After reaching the organization’s first Western Conference Finals in 20 years, the Timberwolves are favored to make a similar run and, according to ESPN’s NBA experts, a similar exit next season as well.
ESPN surveyed its NBA staff for predict how the playoffs will play out in 2024-25. When it comes to the question of who will win this season’s Western Conference Finals, the Timberwolves finished a distant second to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In the poll, voters ranked their top picks to win the Eastern Conference, Western Conference and Finals. Dallas came in third, followed by the Nuggets (18), Suns (8) and Lakers (2), who finished at the bottom of the Western Conference Finals vote pool.
Interestingly, voters did not give the Wolves a chance to win the NBA title, as Minnesota did not receive any points despite finishing second in the Western Conference Finals voting. Boston (82) is the overwhelming favorite to retain the title, with the Thunder (37) receiving the second-most points in the title vote. The 76ers (18), Nuggets (13), Bucks and Knicks (9) and Mavs (6) round out the list of Finals contenders, according to ESPN.
Similar votes took place earlier this week for the season’s awards. and Minnesota was well represented.
Anthony Edwards finished fourth in MVP voting, garnering five percent of the first-place vote; rookie point guard Rob Dillingham came in fifth in Rookie of the Year voting; reigning Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert was expected to cede the award to fellow Frenchman Victor Wembanyama, with Gobert finishing second in voting; and Naz Reid came in third for Sixth Man of the Year, garnering 19 percent of the first-place vote.
