Minnesota Timberwolves: Top 30 greatest players of all-time
By Ben Beecken
. Small Forward. Minnesota Timberwolves. Tyrone Corbin. 22. player. 86
- Three seasons with Timberwolves (1989-91)
- Averaged 16.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists with Timberwolves
- Selected in 1989 NBA Expansion Draft
Tyrone Corbin was the fourth-overall selection in the 1989 Expansion Draft, second by the Timberwolves and the top selection to play a game for the franchise. (Rick Mahorn was the Wolves’ first pick but was traded to Philadelphia before the season began.)
Corbin was the second-leading scorer on the inaugural team behind only Tony Campbell. He was more of an all-around contributor, however, pitching in on the glass and distributing the basketball.
He was also more of an efficient player, shooting 48.1 percent from the field in 1989-90 and 45.9 percent overall as a Timberwolf. As expected, the team was not good in either season, but Corbin capitalized on the opportunity to boost his numbers.
The Timberwolves traded him to the Jazz shortly after the start of the 1991-92 season, where he spent two-plus years and enjoyed his last season scoring in double-figures.
From there, Corbin bounced from Atlanta to Sacramento to Miami, then back to Atlanta, Sacramento again, and spent the final year of his career in Toronto in 2000-01. He was Utah’s head coach from 2011 to 2014 and the Kings’ interim coach for 28 games in 2015. His career coaching record is 119-167 (.416 percent).
As the Wolves’ top pick in the expansion draft and arguably their best all-around player for the franchise’s first two years of existence, Corbin certainly deserves the No. 22 slot on the countdown.