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Wolves Pics: Kyle Anderson 23-24 Season Photos

Matt Stanton

Grahl’s strategic leadership helped lead to increased brand loyalty, a growing fan base and record-setting ticket sales and retail performance for the organization

MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL – Twin Cities Business today announced Mike Grahl, Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx Chief Marketing Officer has been named a 2024 “TCB Notable CMO.” Grahl, who has been with the organization since 2018, is being recognized for his transformational leadership focused on increasing brand loyalty, growing a more diverse fan base, and record-setting growth across multiple business metrics.

“I’m humbled by this honor, as it is truly the incredibly talented team I am so fortunate to be surrounded by who drives our business success,” said Grahl. “I am grateful for our leadership team who charter clear paths forward together and for my marketing team who inspires and motivates me every day.”

“I am thrilled for Mike to receive this well-deserved recognition. His contributions have been a driving force behind the resurgence of our brand,” said Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx CEO Ethan Casson. “He is the ultimate servant leader, lifting-up all who work with him – not just within our organization, but across the league, in the community, and beyond.”

Under Grahl’s direction, the marketing department has implemented countless innovative and dynamic campaigns, resulting in national and international brand exposure and recognition. Grahl’s creativity was behind the wildly successful contract extension campaign for Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, taking over Minneapolis and Las Vegas during NBA Summer League 2023. Grahl and his team were responsible for the popular Timberwolves 2023-2024 Nike City Edition campaign, embracing Minnesota lake life and a jersey unveil with rapper Yung Gravy at Lord Fletcher’s on Lake Minnetonka. An immediate fan favorite, the Timberwolves 2023-24 “’89 to Infinity” 35th Anniversary campaign featuring the team’s original white uniform in Classic Edition form was also a result of Grahl’s strategic vision, featuring unique fan giveaways and promotions, retail collections, multichannel content, and a custom “Classic” court in Target Center.

Grahl was instrumental in signing new retail partner, Fanatics, recognizing new ways to reach fans through a more expansive platform, and brick and mortar presence in Target Center. This partnership, along with high demand for 35th Anniversary Classic Edition and Lake Life City Edition collections and creative collaborations with Lamb Chops, UNRL and many others resulted in incredible retail growth at a 270% YOY increase, and significant in-arena and e-commerce sales growth.

Grahl’s marketing team helped drive record attendance this season, selling out all 41 regular season home games. The team’s performance marketing focus in 2023-24 led to the build and implementation of a dynamic budget model alongside agency partner Ovative Group that propelled a 249% increase in paid media revenue. Additionally, the team ranked in the top five in the NBA across paid media performance, social media performance, NBA website traffic, and in app users.

Under Grahl’s leadership, the marketing department has received numerous accolades, including a combined five Silver and Bronze AdFed awards, a Silver CLIO, and Hashtag Sports awards (Prince-inspired City Edition), Upper Midwest Regional Emmy for Lindsay Whalen’s jersey retirement, and NBA Digital Innovator Award. Most notably, the organization was recently named a 2024 finalist for Sports Team of the Year by Sports Business Journal, the highest honor in professional sports, recognizing best in class organizations demonstrating excellence, leadership, and innovation. The Wolves were also named #11 of the Top 25 Most Innovative Teams in the World (2022) by Sports Innovation Lab/4th across all U.S. professional sports teams.

As CMO, Grahl oversees Brand Marketing, Creative, Advertising, Content, Digital Products and Innovation, Retail, Video Production and Live Programming and Events for the Timberwolves, Lynx and T-Wolves Gaming.

TCB’s Notable CMOs, profile chief marketing officers who shape the brand messaging of their respective companies and institutions in Minnesota to stand out across various channels. For the full list of 2024 TCB Notable CMO honorees visit www.tcbmag.com/notablehonoree.

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Mike Grahl Named a Twin Cities Business 2024 Notable CMO

Taylor Nardinger

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Wolves Pics: Josh Minott 23-24 Season Photos

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Wolves Pics: Wendell Moore Jr. 23-24 Season Photos

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Wolves Pics: Daishen Nix 23-24 Season Photos

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Wolves Pics: Leonard Miller 23-24 Season Photos

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Chris Finch Postgame Sound | 05.30.24

Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS -- — Luka Doncic had a 20-point first quarter on his way to 36 points for his high this postseason, and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-103 on Thursday night to breeze through the Western Conference finals in five games.

Kyrie Irving also scored 36 points for the Mavericks, who built a 29-point halftime lead on 61% shooting to deflate the once-energized crowd before most fans got up for their first snack break. The Mavs went up by as much as 36 in the third quarter, all the while keeping the Timberwolves offense all out of whack.

The Mavs, who had the fifth seed in the West, have a full week to rest before the NBA Finals begin in Boston on June 6 for the franchise's first appearance since winning the championship in 2011. The Celtics will have had 10 days between games after sweeping Indiana in the Eastern Conference finals.

Anthony Edwards scored 28 points and Karl-Anthony Towns had 28 points and 12 rebounds for the third-seeded Wolves, who met their match with the defense-smashing duo of Doncic and Irving after stifling Phoenix in a first-round sweep and then dethroning defending champion Denver in a seven-game series.

Irving improved to 15-1 in his career in closeout games in the playoffs.

Doncic set a defiant tone by starting 4 for 4, hitting rainbows from 28 and 31 feet as he turned to talk trash to the courtside fans with each swish, often with a sly smile. He drained a 32-footer later in a first quarter as the Mavs closed on a 17-1 spurt, a run they pushed to 28-5 over a nine-minute stretch.

It was Doncic’s second 20-point quarter in his postseason career, following a 21-point fourth quarter in the Western Conference finals loss to Golden State in 2022.

Doncic, who shot 14 for 22 and grabbed 10 rebounds, and his savvy sidekick Irving, who has a championship ring from 2016 with Cleveland, were the superior stars in this series as this Wolves team found its first taste of a sustained postseason run to be a bitter — but perhaps ultimately beneficial — one.

Though he familiarly and persistently waved his arms at the officials almost every time a whistle didn’t go his way, the 25-year-old Doncic played with an unshakeable confidence and unflappable joy from start to finish. As he was taunted by the fans with a “Flopper!” chant when he shot free throws in the third quarter, Doncic smiled and mockingly mouthed the words along with them.

Edwards, though he hit the 25-point mark for the 15th time in 27 career playoff games, had trouble finding his rhythm amid all the double-teams. The Wolves, for all their progress this season, were reminded they don’t yet have a championship offense despite his dynamic skills and clutch mentality.

They had several wince-inducing possessions in the decisive first half, with the coaches struggling to find a group that could play in sync together.

As the final seconds of the second quarter ticked away, Edwards drove to the lane and kicked the ball to the corner to Kyle Anderson, who swung it back to Towns on the wing and failed to find a look he liked. He passed back to Anderson, who tried to move closer and had the shot clock expire on him.

P.J. Washington, who had 12 points, flexed his arms in celebration of yet another stifling defensive sequence by the Mavs.

The Mavs got 7-foot-1 rookie Dereck Lively II back from the sprained neck that kept him out of the previous game, restoring the complete rim protection duo with Daniel Gafford that helped them disrupt Rudy Gobert in the post and just about everyone else who tried to attack the basket.

Gafford had 11 points and nine rebounds, and Lively added nine points and eight rebounds.

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Wolves Fall To Mavs In WCF Game Five, 124-103

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