The 2004–05 NBA season was the Minnesota Timberwolves ’ 16th season competing in the National Basketball Association .[ 1] After appearing in the Conference Finals the previous season, the Timberwolves played at around .500 for the first half of the season. However, the team began to struggle further into the season, losing six straight games between January and February and slipping below .500. After a 25–26 start, longtime head coach Flip Saunders was fired and replaced with general manager Kevin McHale for the remainder of the season. The Timberwolves improved under McHale's management, but finished the season in third position in the Northwest Division. With a 44–38 regular season record, they missed the playoffs for the first time since 1996. Kevin Garnett led the team in scoring, rebounding and assists, as he was selected for the 2005 NBA All-Star Game . Following the season, Latrell Sprewell retired after turning down a contract extension, Sam Cassell was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers , and McHale was fired as coach. This marked the beginning of over a decade of futility for the Timberwolves. From 2005 to 2018, they failed to make the playoffs.
2004–05 Minnesota Timberwolves roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
PG
7
Carter, Anthony
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1975-06-16
Hawaiʻi
PG
19
Cassell, Sam
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1969-11-18
Florida State
SG
44
Ebi, Ndudi
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
1984-06-18
Westbury Christian HS (TX)
PF
21
Garnett, Kevin
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1976-05-19
Farragut Academy (IL)
PF
41
Griffin, Eddie
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1982-05-30
Seton Hall
SG
23
Hassell, Trenton
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
1979-03-04
Austin Peay
SG
32
Hoiberg, Fred
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
203 lb (92 kg)
1972-10-15
Iowa State
PG
16
Hudson, Troy
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
1976-03-13
Southern Illinois
C
40
Johnson, Ervin
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
245 lb (111 kg)
1967-12-21
New Orleans
C
35
Madsen, Mark
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1976-01-28
Stanford
C
34
Olowokandi, Michael
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
269 lb (122 kg)
1975-04-03
Pacific
SF
8
Sprewell, Latrell
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1970-09-08
Alabama
SF
10
Szczerbiak, Wally
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
244 lb (111 kg)
1977-03-05
Miami (OH)
C
12
Thomas, John
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
265 lb (120 kg)
1975-09-08
Minnesota
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Roster Last transaction: November 1, 2004
Record vs. opponents
edit
2004-05 NBA Records
Team
ATL
BOS
CHA
CHI
CLE
DAL
DEN
DET
GSW
HOU
IND
LAC
LAL
MEM
MIA
MIL
MIN
NJN
NOH
NYK
ORL
PHI
PHO
POR
SAC
SAS
SEA
TOR
UTA
WAS
Atlanta
–
1–3
1–3
0–4
0–4
1–1
0–2
1–3
0–2
1–1
0–3
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–4
1–2
1–1
0–3
1–1
1–3
1–3
1–3
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–2
0–2
0–4
Boston
3–1
–
4–0
2–2
1–2
0–2
0–2
1–3
1–1
1–1
1–2
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–2
3–1
1–1
1–3
2–0
3–1
3–0
