The Minnesota Timberwolves had the 17th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and selected center Joan Beringer out of France. Let’s take a look at the Timberwolves best NBA draft picks in franchise history. It’s not necessarily the 10 best players ranked in order as where they were selected was taken into consideration. Only time with the team is credited. Keep in mind Kevin Love was acquired in a draft day deal and thus wasn’t technically drafted by Minnesota. We shall see if Beringer, or another active Timberwolves draft pick such as Terrence Shannon or Jaylen Clark can play their way onto the list in the near future. Honorable mentions that were heavily considered include Isaiah Rider, Rasho Nesterovic, Craig Smith, and Corey Brewer.
10 Best NBA Draft Picks In Minnesota Timberwolves History
10. Christian Laettner (3rd overall, 1992)
Maybe people expected more after his heroics collegiately at Duke, but Christian Laettner still had some productive years with Minnesota. While they were lean years for the franchise, he averaged 17.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 276 games with Minnesota. He’s a name that will forever be known, in large part because of his inclusion on Team USA’s 1992 Dream Team.
9. Zach LaVine (13th overall, 2014)
While Zach LaVine spent just three seasons with the Timberwolves (before being included in the deal for Jimmy Butler), he was beginning to look one of the game’s better young scorers. He averaged 18.9 points in 2016-17, his last with the team, on solid 45.9/38.7/83.6 shooting splits. Seeing how his offensive game continued to develop after being traded, he would have been much higher had he remained on the team.
8. Pooh Richardson (10th overall, 1989)
In his three years with Minnesota, Pooh Richardson didn’t miss a single game. After a solid rookie season, Richardson became one of the game’s top assist men over the next two years. In 1990-91 and 1991-92, the 6-foot-1 point guard combined to average 16.8 points, 8.7 assists, and 1.5 steals.
7. Ricky Rubio (5th overall, 2009)
Yes, Timberwolves fans certainly wished their team had drafted Stephen Curry, who went two picks after Ricky Rubio. A 6-foot-2 point guard, Rubio was the runner-up for Rookie of the Year in 2011-12. He accumulated five triple-doubles with Minnesota and had an assist-to-turnover ratio better than three while donning a Wolves jersey.
6. Nikola Pekovic (31st overall, 2008)
Unfortunately, ankle ailments shortened Nikola Pekovic’s career, because for a few years, he looked like one of the league’s better young centers. From 2011-12 until 2013-14, he posted averages of 16.0 points and 8.3 rebounds while shooting 53.8% from the field. Pekovic did this even though he wasn’t a first round pick.
5. Doug West (38th overall, 1999)
Doug West was a longtime starter for the Timberwolves despite being a second round pick. He averaged double figures in scoring for four straight years (1991-92 until 1994-95) including a career-high 19.3 in 1992-93. He had six games of at least 30 points during his tenure with the team.
4. Wally Szczerbiak (6th overall, 1999)
Named an All-Star in 2001-02, Wally Szczerbiak proved to be a sharpshooter with the Timberwolves. With the team, he made 40.4% of his three-point and 85.5% of his free-throw attempts. Szczerbiak averaged 15.5 points in 438 games with Minnesota.
3. Karl-Anthony Towns (1st overall, 2015)
In nine seasons with the Timberwolves, Karl-Anthony Towns made four All-Star and two All-NBA teams. The 2015-16 Rookie of the Year averaged at least 24 points and 10 rebounds in four different seasons. The center developed into one of the best big man shooters ever, making just shy of 40% of his three-point tries with the team (39.8%).
2. Anthony Edwards (1st overall, 2020)
Through five seasons, Anthony Edwards has already established himself as one of the best scorers in the league. A second team All-NBA member the past two seasons, he has put together stellar career averages of 23.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard led the league in 2024-25 with 320 made three-pointers.
1. Kevin Garnett (5th overall, 1995)
The 2003-04 MVP, Kevin Garnett also had two runner-up finishes for the top league honors while with Minnesota. The power forward was also an excellent defender as evidenced by his six consecutive All-Defensive first teams from 1999-00 until 2004-05. Garnett is the franchise’s all-time leader in most major categories including points (19,201), rebounds (10,718), assists (4,216), steals (1,315), and blocks (1,590).
Photo credit: © Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
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