The 2013-14 Minnesota Timberwolf team that has started the season 3-0 we know well.
It’s Rubio passing, it’s Love boarding, it’s Kevin Martin scoring.
The hot start is just the second time in the 25-year history of the franchise that the Wolves have opened a season with three consecutive wins.
The other?
Enter the 2001-02 Wolves, who sport names that will leave you reminiscing. Here are the five they trotted out to get to 3-0 in 2001-02, beating the Steve Francis-led Houston Rockets 90-88.
STARTING 5:
PG Terrell Brandon: The oft-injured point guard made it through 32 games this season, and his contract was dealt the following offseason in a four-team deal that netted Minnesota Latrell Sprewell.
Hey would never play in the NBA again.
In their third win, Brandon netted 12 points on 6-of-15 shooting, while dishing out nine assists.
SG Wally Szczerbiak: The sixth overall pick of the NBA draft two years earlier, Szczerbiak would go on to make his only All-Star game in this season, averaging nearly 19 points per game while shooting close to 51 percent from the floor.
He would tally 12 points and seven rebounds in the Wolves third win.
SF Kevin Garnett: With the Wolves big lineup, KG would play the three, and his versatility was on full display all year long. This would be the third straight year of what would be six consecutive seasons of averaging 20-plus points, 10-plus rebounds, and five-plus assists per game.
A huge night in Minnesota’s win, with 37 points and 12 rebounds to show for keeping the Wolves undefeated. Very Kevin Love-sy, or the other way around.
PF Joe Smith: The man in the middle of the salary cap tampering scandal that cost the Wolves five first-round picks started this game.
He would put up six points on 1-of-6 from the field. Thanks Joe.
C Rasho Nesterovic: Quite possibly could be the best Wolves center in franchise history (Nikola Pekovic charging hard if not already passing Rasho).
How much is that saying? Perhaps less than nothing, considering the other centers include Oliver Miller, Earvin Johnson (not THAT Earvin Johnson one), and Luc Longley.
Still, a serviceable big man next to Garnett, he would have a workmanlike six points on just four shot attempts and add eight rebounds. Efficiency at its finest.
Key bench players included Chauncey Billups, who went on to win a NBA championship with Detroit and finds himself back with the Pistons after spending time with three other clubs. The other two that played big minutes off the bench in Minnesota’s third win were sharpshooter Anthony Peeler and Loren Woods.
Peeler and Garnett may no longer be on speaking terms.
Some of those names make you squirm for negative memories rather than positive ones, but the fact that they opened the year in the fashion they did (which ended up being a 6-0 start) with the likes of Woods and Smith playing big minutes and Wally being option number two behind Garnett, is nothing short of incredible.