1–3
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
2–0
3–1
2–0
3–1
Charlotte
3–1
0–4
–
0–4
0–4
0–2
1–1
2–1
0–2
2–0
0–3
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–3
0–4
1–1
0–4
1–1
1–3
3–1
0–3
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–2
1–1
0–4
Chicago
4–0
2–2
4–0
–
2–2
1–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
0–2
2–2
0–2
1–1
2–0
1–3
2–2
2–0
0–4
1–1
4–0
3–0
2–1
0–2
2–0
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–0
2–0
1–2
Cleveland
4–0
2–1
4–0
2–2
–
1–1
1–1
2–2
2–0
0–2
1–3
1–1
1–1
2–0
0–3
2–2
1–1
1–3
2–0
1–3
3–1
0–3
1–1
2–0
0–2
0–2
0–2
3–1
2–0
1–2
Dallas
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
–
2–1
1–1
3–1
2–2
1–1
1–2
2–2
4–0
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–0
4–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–2
4–0
3–1
1–3
3–1
2–0
3–0
2–0
Denver
2–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–2
–
1–1
2–2
1–2
2–0
2–1
2–2
4–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
1–1
4–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–4
3–1
1–2
2–2
2–2
2–0
2–2
2–0
Detroit
3–1
3–1
1–2
2–2
2–2
1–1
1–1
–
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–0
2–0
0–2
2–1
2–2
1–1
2–1
2–0
3–0
3–1
3–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
3–1
1–1
4–0
Golden State
2–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
0–2
1–3
2–2
0–2
–
1–2
1–1
0–4
1–3
1–3
0–2
2–0
1–2
0–2
2–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–2
2–2
3–1
0–3
2–2
1–1
2–1
1–1
Houston
1–1
1–1
0–2
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–1
0–2
2–1
–
1–1
3–0
2–2
3–1
1–1
1–1
1–2
2–0
3–1
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–2
4–0
2–2
2–2
3–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
Indiana
3–0
2–1
3–0
2–2
3–1
1–1
0–2
2–2
1–1
1–1
–
0–2
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–2
2–0
2–2
1–1
2–2
1–3
0–4
1–1
2–0
0–2
1–1
0–2
2–1
2–0
2–2
L.A. Clippers
2–0
0–2
2–0
2–0
1–1
2–1
1–2
0–2
4–0
0–3
2–0
–
2–2
1–3
1–1
1–1
1–3
1–1
3–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–4
2–2
0–4
0–4
2–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
L.A. Lakers
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–2
2–2
0–2
3–1
2–2
1–1
2–2
–
0–3
0–2
2–0
2–1
1–1
3–0
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–4
2–1
1–3
0–4
1–3
1–1
1–3
0–2
Memphis
2–0
1–1
2–0
0–2
0–2
0–4
0–4
2–0
3–1
1–3
0–2
3–1
3–0
–
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
3–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–2
3–1
0–3
3–1
0–3
2–0
3–0
0–2
Miami
4–0
2–1
3–1
3–1
3–0
0–2
1–1
1–2
2–0
1–1
1–3
1–1
2–0
1–1
–
4–0
1–1
3–0
2–0
4–0
4–0
2–2
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
0–2
3–1
2–0
4–0
Milwaukee
2–1
1–3
4–0
2–2
2–2
0–2
0–2
2–2
0–2
1–1
2–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–4
–
1–1
2–1
1–1
2–1
2–1
0–4
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
2–2
1–1
1–3
Minnesota
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–2
2–2
1–1
2–1
2–1
0–2
3–1
1–2
1–3
1–1
1–1
–
2–0
4–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–3
4–0
3–1
1–2
1–3
0–2
3–1
1–1
New Jersey
3–0
3–1
4–0
4–0
3–1
0–2
1–1
1–2
2–0
0–2
2–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–3
1–2
0–2
–
2–0
3–1
1–3
3–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
2–2
2–0
1–3
New Orleans
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–4
