So what can the Minnesota Timberwolves do after barely making it to the NBA Playoffs for the second consecutive season, only to be bounced out rather quickly in Round 1? Get pissed off and come back stronger than ever, that’s what.
While the Minnesota Timberwolves players did not exactly do much to earn the attention, respect, or even accolades from the NBA pundits, analysts, and general NBA fans over the course of the 2022-23 NBA season, there is always hope for next season. Not only were the Timberwolves sent home for the second consecutive season in Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs, but the team failed to generate the type of buzz necessary to make NBA writers sit up and take notice.
Of course, sitting up and getting noticed happens frequently to the players on NBA teams who meet or exceed lofty expectations each year. The Philadelphia 76ers, while not advancing in the NBA Playoffs, did end the season with a record of 54-28, good enough to enter the NBA Playoffs as the third seed in the NBA Eastern Conference.
Will Timberwolves be recognized for their efforts someday?
That also allowed the NBA to award their star center, Joel Embiid, the honor of NBA MVP.
"It's amazing... something that I dreamed of."
— NBA (@NBA) May 3, 2023
Joel Embiid on being named 2022-23 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player.#NBAAwards | #KiaMVP | @Kia pic.twitter.com/srYo83u7Dw
That is not something that every NBA Player will get to experience.
But if you are playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves, and your team is getting booted from the NBA Playoffs in Round 1, it is something that will never happen. The only way to change the reputation and respect for individual players on the Timberwolves roster is to change the way the NBA views the team overall.
That will take determination. You can expect that to be a theme for the Minnesota Timberwolves roster in the 2023-24 NBA season