III: C Michael Olowokandi (2003-04)
GS 25 | 21.5 MPG | 6.5 PPG | 0.0 3P% | 5.7 RPG | 0.6 APG | 0.4 SPG | 1.6 BPG
This is the second appearance of Michael Olowokandi on this list. His career continues to showcase how challenging it was for the Minnesota Timberwolves to find and retain a compatible and productive center for the Timberwolves during the Kevin Garnett Era.
As we had discussed previously, Olowokandi was a competent and productive NBA center during his five seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers. But when he signed as an NBA free agent to play for the Minnesota Timberwolves, he clearly was not the same player as before.
While the Timberwolves would finish the 2003-04 season with a 58-24 record, Olowokandi seemed to be more along for the ride than a true contributor to the Timberwolves’ success. In fact, while appearing in 15 playoff games, Olowokandi would see just two starts. In the postseason, he would average just 2.1 points per game.
Olowokandi would play into the 2005-06 NBA season for the Timberwolves, before being traded away to the Boston Celtics. Of his nine NBA seasons, his best years were clearly those seasons with the Clippers. He was one of four centers on the Timberwolves roster in 2003-04. Unfortunately, two of them appear on this list.