Best draft picks in Minnesota Timberwolves history
The draft is a seminal moment for many incoming players. Putting aside competitive stakes, each young athlete's life is irreversibly altered by the fame and fortune that comes with being an NBA player. The exorbitant contract values ensures these players almost never have to worry about personal finances. Plus, these young guns get to play alongside some of their basketball idols for a living. With these high stakes, it's easy to see why the draft is so revered.
Likewise, the fortunes of a city and franchise can be completely transformed by a draft pick. LeBron James, for instance, brought Cleveland its first sports championship in 52 years and was also to the city's downtown economy. It almost goes without saying that Michael Jordan built the Chicago Bulls from the ground up into a championship team whose dynamic would reverberate through the decades.
With that in mind, compiled a list of the best draft picks in Minnesota Timberwolves history using data from . Players were ranked according to a formula that approximates their career achievements, career value, and play quality. The formula encompasses Basketball-Reference.com's , career win shares, and value over replacement player, aka VORP. For players drafted before data is available for VORP, half of the player's win shares were used in its place to calculate their 爆料TV score. Basketball Hall of Fame inductees were given a minimum of 60% for their Hall of Fame probability, indicating a worthy r茅sum茅 for their time but not up to par with some modern players. Scores were normalized to 100 based on the scoring leader. Keep reading to see where your favorite players fall on the list.
#33. Shabazz Muhammad
- 爆料TV score: 1.1
- 14th overall pick in 2013
- Played four seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 9.0 PTS, 2.8 REB, 0.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 8.5 win shares, -2.0 box plus/minus, 0.0 VORP
#32. Keita Bates-Diop
- 爆料TV score: 1.1
- 48th overall pick in 2018
- Played one season with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 6.0 PTS, 3.0 REB, 0.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 7.4 win shares, -1.6 box plus/minus, 0.5 VORP
#31. Glenn Robinson
- 爆料TV score: 1.1
- 40th overall pick in 2014
- Career averages: 5.9 PTS, 2.6 REB, 0.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 7.9 win shares, -1.7 box plus/minus, 0.4 VORP
#30. Luc Longley
- 爆料TV score: 1.6
- Seventh overall pick in 1991
- Played two seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 7.2 PTS, 4.9 REB, 1.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 17.5 win shares, -2.6 box plus/minus, -1.9 VORP
- Accolades
--- 3x NBA Champ
#29. Wesley Johnson
- 爆料TV score: 1.8
- Fourth overall pick in 2010
- Played two seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 7.0 PTS, 3.2 REB, 1.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 10.7 win shares, -1.6 box plus/minus, 1.2 VORP
#28. Josh Okogie
- 爆料TV score: 2.0
- 20th overall pick in 2018
- Played four seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 6.1 PTS, 2.9 REB, 1.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 14.2 win shares, -1.7 box plus/minus, 0.6 VORP
#27. Derrick Williams
- 爆料TV score: 2.1
- Second overall pick in 2011
- Played two seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 8.9 PTS, 4.0 REB, 0.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 14.1 win shares, -1.6 box plus/minus, 0.8 VORP
#26. Craig Smith
- 爆料TV score: 2.5
- 36th overall pick in 2006
- Played three seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 7.6 PTS, 3.9 REB, 0.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 16.0 win shares, -1.2 box plus/minus, 1.4 VORP
#25. Howard Eisley
- 爆料TV score: 2.9
- 30th overall pick in 1994
- Career averages: 6.5 PTS, 1.7 REB, 3.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 19.5 win shares, -1.7 box plus/minus, 1.3 VORP
#24. Kris Dunn
- 爆料TV score: 3.0
- Fifth overall pick in 2016
- Played one season with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 7.6 PTS, 3.3 REB, 3.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 15.7 win shares, -1.0 box plus/minus, 2.8 VORP
#23. Nikola Pekovi膰
- 爆料TV score: 3.2
- 31st overall pick in 2008
- Played six seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 12.6 PTS, 6.7 REB, 0.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 18.8 win shares, -0.7 box plus/minus, 2.2 VORP
#22. Wayne Ellington
- 爆料TV score: 3.5
- 28th overall pick in 2009
- Played three seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 8.0 PTS, 2.1 REB, 1.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 21.1 win shares, -1.5 box plus/minus, 2.2 VORP
#21. Jaden McDaniels
- 爆料TV score: 3.5
- 28th overall pick in 2020
- Played six seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 11.1 PTS, 4.2 REB, 1.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 23.1 win shares, -1.5 box plus/minus, 1.5 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2023-24 All-Defensive
#20. Corey Brewer
- 爆料TV score: 3.6
- Seventh overall pick in 2007
- Played four seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 8.7 PTS, 2.8 REB, 1.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 22.5 win shares, -1.6 box plus/minus, 2.0 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2011 NBA Champ
#19. Randy Foye
- 爆料TV score: 4.3
- Seventh overall pick in 2006
- Played three seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 10.3 PTS, 2.2 REB, 2.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 23.5 win shares, -1.2 box plus/minus, 3.8 VORP
#18. Nemanja Bjelica
- 爆料TV score: 4.4
- 35th overall pick in 2010
