Timberwolves: Top 5 Individual Rebounding Seasons
Jan 8, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) and Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett (21) stand next to each during the second half at Target Center. The Cavaliers won 125-99. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Karl-Anthony Towns leads the NBA in rebounds per game since the All-Star break. Here are the Top 5 single season performances in Minnesota Timberwolves history.
All across Minnesota there are signs saying "HELP: Rebounds Wanted." Little boys and little girls are in the streets day and night searching for rebounds. But thanks to Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves, we are in a time of a rebounding shortage.
Towns has grabbed every Minnesotan rebound from Angle Township to Kiester.
In light of Towns' recent tear on the glass, I dedicate this post to rebounding.
Over the last six games, Towns has averaged 17.5 rebounds per game.
The rebounding havoc started on Feb. 15 when Towns grabbed a then career-high 19 rebounds. Ten days later Towns re-wrote his own record, this time grabbing 22 rebounds against the Houston Rockets.
Heck, Towns has increased his rebounding average by 0.6 per game during this streak alone.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are young compared to most NBA franchises. That hasn't stopped them from acquiring a couple of rebounding studs throughout the last 28 years.
As you may guess this list is full of dudes named Kevin. Where does Towns' season stack up when compared to the Kevins? Will Towns' season even make this top-five list?
Here is a look at the five most prolific rebounding seasons by Timberwolves players.
Mar 9, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love (42) and Toronto Raptors small forward Terrence Ross (31) fight for a loose ball in the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
5. Kevin Love, 2008-09
Kevin Love burst on the scene for the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2008. After being drafted with the fifth overall draft pick out of UCLA, Love showed why he was worth it.
In just 18 minutes Love grabbed nine rebounds in his first NBA game (all stats are courtesy of basketball-reference.com). Love played limited minutes for the Timberwolves that season but ended up averaging 9.1 rebounds per game.
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The 9.1 rebounds per game was also equal to 21 percent of all available rebounds when he was on the floor. That rate is third-best in Timberwolves history. In 2008-09, Love also ranked third in the NBA in rebounding percentage.
At this point you may be telling yourself that nine rebounds per game is not an overly impressive number. I would tell you that you're not wrong. That doesn't even rank in the top 10 in Timberwolves history for most rebounds per game.
The impressive feat is that Kevin Love did it in only 25 minutes per game. Love was mostly a backup as he appeared in 81 games and only started in 37 of them.
If you look at Love's rebounding numbers per 100 possessions that give us a better idea of how he truly did. Love averaged 18.8 rebounds per 100 possessions 2008-09.
Dec 11, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love (42) gets a rebound in the third quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Target Center. The Minnesota Timberwolves win 106-99. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
4. Kevin Love, 2011-12
Here is that man again.
Kevin Love may go down in NBA history as one of the best rebounders ever seen. Love's lack of elite athletic ability notwithstanding he seems to have a knack for the ball. Love will never be a player who can jump over guys to grab a rebound.
He does a great job of using his body and strength to put himself into rebounding position.
In 2011-12, Love posted one of the best rebounding seasons of his career.
Despite missing the first 27 games of the season because of knuckle push-ups gone wild, Love turned in one of the finest rebounding seasons of his career. He would go on to achieve 48 double-doubles in the 55 games he played.
He finished the year averaging 13.3 rebounds per game, ranking second in the NBA that season.
The 13.3 rebounds also gives Love the fifth-most rebounds per game in Timberwolves history. He grabbed 19 percent of all available shots while he was on the floor, ranking eighth in the Minnesota record books.
Jan 17, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett (21) before the game against the Phoenix Suns at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
3. Kevin Garnett, 2004-05
Finally someone other than Kevin Love. This time it is The Franchise, Kevin Garnett.
Garnett had some really amazing seasons as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
In 2004-05, Garnett averaged 13.5 rebounds per game, third-best in Minnesota history. Garnett led the NBA that season in total rebounds and rebounds per game.
Garnett grabbed 20.3 percent of all available rebounds when he was on the floor, ranking fourth in Timberwolves history. He also ranked fourth in the NBA in rebounding percentage in 2004-05.
The 13.5 rebounds per game ended up being Garnett's second-highest reboundingaverage of his career. When the rebounds are broken down into per 100 possessions, Garnett set his career high. He averaged 19.1 rebounds per 100 possessions that season.
Dec 13, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves Kevin Garnett (21) reacts against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Timberwolves 108-101. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
2. Kevin Garnett, 2003-04
I don't think I've ever written the name Kevin so many times in my life. The more that I say it the weirder it sounds in my mouth. Kevin, Kevin, Kevin.
Anyways, Kevin Garnett had a historic season in 2003-04. Garnett would go on to win the MVP award, in part because of his all-around game.
He even led the Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals. Unfortunately they lost to the Lakers in six games and haven't been back to the playoffs since.
Garnett averaged 13.9 rebounds per game for the Timberwolves that season. That is the second-best mark in Timberwolves history. His 1,139 total rebounds that season is the most Minnesota has ever seen.
Garnett also led the NBA that season in rebounds per game, total rebounds, defensive rebounding percentage, and rebounding percentage.
Apr 4, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love (left) reacts next to teammate center Ronny Turiaf (right) during the second half against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. The Minnesota Timberwolves won in 2 overtimes 122-121. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
1. Kevin Love, 2010-11
Surprise, surprise! Here is that man again, again.
In 2010-11 Kevin Love had the best rebounding season in Minnesota Timberwolves history. He averaged a whopping 15.2 rebounds per game. He also grabbed 23.6 percent of all available rebounds that season. Both of those statistics rank first in Timberwolves record books.
When you look at Love's rebounds per 100 possessions his numbers look even better. Love averaged 21.2 rebounds per 100 possessions in 2010-11.
Love's rebounding numbers would go on to earn him the Most Improved Player that season as well as his first All-Star appearance.
in 2010-11 Kevin Love led the NBA in total rebounds and rebounds per game. He was also second in the NBA in defensive rebounding percentage and total rebounding percentage.
I hope you're not Kevin'd out.
