7) |
Ricky Rubio (5) |
Target Center 11,794 |
2–2 |
5 |
November 7 |
@ Chicago |
W 102–93 (OT) |
Andrew Wiggins (31) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (13) |
Ricky Rubio (10) |
United Center 21,988 |
3–2 |
6 |
November 9 |
@ Atlanta |
W 117–107 |
Andrew Wiggins (33) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (12) |
Ricky Rubio (8) |
Philips Arena 12,016 |
4–2 |
7 |
November 10 |
Charlotte |
L 95–104 |
Zach LaVine (20) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (13) |
Zach LaVine (8) |
Target Center 14,722 |
4–3 |
8 |
November 12 |
Golden State |
L 116–129 |
Andrew Wiggins (19) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (11) |
Kevin Martin (6) |
Target Center 16,130 |
4–4 |
9 |
November 13 |
@ Indiana |
L 103–107 |
LaVine, Wiggins (26) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (9) |
Andre Miller (5) |
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 16,797 |
4–5 |
10 |
November 15 |
Memphis |
L 106–114 |
Zach LaVine (25) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (9) |
Andre Miller (8) |
Target Center 12,086 |
4–6 |
11 |
November 17 |
@ Miami |
W 103–91 |
Andrew Wiggins (24) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (14) |
LaVine, Rubio (3) |
American Airlines Arena 19,600 |
5–6 |
12 |
November 18 |
@ Orlando |
L 101–104 (OT) |
Andrew Wiggins (28) |
Ricky Rubio (12) |
Ricky Rubio (12) |
Amway Center 16,048 |
5–7 |
13 |
November 20 |
Detroit |
L 86–96 |
Andrew Wiggins (21) |
Martin, Towns (7) |
Ricky Rubio (7) |
Target Center 13,445 |
5–8 |
14 |
November 23 |
Philadelphia |
W 100–95 |
Andrew Wiggins (30) |
Kevin Garnett (10) |
Ricky Rubio (11) |
Target Center 11,382 |
6–8 |
15 |
November 25 |
Atlanta |
W 99–95 |
Zach LaVine (18) |
Gorgui Dieng (11) |
Rubio, LaVine (6) |
Target Center 14,289 |
7–8 |
16 |
November 27 |
@ Sacramento |
W 101–91 |
Andrew Wiggins (22) |
Dieng, LaVine, Towns (8) |
Garnett, LaVine, Miller (4) |
Sleep Train Arena 17,317 |
8–8 |
17 |
November 29 |
@ L. A. Clippers |
L 99–107 |
Andrew Wiggins (21) |
Gorgui Dieng (10) |
Zach LaVine (7) |
STAPLES Center 19,060 |
8–9 |
|
December
: 4–12 (home: 3–6; road: 1–6)
Game | Date | Team | Score | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Location Attendance | Record |
18 |
December 1 |
Orlando |
L 93–96 |
Andrew Wiggins (27) |
Bjelica, Garnett (8) |
Zach LaVine (5) |
Target Center 10,694 |
8–10 |
19 |
December 5 |
Portland |
L 103–109 |
Karl-Anthony Towns (27) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (12) |
Ricky Rubio (15) |
Target Center 16,203 |
8–11 |
20 |
December 7 |
L. A. Clippers |
L 106–110 |
Zach LaVine (21) |
Shabazz Muhammad (9) |
Ricky Rubio (7) |
Target Center 11,467 |
8–12 |
21 |
December 9 |
L. A. Lakers |
W 123–122 (OT) |
Kevin Martin (37) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (14) |
Ricky Rubio (12) |
Target Center 18,076 |
9–12 |
22 |
December 11 |
@ Denver |
L 108–111 (OT) |
Martin, Wiggins (22) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (9) |
Ricky Rubio (7) |
Pepsi Center 12,533 |
9–13 |
23 |
December 13 |
@ Phoenix |
L 101–108 |
Zach LaVine (28) |
Bjelica, Towns (6) |
Ricky Rubio (7) |
Talking Stick Resort Arena 16,919 |
9–14 |
24 |
December 15 |
Denver |
L 100–112 |
Andrew Wiggins (23) |
Gorgui Dieng (9) |
Ricky Rubio (9) |
Target Center 11,323 |
9–15 |
25 |
December 16 |
@ New York |
L 102–107 |
Karl-Anthony Towns (25) |
Dieng, Rubio, Towns (10) |
Ricky Rubio (12) |
Madison Square Garden 19,812 |
9–16 |
26 |
December 18 |
Sacramento |
W 99–95 |
Andrew Wiggins (32) |
Gorgui Dieng (11) |
Ricky Rubio (8) |
Target Center 12,770 |
10–16 |
27 |
December 20 |
@ Brooklyn |
W 100–85 |
Karl-Anthony Towns (24) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (10) |
Ricky Rubio (12) |
Barclays Center 14,552 |
11–16 |
28 |
December 21 |
@ Boston |
L 99–113 |
Andrew Wiggins (26) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (16) |
Ricky Rubio (8) |
TD Garden 18,624 |
11–17 |
29 |
December 23 |
San Antonio |
L 83–108 |
Zach LaVine (17) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (11) |
LaVine, Rubio (4) |
Target Center 16,788 |
11–18 |
30 |
December 26 |
Indiana |
L 88–102 |
Karl-Anthony Towns (24) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (8) |
Ricky Rubio (9) |
Target Center 15,076 |
11–19 |
31 |
December 28 |
@ San Antonio |
L 95–101 |
