Minnesota Timberwolves: Top 30 greatest players of all-time

MINNEAPOLIS - MAY 3: Kevin Garnett #21 of the Minnesota Timberwolves receives the NBA MVP award on May 3, 2004. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS - MAY 3: Kevin Garnett #21 of the Minnesota Timberwolves receives the NBA MVP award on May 3, 2004. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
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MINNEAPOLIS: Al Jefferson #25 of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Copyright 2010 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS: Al Jefferson #25 of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Copyright 2010 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
  • Three seasons with Timberwolves (2007-10)
  • Averaged 20.1 points and 10.4 rebounds per game
  • Acquired from Boston in Kevin Garnett trade in summer of 2007

Al Jefferson is not only No. 13 on our list of top Timberwolves of all-time, but he also ranks highly on any list of “best players to never be named to an All-Star team”.

Indeed, Jefferson has averaged a double-double four times in his career, including twice with the Timberwolves. He was the centerpiece of the Garnett-to-Boston trade orchestrated by the Wolves’ Kevin McHale and his old Celtics teammate, Boston front office boss Danny Ainge.

Jefferson was indeed a monster with his back to the basket, arguably leading the league in best post moves for several seasons in a row.

In his last year with the Celtics, as a 22-year-old in 2006-07, Jefferson averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds per game. In his first year in Minnesota — still just 23 years of age — he averaged another double-double, putting up 21 and 11.1.

The Wolves won just 22 games that year under head coach Randy Wittman, however, and things didn’t get better the next year, either. Wittman was fired after a 4-15 start, but the Wolves still only won 24 games despite Jefferson’s best efforts: 23.1 points and 11 rebounds per game.

But disaster befell Jefferson and the Wolves that season. Big Al tore his ACL in game No. 50, a close loss to the Hornets. Adding insult to injury was that the Wolves had gone on a tear, recovering from a 4-23 start to the season (including losing eight in a row under interim head coach McHale) to go 12-4 from Christmas through Jan. 26. Then, a series of mostly close losses prior to Jefferson’s devastating injury.

The big man returned in short order, however, managing to play in 76 games the next year, although his per-game numbers dipped to 17.1 points and 9.3 rebounds. Since the injury, Jefferson has only put up one double-double season, with Charlotte in 2013-14.

Jefferson was traded to Utah after the 2009-10 season as the Wolves chose to keep third-year big man Kevin Love. While it proved to be the right decision, it doesn’t change that Big Al Jefferson was one of the best scorers — and the 13th-best overall player — in franchise history.