The Minnesota Timberwolves struggles for nearly a decade are well documented. Before the 2021-22 NBA season, the Wolves reached the postseason only once since 2003-04. Outside of that, they regularly finished near the bottom of the league standings.
Because of those struggles, many Wolves fans gave up on the team and were unwilling to spend money on a losing team. Some die-hards showed up, but the atmosphere was naturally dull compared to other home crowds.
However, all of that has changed this year. On Tuesday night, as the Wolves welcomed the Los Angeles Clippers into a packed Target Center in the Play-In Tournament, fans started to file into their seats in the arena pre-game when a chant broke out among fans awaiting the start of the game.
“Wolves are back! Wolves are back! Wolves are back!”
That is not only true with the performance of the team this season, but it also reigns true with the organization and the state of Wolves basketball in general. Minnesota is returning to the playoffs after finishing the year with a 46-36 record and earning the seventh seed in the West.
The Wolves are back. That has been apparent the entire season, and you could feel it once again on a big stage on Tuesday in Minneapolis.
Throughout the NBA’s regular season, Wolves fans have talked about the increased energy and atmosphere in Target Center. The team has not only improved on the court, but the swagger has also returned both to the team and the fan base supporting it.
During the first Play-In game on Tuesday, I joined Wolves fans in the stands for the game, and the change in energy and atmosphere was one of the first things I noticed. As someone who has attended many games as a team employee, media member, and as a fan, the difference in energy and atmosphere has changed completely this year and has only increased with the return of postseason basketball.
The only thing I could personally compare it to is when Target Center has been rocking during Minnesota Lynx playoff games. The vibe is very similar, with fans on the edge of their seat while cheering and chanting for most of the game.
The success of the Wolves obviously plays a huge factor in the shift in mood inside Target Center, as does the sheer entertainment factor of the team. If you win, fans will follow and support you. We’ve seen that with other sports teams in Minneapolis and St. Paul, and the Wolves have finally rejoined that group.
On Tuesday, that was present throughout Target Center. Fans were on their feet, they were chanting, they were cheering, and they were supporting the Wolves with a high-energy atmosphere from the opening tip. That hasn’t been present much in nearly a decade. After Minnesota came back to beat Los Angeles to advance to play the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs, a chant heard pre-game returned and flooded the Target Center concourse, followed by a “We want Memphis!” chant accompanying it.
“Wolves are back! Wolves are back! Wolves are back!”
The Wolves are indeed back. And playoff basketball is back at Target Center, which is extraordinary to witness. But the postseason atmosphere and energy have also returned to Wolves games. It has injected new life into downtown Minneapolis, the organization, the team, and the fans during the NBA season.