0–4
0–2
2–2
1–3
1–1
1–3
0–3
1–3
0–2
1–1
0–4
0–2
–
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–4
2–1
1–2
0–4
0–3
0–2
2–2
1–1
New York
3–1
1–3
3–1
0–4
3–1
0–2
1–1
0–3
1–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–4
1–2
1–1
1–3
1–1
–
1–2
3–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–3
2–0
2–1
Orlando
3–1
0–3
1–3
0–3
1–3
1–1
1–1
1–3
1–1
0–2
3–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–4
1–2
1–1
3–1
2–0
2–1
–
2–2
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–2
2–0
2–2
Philadelphia
3–1
3–1
3–0
1–2
3–0
1–1
1–1
1–3
1–1
0–2
4–0
1–1
2–0
0–2
2–2
4–0
0–2
1–3
1–1
1–3
2–2
–
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
3–1
1–1
2–1
Phoenix
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–1
2–1
4–0
1–1
2–2
2–2
1–1
4–0
4–0
2–2
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
4–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
–
3–0
2–2
1–2
2–1
2–0
3–1
1–1
Portland
2–0
1–1
2–0
0–2
0–2
0–4
1–3
1–1
2–2
0–4
0–2
2–2
1–2
1–3
1–1
2–0
0–4
1–1
1–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–3
–
1–3
1–2
1–3
1–1
2–2
0–2
Sacramento
2–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–3
2–1
1–1
1–3
2–2
2–0
4–0
3–1
3–0
0–2
2–0
1–3
1–1
2–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
3–1
–
1–3
1–3
1–1
2–1
2–0
San Antonio
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
3–1
2–2
1–1
3–0
2–2
1–1
4–0
4–0
1–3
1–1
2–0
2–1
2–0
4–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–1
2–1
3–1
–
2–2
1–1
2–2
1–1
Seattle
2–0
0–2
2–0
1–1
2–0
1–3
2–2
1–1
2–2
1–3
2–0
1–2
3–1
3–0
2–0
1–1
3–1
2–0
3–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–2
3–1
3–1
2–2
–
2–0
3–1
0–2
Toronto
2–1
1–3
2–1
0–3
1–3
0–2
0–2
1–3
1–1
1–1
1–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–3
2–2
2–0
2–2
2–0
3–1
2–2
1–3
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
–
2–0
1–3
Utah
2–0
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–3
2–2
1–1
1–2
2–2
0–2
2–2
3–1
0–3
0–2
1–1
1–3
0–2
2–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
1–3
2–2
1–2
2–2
1–3
0–2
–
0–2
Washington
4–0
1–3
4–0
2–1
2–1
0–2
0–2
0–4
1–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
2–0
2–0
0–4
3–1
1–1
3–1
1–1
1–2
2–2
1–2
1–1
2–0
0–2
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
—
Player
POS
GP
GS
MP
REB
AST
STL
BLK
PTS
MPG
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
PPG
Kevin Garnett
PF
82
82
3,121
1,108
466
121
112
1,817
38.1
13.5
5.7
1.5
1.4
22.2
Trenton Hassell
SG
82
51
2,068
219
128
30
30
541
25.2
2.7
1.6
.4
.4
6.6
Wally Szczerbiak
SF
81
37
2,558
303
191
40
16
1,253
31.6
3.7
2.4
.5
.2
15.5
Latrell Sprewell
SF
80
79
2,450
254
179
53
21
1,021
30.6
3.2
2.2
.7
.3
12.8
Troy Hudson
PG
79
32
1,729
105
283
27
6
691
21.9
1.3
3.6
.3
.1
8.7
Fred Hoiberg
SG
76
0
1,272
181
85
50
15
437
16.7
2.4
1.1
.7
.2
5.8
Eddie Griffin
PF
70
0
1,492
453
53
23
118
527
21.3
6.5
.8
.3
1.7
7.5
Anthony Carter
PG
66
12
742
69
161
35
18
181
11.2
1.0
2.4
.5
.3
2.7
Michael Olowokandi
C
62
34
1,215
324
29
15
56
368
19.6
5.2
.5
.2
.9
5.9
Sam Cassell
PG
59
38
1,522
157
301
36
14
799
25.8
2.7
5.1
.6
.2
13.5
Ervin Johnson
C
46
23
410
113
6
7
13
73
8.9
2.5
.1
.2
.3
1.6
John Thomas
C
44
8
521
97
17
15
13
111
11.8
2.2
.4
.3
.3
2.5
Mark Madsen
C
41
14
601
128
18
7
14
88
14.7
3.1
.4
.2
.3
2.1
Ndudi Ebi
SG
2
0
54
16
1
1
1
27
27.0
8.0
.5
.5
.5
13.5