The Minnesota Timberwolves have gone through a lot to reach the point they are right now. Despite having a strong and loyal fan base from day one, they’ve struggled to be consistent playoff contenders.
But that doesn’t mean they haven’t had more than enough talent in their ranks throughout the years, especially at the power forward position. They have some prominent names like Gobert and Karl Anthony Towns, together with one of the most promising young power forwards, Luka Garza.
Garza broke records in college football for the Hawkeyes, and he is likely to be part of the list of best players coming from Iowa state soon: https://clutchbuzz.clutchbet.com/nba/best-nba-players-from-iowa/
However, today, let’s look at the top five power forwards in Minnesota Timberwolves history, with a couple of Hall of Famers making the cut.
5. Al Jefferson
Al Jefferson wasn’t around Minnesota for that long, but even though his tenure was short-lived, it was impactful. He got off to a somewhat slow start but had three All-Star-caliber seasons as one of the most dominant players in the low post.
Big Al’s footwork was beautiful to watch, and so was his ability to dominate the glass. Unfortunately, he was never much of a defender, which is why some Timberwolves fans gave him a hard time during his three-year stint in the blistering cold. Still, he averaged 20.1 points and 10.4 boards per game for the franchise.
4. Sam Mitchell
Sam Mitchell had two different stints with the organization, totaling 10 seasons as a Minnesota Timberwolf. And while he was never the most spectacular player on the hardwood by any means, his relentless work ethic and determination to put his body on the line on both ends of the floor made him a fan favorite.
By the time he retired, only Kevin Garnet had scored more points for the franchise than him. He was a pesky defender and a guy they could trust to get a stop when the game was on the line, even though he mostly came off the bench. Throughout his decade with the team, Mitchell averaged 9.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game.
3. Karl-Anthony Towns
Karl-Anthony Towns was originally listed as a center, but now that he’s sharing the court with Rudy Gobert, we have no choice but to include him. After all, they’re going to be together for the next handful of years at the very least, and he might as well become the best player in franchise history.
Towns is one of the most remarkable shooting big men ever to do it already. His old-school face-up game is a work of beauty, and he can easily dominate both sides of the glass. While not a good defender, he’s an outstanding rim protector and an underrated passer. Thus far, the former first-overall pick has averaged 23.1 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.6 triples, and 1.3 blocks per game.
2. Kevin Love
Young fans may not remember this, but there was a time when Kevin Love was arguably the most dominant rebounder in the NBA. He could put up 20-20 games night in and night out, and he was one of the first true stretch-bigs thanks to his ability to shoot from all over the court. He was an offensive juggernaut.
Love wasn’t able to find success with the Timberwolves as the team struggled with constant injuries and losing seasons. Still, when healthy, he was a perennial All-Star candidate with averages of 19.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.2 triples per game on 45/36/81 from the floor.
1. Kevin Garnett
And last but not least, we have to talk about the greatest Minnesota Timberwolf of all time: The Big Ticket. Kevin Garnet put this team on his shoulder year in and year out, leading them to the playoffs and being the most dominant two-way force in the Association. Sadly, that never translated into an NBA Finals appearance.
But even so, Garnett put this team on the map. He was a late bloomer, but one that would never be stopped once he took over. Garnet’s relentless competitiveness made him a legend in Minnesota and the league as a whole. He averaged 19.8 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game in 14 years as a Timberwolf.
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