- Played three seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 7.6 PTS, 4.6 REB, 1.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 20.0 win shares, 0.3 box plus/minus, 5.4 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2022 NBA Champ
#17. Isaiah Rider
- 爆料TV score: 4.5
- Fifth overall pick in 1993
- Played three seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 16.7 PTS, 3.8 REB, 2.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 22.8 win shares, -1.0 box plus/minus, 4.5 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2001 NBA Champ
#16. Gorgui Dieng
- 爆料TV score: 6.4
- 21st overall pick in 2013
- Played six seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 7.3 PTS, 5.6 REB, 1.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 30.7 win shares, 0.2 box plus/minus, 7.1 VORP
#15. Rasho Nesterovi膰
- 爆料TV score: 6.8
- 17th overall pick in 1998
- Played five seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 6.8 PTS, 5.1 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 39.9 win shares, -0.9 box plus/minus, 5.0 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2005 NBA Champ
#14. Andrew Wiggins
- 爆料TV score: 6.8
- First overall pick in 2014
- Played five seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 18.2 PTS, 4.5 REB, 2.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 37.6 win shares, -1.2 box plus/minus, 5.8 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 0.1%
- Accolades
--- 2022 NBA Champ
--- 2014-15 ROY
--- 1x All Star
#13. Pooh Richardson
- 爆料TV score: 7.0
- 10th overall pick in 1989
- Played three seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 11.1 PTS, 2.8 REB, 6.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 26.7 win shares, 0.2 box plus/minus, 10.5 VORP
#12. Chandler Parsons
- 爆料TV score: 7.2
- 38th overall pick in 2011
- Career averages: 12.7 PTS, 4.5 REB, 2.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 28.9 win shares, 1.1 box plus/minus, 10.2 VORP
#11. Tyus Jones
- 爆料TV score: 7.7
- 24th overall pick in 2015
- Played four seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 7.3 PTS, 1.9 REB, 4.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 34.9 win shares, 0.4 box plus/minus, 9.2 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 0.0%
#10. Ricky Rubio
- 爆料TV score: 10.0
- Fifth overall pick in 2009
- Played seven seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 10.8 PTS, 4.1 REB, 7.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 42.3 win shares, 0.5 box plus/minus, 13.3 VORP
#9. Zach LaVine
- 爆料TV score: 10.0
- 13th overall pick in 2014
- Played three seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 20.7 PTS, 4.0 REB, 3.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 38.6 win shares, 0.6 box plus/minus, 14.6 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 0.2%
- Accolades
--- 2x All Star
#8. Anthony Edwards
- 爆料TV score: 10.6
- First overall pick in 2020
- Played six seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 24.6 PTS, 5.2 REB, 4.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 31.4 win shares, 2.1 box plus/minus, 15.8 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 6.5%
- Accolades
--- 2x All-NBA
--- 2025-26 AS MVP
--- 4x All Star
#7. Wally Szczerbiak
- 爆料TV score: 11.5
- Sixth overall pick in 1999
- Played six seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 14.1 PTS, 4.0 REB, 2.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 53.3 win shares, 0.7 box plus/minus, 13.6 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1x All Star
#6. Donyell Marshall
- 爆料TV score: 14.4
- Fourth overall pick in 1994
- Career averages: 11.2 PTS, 6.7 REB, 1.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 59.0 win shares, 1.1 box plus/minus, 19.9 VORP
#5. Christian Laettner
- 爆料TV score: 15.1
- Third overall pick in 1992
- Played three seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 12.8 PTS, 6.7 REB, 2.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 64.9 win shares, 1.0 box plus/minus, 19.5 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1x All Star
#4. Stephon Marbury
- 爆料TV score: 21.7
- Fourth overall pick in 1996
- Played two seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 19.3 PTS, 3.0 REB, 7.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 77.5 win shares, 1.8 box plus/minus, 30.7 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 7.0%
- Accolades
--- 2x All-NBA
--- 2x All Star
#3. Kevin Love
- 爆料TV score: 36.2
- Fifth overall pick in 2008
- Played six seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 15.8 PTS, 9.8 REB, 2.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 96.0 win shares, 3.2 box plus/minus, 36.7 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 67.6%
- Accolades
--- 2016 NBA Champ
--- 2010-11 TRB Champ
--- 2x All-NBA
--- 5x All Star
#2. Karl-Anthony Towns
- 爆料TV score: 39.9
- First overall pick in 2015
- Played nine seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 22.8 PTS, 11.1 REB, 3.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 94.6 win shares, 4.3 box plus/minus, 38.5 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 86.9%
- Accolades
--- 2026 NBA Champ
--- 2015-16 ROY
--- 3x All-NBA
--- 6x All Star
#1. Kevin Garnett
- 爆料TV score: 74.7
- Fifth overall pick in 1995
- Played 13 seasons with Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 17.8 PTS, 10.0 REB, 3.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 191.4 win shares, 5.6 box plus/minus, 96.9 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2008 NBA Champ
--- 2003-04 MVP
--- 2007-08 Def. POY
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
