The Minnesota Timberwolves ended the 2008-09 season in fourth place in the Northwest Division, but with new head coach Kurt Rambis (from last year’s champion Lakers), the 2009-10 season looks good. The new coach isn’t the only new face though. The Timberwolves picked up Oleksiy Pecherov, Ramon Sessions and Damien Wilkins and drafted Jonny Flynn, Wayne Ellington and Henk Norel, though Norel will stay overseas for awhile. Flynn is a major upgrade over Sebastian Telfair, Ellington fulfills their need for a deep shooter and Sessions really strengthens the backcourt. Though the critics are saying this won’t be a great season for Minnesota, expect the core trio of Ramon Sessions, Al Jefferson and Kevin Love to prove them wrong. See for yourself how it all works out with tickets to Target Center to catch the Minnesota Timberwolves in action!

On January 12, 1984, Minnesota governor Rudy Perpich assembled a 30-member panel led by legendary Minneapolis Lakers center George Mikan to bring NBA basketball back to the state. (The Minneapolis Lakers had moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1960.) After attempts to purchase the Milwaukee Bucks, San Antonio Spurs, and Utah Jazz failed, the NBA awarded Minnesota a new franchise in 1987.