Dunking With Wolves
Fansided

The Minnesota Timberwolves Mount Rushmore

By Max Neuhaus

(Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS – MARCH 27:  Kevin Garnett #21 of the Minnesota Timberwolves high fives Sam Cassell #19 during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers on March 27, 2005 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  The Timberwolves won 89-85. NOTICE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement: Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2005 NBAE (Photo By Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS – MARCH 27:  Kevin Garnett #21 of the Minnesota Timberwolves high fives Sam Cassell #19 during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers on March 27, 2005 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  The Timberwolves won 89-85. NOTICE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement: Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2005 NBAE (Photo By Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Sam Cassell

A key cog in the 2003-04 roster that brought Minnesota to the Western Conference Finals, Cassell was in a battle for his spot on the mountain. The thing that pushes him over the edge is his playoff experience for a franchise that simply isn’t used to the postseason.

You could compare him to Brett Favre when he came to Minnesota. In his first year, things were going great. It seemed like he could do no wrong. Both Favre and Cassell brought their team’s success with a star already on the roster (Garnett and Adrian Peterson). They even had injuries as part of the reason their trip the final round was spoiled. The year after that, however, the magic wore off.

Their injuries were much different, however. While Favre was battered by a Saints defensive line, Cassell’s was more unconventional. After making a big shot during the Sacramento series, he did his infamous “onions” dance (dance at around the 55-second mark) and injured his hip. After that, he was largely ineffective during the West finals against the Lakers.  

But he was a beast while on the court. During his two seasons in Minnesota, Cassell averaged 17.2 points, 6.4 assists, and had an effective field goal percentage of 50.6 percent. In fact, the highest effective field goal percentage of his career came during that magical 2003-04 season at 51.7 percent. To put that into context, KG’s effective field goal percentage the same season was 50.2 percent, and he ended up winning the MVP award that season.

In combining his important leadership at the point guard position with his numbers, it is tough to keep Sam I Am off the Wolves Mount Rushmore.

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