Andrew Wiggins (18) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (12) |
Ricky Rubio (14) |
AT&T Center 18,493 |
11–20 |
32 |
December 30 |
Utah |
W 94–80 |
Karl-Anthony Towns (25) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (10) |
Ricky Rubio (17) |
Target Center 14,326 |
12–20 |
33 |
December 31 |
@ Detroit |
L 90–115 |
Karl-Anthony Towns (22) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (9) |
Ricky Rubio (8) |
Palace of Auburn Hills 15,475 |
12–21 |
|
January
: 2–14 (home: 2–6; road: 0–8)
Game | Date | Team | Score | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Location Attendance | Record |
34 |
January 2 |
Milwaukee |
L 85–95 |
Andrew Wiggins (19) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (10) |
Ricky Rubio (7) |
Target Center 14,107 |
12–22 |
35 |
January 4 |
@ Philadelphia |
L 99–109 |
Shabazz Muhammad (20) |
Gorgui Dieng (8) |
Ricky Rubio (10) |
Wells Fargo Center 14,013 |
12–23 |
36 |
January 6 |
Denver |
L 74–78 |
Karl-Anthony Towns (14) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (14) |
Ricky Rubio (7) |
Target Center 12,059 |
12–24 |
37 |
January 8 |
Cleveland |
L 99–125 |
Andrew Wiggins (35) |
Dieng, Towns (6) |
Ricky Rubio (6) |
Target Center 16,768 |
12–25 |
38 |
January 10 |
Dallas |
L 87–93 |
Andrew Wiggins (21) |
Dieng, Rubio, Wiggins (6) |
Ricky Rubio (8) |
Target Center 14,363 |
12–26 |
39 |
January 12 |
Oklahoma City |
L 96–101 |
Andrew Wiggins (22) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (10) |
Ricky Rubio (6) |
Target Center 14,791 |
12–27 |
40 |
January 13 |
@ Houston |
L 104–107 |
Andrew Wiggins (28) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (16) |
Ricky Rubio (12) |
Toyota Center 17,115 |
12–28 |
41 |
January 15 |
@ Oklahoma City |
L 93–113 |
Andrew Wiggins (25) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (12) |
Nemanja Bjelica (4) |
Chesapeake Energy Arena 18,203 |
12–29 |
42 |
January 17 |
Phoenix |
W 117–87 |
Rubio, Wiggins (18) |
Muhammad, Towns (8) |
Andrew Wiggins (4) |
Target Center 14,330 |
13–29 |
43 |
January 19 |
@ New Orleans |
L 99–114 |
Andrew Wiggins (25) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (13) |
LaVine, Rubio (4) |
Smoothie King Center 14,255 |
13–30 |
44 |
January 20 |
@ Dallas |
L 94–106 (OT) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (27) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (17) |
Ricky Rubio (11) |
American Airlines Center 19,621 |
13–31 |
45 |
January 23 |
Memphis |
W 106–101 |
Shabazz Muhammad (25) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (9) |
Ricky Rubio (12) |
Target Center 15,608 |
14–31 |
46 |
January 25 |
@ Cleveland |
L 107–114 |
Karl-Anthony Towns (26) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (11) |
Ricky Rubio (10) |
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562 |
14–32 |
47 |
January 27 |
Oklahoma City |
L 123–126 |
Zach LaVine (35) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (13) |
Ricky Rubio (10) |
Target Center 13,337 |
14–33 |
48 |
January 29 |
@ Utah |
L 90–103 |
Karl-Anthony Towns (32) |
Gorgui Dieng (15) |
Ricky Rubio (8) |
Vivint Smart Home Arena 18,850 |
14–34 |
49 |
January 31 |
@ Portland |
L 93–96 |
Karl-Anthony Towns (21) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (13) |
Ricky Rubio (9) |
Moda Center 19,393 |
14–35 |
|
February
: 5–6 (home: 3–2; road: 2–4)
Game | Date | Team | Score | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Location Attendance | Record |
50 |
February 2 |
@ L. A. Lakers |
L 115–119 |
Andrew Wiggins (30) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (9) |
Ricky Rubio (15) |
Staples Center 18,997 |
14–36 |
51 |
February 3 |
@ L. A. Clippers |
W 108–102 |
Andrew Wiggins (31) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (12) |
Ricky Rubio (7) |
Staples Center 19,060 |
15–36 |
52 |
February 6 |
Chicago |
W 112–105 |
Karl-Anthony Towns (26) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (17) |
Gorgui Dieng (7) |
Target Center 17,876 |
16–36 |
53 |
February 8 |
New Orleans |
L 102–116 |
Karl-Anthony Towns (17) |
Dieng, Towns (12) |
Ricky Rubio (7) |
Target Center 11,926 |
16–37 |
54 |
February 10 |
Toronto |
W 107–102 |
Karl-Anthony Towns (35) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (11) |
Ricky Rubio (8) |
Target Center 11,171 |
17–37 |
All-Star Break |
55 |
February 19 |
@ Memphis |
L 104–109 |
