TNT Feature on Timberwolves' First Playoff Berth (ft. Sam Mitchell & Doug West)
27April 16, 1997 - Two original Minnesota Timberwolves—Sam Mitchell & Doug West—were still around by the team made its first playoff appearance in year eight of its existence. Led by rising star Kevin Garnett, the 1996-97 Wolves finished 40-42 before bowing out in the first round to the Houston Rockets. It would be the first seven consecutive first round losses until Garnett's MVP campaign in 2003-04, when the Wolves reached the Conference Finals before losing to the star-studded Los Angeles Lakers.
The Timberwolves were part of a four-team expansion package in the late eighties, in which the Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets, and Orlando Magic also joined the fold. Here's a quick rundown of how long it took each expansion team from the past 40 years to reach the postseason, alongside the original members still with the club at the time:
Miami Heat: 4th season (original Heat members on first playoff team: Grant Long, Kevin Edwards, Rony Seikaly, Jon Sundvold)
Charlotte Hornets: 5th season (Rex Chapman, Muggsy Bogues, Dell Curry)
Orlando Magic: 5th season (Nick Anderson, Scott Skiles, Jeff Turner)
Minnesota Timberwolves: 8th season (Sam Mitchell, Doug West)
Toronto Raptors: 5th season (Tracy Murray)
Vancouver Grizzlies: 9th season (none)
Charlotte Bobcats: 6th season (Gerald Wallace)