Kevin Garnett hold the most All-NBA Defensive First Team honors for Minnesota.
Making an All-NBA Defensive First Team is an incredible individual accomplishment, especially when considering only five players are awarded with that honor each year. This list puts a spotlight on the Timberwolves who have earned First Team selections throughout Minnesota’s 36 seasons.
Kevin Garnett – 6 times (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)
Garnett spent the first 12 seasons of his Hall of Fame career in Minnesota after the Timberwolves drafted him fifth overall in the 1995 NBA Draft. ‘The Big Ticket’ quickly asserted himself as one of the toughest defenders in the league, earning two All-Star appearances through his first three years and receiving Defensive Player of the Year votes in his third campaign at age-21 in 1997-98. Over his next nine seasons, Garnett earned DPOY votes each year, finishing as the runner-up in 2000-01 and 2001-02, and was selected to six consecutive All-Defensive First Teams. He won the MVP award after putting up a career-best 24.2 points, 13.9 rebounds and 2.2 blocks with 5.0 assists and 1.5 steals across all 82 games in 2003-04. That year also marked the first of four straight in which ‘KG’ led the NBA in defensive rebounds and total rebounding.
From ‘00 to ‘05, Garnett averaged 22.6 ppg, 12.7 rpg, 5.3 apg, 1.4 spg and 1.7 bpg over 489 starts. He averaged at least 1.1 spg and 1.4 bpg during his first 12 campaigns with the Wolves. Throughout his 21-year career, KG was a 15-time All-Star, nine-time All-NBA, 12-time All-Defensive, the 2007-08 DPOY and NBA champion with the Boston Celtics, and a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.
Rudy Gobert – 1 time (2024)
Gobert was the driving force behind Minnesota’s top-ranked defensive rating (108.4) in 2023-24, helping him earn his first All-Defensive First Team with the franchise in three seasons. ‘The Stifle Tower’ also won his fourth career DPOY trophy after recording 14.0 points, 12.9 rebounds, 0.7 steals and 2.1 blocks across 76 games. He tallied 54 double-doubles and at least one block in all but nine outings that year, and swatted five-plus shots on four occasions.
Gobert is one of five players to average 11.0-plus boards and 2.0-plus blocks throughout his entire career, as he currently owns averages of 11.7 rpg and 2.1 bpg in 829 regular-season appearances. Over his 12 seasons in the NBA, the Frenchman is a three-time All-Star, four-time All-NBA, eight-time All-Defensive, and one-time rebounding and blocks champ.
