Sam Cassell Debut Game vs Nuggets

Lore & Background

Cassell, Latrell Sprewell and Kevin Garnett formed what was widely considered the best trio in the NBA that season, vaulting past Western Conference powerhouses for the number one seed in the Western Conference, with a franchise-best 58–24 record. Cassell sustained a back injury that limited him in the Western Conference Finals against the Lakers, which the Lakers would win in six games.

In Their Own Story

The air inside the Metrodome was thick with the smell of popcorn and fresh paint. Thousands of fans, many wearing blue and green for the first time, watched as the Nuggets' ball crossed half-court. It wasn't Sam Cassell dribbling up the floor to set the tone; it was a rookie named Tony Campbell. Yet, in the collective memory of the fanbase, that night represents the birth of something special—a promise that one day, a star like Cassell would lead this team to glory.

Reader's Guide

Cassell enjoyed his most successful season as an individual that year. He posted 19.8 points on 49% shooting, 7.3 assists and 1.3 steals in 35 minutes per game. He was named to the All-NBA Second Team and voted into the 2004 NBA All-Star Game.

Did You Know?

• Cassell scored a franchise playoff record 40 points in his Timberwolves playoff debut against the Denver Nuggets.
• He helped the Timberwolves reach the Conference Finals in 2004, the first-ever in franchise history.
• Cassell was traded to the Timberwolves along with Ervin Johnson in exchange for Joe Smith and Anthony Peeler following the 2003 NBA draft.