Minnesota Timberwolves: New Logo, New Era
By Dylan Schroeder
Staff Writer
While the NBA is finishing the first round of the playoffs, the Minnesota Timberwolves are on the outside looking in for the thirteenth consecutive season. A young, promising roster that is littered with talent underwhelmed the state’s expectations in a way that has all but confirmed this routine to become an expectation for Minnesota basketball.
Although the Timberwolves finished with a better record than they fetched last year, a two-win improvement wasn’t exactly the jump that fans were hoping for. But that didn’t stop the overflowing optimism towards next season from filling the Target Center as the team closed their final home game of the season April 11.
Walking around the packed concourse of the arena, fans seemed more than thrilled to be in attendance for a meaningless regular season game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who would be without their consensus MVP candidate, Russell Westbrook.
Fans lined up for what seemed like miles at merchandise stands, waiting for an opportunity to purchase some of the blowout sale Timberwolves gear being offered as all clothing was 75% off in the final game.
Children wearing Andrew Wiggins’ jerseys and Minnesota t-shirts holding the hands of their parents found their way to their seats in an arena as full as it has been in a while. There were committed, day-one fans rocking retro jerseys of the players that built the Timberwolves organization.
In the middle of a dreadful, “go-figure” season for the Wolves, there was positive energy in the Target Center that fans have been hoping for since Kevin Garnett delivered that in the early 2000’s.
The atmosphere was terrific for a sports fan basking in the excitement.
Fans were tremendously excited, and basketball was the center of attention in Minneapolis for the first time in a while. Maybe it was only the center of attention for a night, but it showed glimpses of what the future can be for a city that truly loves basketball.
However, fans weren’t there for this game. Fans were there for the unveiling of the future — the unveiling of a new Minnesota Timberwolves logo. A logo that represented positive change in an organization that is on the way up. A logo that represented a new look, a new era. A representation of a new winning expectation that starts with game one next season.
Stephen Anderson, fellow ARCC student who was in attendance, added, “Fans should be optimistic because Karl-Anthony Towns is 21 and is already a top 10 player in the league. Wiggins is a pure scorer and Ricky Rubio can orchestrate the point. Coach Thibs is a proven winner and a defensive mastermind. The most important thing for Wolves fans to do is to remember to have patience.”
The Timberwolves haven’t been rebuilding for 13 seasons, although it may seem that way. They’ve had separate rebuilding projects under the inspection of different management that has blown up in their face. However, this one, this is the one that will work.
The plans that the great Flip Sanders had intentions of building around before passing are some of the most promising guidelines we’ve seen in Minnesota’s sports history.
Next year will be the fourth season removed the team’s former superstar, Kevin Love. This will be the third attempted rebuild in the 13 or 14-year transition from their last playoff appearance. While instant gratification is wanted, sometimes you have to just sit back and trust the process.
