Reasons Why Timberwolves Retired Only One Jersey Number

The explanation behind the lone retired jersey in the Target Center rafters.

Retiring jersey numbers is a unique way to honor a specific player’s career and their accomplishments. The vast majority of NBA franchises have retired multiple numbers, with a tribute jersey hanging in the rafters as is customary. Teams like the Boston Celtics are running out of jersey numbers to give to new players because they have so many that are retired, but for the Minnesota Timberwolves, the story is a bit different.

The Timberwolves have been around since the 1989-90 NBA season, but they only have one retired jersey. Many would think that number would be Kevin Garnett’s number 21, due to his extensive accomplishments with the franchise. But the only jersey that hangs in the Target Center is the number 2 formerly belonging to Malik Sealy, who played in Minnesota from 1998 until 2000.

Sealy’s jersey was retired by the Timberwolves following his tragic death on May 20, 2000. After attending a birthday party for Kevin Garnett that night, Sealy was killed when a drunk driver operating a pickup truck crashed into his car on the highway.

Malik Sealy’s #2 is the Timberwolves’ only retired jersey

His death was of course an extremely devastating circumstance, and the Timberwolves chose to hang Sealy’s jersey in the rafters to honor his memory. No one has worn the number 2 in Minnesota ever since.

Though he played just two seasons for the Wolves, Malik was an impact player, especially in his second and final year. In 1999-2000, he shot a career-high 47% from the floor while scoring 11.3 points per game and helping Minnesota to 50 wins and a playoff appearance.

Now, Sealy is highly revered in the Twin Cities, with Karl-Anthony Towns even showing up at Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals this past year sporting a throwback number 2 jersey. If the Timberwolves are to ever retire another jersey, Garnett will certainly be a shoo-in if he ever decides he wants it to happen.

If Anthony Edwards keeps up his current career trajectory, perhaps we will see his number 5 hanging next to Malik Sealy’s one day as well.