Zach LaVine (22) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (15) |
Ricky Rubio (9) |
FedExForum 18,119 |
17–38 |
56 |
February 20 |
New York |
L 95–103 |
Karl-Anthony Towns (24) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (8) |
Ricky Rubio (16) |
Target Center 16,663 |
17–39 |
57 |
February 22 |
Boston |
W 124–122 |
Karl-Anthony Towns (28) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (13) |
Ricky Rubio (8) |
Target Center 11,639 |
18–39 |
58 |
February 24 |
@ Toronto |
L 105–114 |
Andrew Wiggins (26) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (8) |
Ricky Rubio (12) |
Air Canada Centre 19,800 |
18–40 |
59 |
February 27 |
@ New Orleans |
W 112–110 |
Karl-Anthony Towns (30) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (15) |
Ricky Rubio (10) |
Smoothie King Center 17,338 |
19–40 |
60 |
February 28 |
@ Dallas |
L 101–128 |
Shabazz Muhammad (24) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (11) |
Tyus Jones (6) |
American Airlines Center 20,289 |
19–41 |
|
March
: 6–9 (home: 3–5; road: 3–4)
Game | Date | Team | Score | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Location Attendance | Record |
61 |
March 2 |
Washington |
L 98–104 |
Ricky Rubio (22) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (15) |
Dieng, Towns (5) |
Target Center 11,307 |
19–42 |
62 |
March 4 |
@ Milwaukee |
L 101–116 |
Karl-Anthony Towns (21) |
Gorgui Dieng (9) |
Ricky Rubio (7) |
BMO Harris Bradley Center 16,366 |
19–43 |
63 |
March 5 |
Brooklyn |
W 132–118 |
Karl-Anthony Towns (28) |
Ricky Rubio (7) |
Ricky Rubio (10) |
Target Center 15,987 |
20–43 |
64 |
March 7 |
@ Charlotte |
L 103–108 |
Karl-Anthony Towns (28) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (14) |
Ricky Rubio (10) |
Time Warner Cable Arena 15,912 |
20–44 |
65 |
March 8 |
San Antonio |
L 91–116 |
Andrew Wiggins (23) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (9) |
Tyus Jones (6) |
Target Center 14,093 |
20–45 |
66 |
March 11 |
@ Oklahoma City |
W 99–96 |
Gorgui Dieng (25) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (12) |
Ricky Rubio (12) |
Chesapeake Energy Arena 18,203 |
21–45 |
67 |
March 14 |
@ Phoenix |
L 104–107 |
Zach LaVine (28) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (10) |
Ricky Rubio (17) |
Talking Stick Resort Arena 17,480 |
21–46 |
68 |
March 16 |
@ Memphis |
W 114–108 |
Zach LaVine (28) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (11) |
Ricky Rubio (10) |
FedExForum 16,588 |
22–46 |
69 |
March 18 |
@ Houston |
L 111–116 |
Karl-Anthony Towns (32) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (11) |
Ricky Rubio (6) |
Toyota Center 18,142 |
22–47 |
70 |
March 21 |
Golden State |
L 104–109 |
Andrew Wiggins (25) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (11) |
Ricky Rubio (11) |
Target Center 19,452 |
22–48 |
71 |
March 23 |
Sacramento |
W 113–104 |
Karl-Anthony Towns (26) |
Gorgui Dieng (12) |
Ricky Rubio (12) |
Target Center 12,151 |
23–48 |
72 |
March 25 |
@ Washington |
W 132–129 (2OT) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (27) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (10) |
Ricky Rubio (7) |
Verizon Center 20,356 |
24–48 |
73 |
March 26 |
Utah |
L 84–93 |
Ricky Rubio (23) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (11) |
Ricky Rubio (6) |
Target Center 14,694 |
24–49 |
74 |
March 28 |
Phoenix |
W 121–116 |
Andrew Wiggins (32) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (10) |
Ricky Rubio (11) |
Target Center 11,141 |
25–49 |
75 |
March 30 |
L. A. Clippers |
L 79–99 |
Karl-Anthony Towns (16) |
Karl-Anthony Towns (11) |
Zach LaVine (4) |
Target Center 12,252 |
25–50 |
|
April
: 4–3 (home: 1–2; road: 3–1)
|
2015–16 season schedule |
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a That mark was shattered by the 2016-17 Phoenix Suns, who, in addition to holding four rookies between the ages of 18 and 20 to start out the season in Dragan Bender, Marquese Chriss, Tyler Ulis, and the undrafted Derrick Jones Jr., also held a second-year player named Devin Booker that played at the start of the season at age 19.
b The team originally played in Buffalo, New York as the Buffalo Braves up to the end of the 1977–78 season and later played in San Diego as the San Diego Clippers between the 1978–79 and 1983–84 seasons inclusive before becoming the Los Angeles Clippers.