A big-time scorer and rebounder in college, forward Sam Mitchell followed a long and indirect path from the collegiate ranks to the NBA.

2000-01
Wrapped up his 12th year in the NBA (ninth in Minnesota), averaging 3.5 ppg (.408 FG%, .727 FT%), 1.5 rpg and 12.0 mpg while appearing in all 82 contests, including four starts ... It was the fifth time in his career that he's played every game; he's missed just 32 games since entering the league in 1989-90 ... Grabbed a season-high seven rebounds March 30 at Sacramento; he averaged 8.2 reb/48 after March 1, after hauling down just 4.7 reb/48 in the first four months ... Scored a season-high 20 points March 21 vs. Dallas, and added 16 points two nights later vs. Denver (March 23) ... Reached double figures on five occasions, including a 15-point effort Feb. 13 at Portland ... Shot 31.3% (20-for-64) in his final 16 road outings, compared to 50.0% (44-for-88) in his last 15 games at Target Center ... The March 9 game at Miami was the 900th of his NBA career ... Handed out his 1,000th career assist Jan. 1 vs. Houston ... Became the Wolves' all-time leader in games played Nov. 17 vs. San Antonio (currently 683 games), passing Doug West (609).

1999-00
Played in 66 games, missing 14 contests (Feb. 20-March 16) due to a sprained left ankle ... Reached double figures 14 times overall, but none after Feb. 16 at New York; he averaged 4.6 ppg in 13.6 mpg after returning from the injury ... Started a total of 24 games, with Minnesota going 16-8; he scored at a 9.9 ppg clip (on 47.7% shooting) while playing 27.3 mpg as a starter ... Tallied a season-high 20 points Jan. 21 at the L.A. Clippers, one of two occasions he led the Wolves in scoring ... Scored his 8,000th career point Feb. 15 vs. Denver ... The Jan. 8 game at Detroit was the 800th of his NBA career.

1998-99
Appeared in all 50 games, and started 20 of the final 28 ... Averaged 11.2 ppg but shot 40.8% from the floor ... Led all NBA forwards (10th overall) in ast/TO ratio (2.88-to-1) ... Was Minnesota's leading scorer on five occasions, including a season-high 25 points April 28 vs. Phoenix ... Registered 29 double-figure outings, topping 20 five times ... Grabbed a season-high nine rebounds April 8 at the L.A. Clippers ... Shot 44.1% in 25 home games, compared to 36.4% in 25 road outings ... The March 26 game vs. Miami was the 750th of his NBA career, while the March 4 game at Vancouver was his 500th in a Minnesota uniform.

1997-98
Played in 81 games, missing only the season finale at Milwaukee (April 18) ... Started 33 times, including 22 of the last 23 contests ... Finished with a 12.3 ppg average, his highest since scoring 14.6 ppg in 1990-91 ... Became the Wolves' all-time leading rebounder Jan. 7 vs. Phoenix, surpassing Christian Laettner (2,225, since surpassed by Kevin Garnett) ... Tallied 29 points April 10 vs. Philadelphia, his high since scoring 29 vs. Golden State on Feb. 20, 1991 ... Reached double digits 52 times, including 12 20+ efforts ... Led the team in scoring on 12 occasions, and in rebounding five times ... Averaged 33.3 mpg, 15.1 ppg (shooting 46.2%) and 6.1 rpg after Feb. 1 (replacing Gugliotta); he'd tallied 22.6 mpg, 9.9 ppg (46.6%) and 3.5 rpg through Jan. 30 ... Averaged 16.6 ppg (47.2%), 6.4 rpg and 35.3 mpg in his 33 starts.

1996-97
Joined Terry Porter as the only two Wolves players to appear in all 82 games ... Had 28 points and 13 rebounds vs. Houston on Dec. 10 ... Had a total of 34 double-figure outings, and was the Wolves' leading scorer on three occasions ... Tallied his 6,000th career point on March 25 at Houston, and grabbed his 2,500th career rebound on Nov. 14 vs. Dallas

1995-96
Started 36 of the Wolves' first 40 games, but just six of the final 42 ... Established career highs from the field (.490) and the free-throw line (.814) ... Scored the 5,000th point of his career in the Feb. 13 win at Sacramento. Had a solid season upon rejoining Minnesota for 1995-96, averaging 10.8 points per game, his best since 1990-91 ... Appeared in 78 games, 42 of them as a starter, and averaged 30.2 minutes per game, his most since 1990-91 ... Scored in double figures in 15 of his last 21 games and 45 games overall, reaching 20 points eight times ... Led the club in scoring six times ... Became the franchise's career offensive rebound leader when he collected No. 594 against Phoenix on Feb. 28.

1994-95
Appeared in 81 games for the Pacers with 12 starting assignments ... Scored a season-high 18 points March 3 at Washington (hitting 7-of-8 field goals). Logged 17.0 minutes per game and scored 6.5 points per contest.

1993-94
Played in a career-low 75 games ... Pulled down 10 rebounds Jan. 27 at Denver, his high in a Pacers uniform ... One of two Pacers not to miss a game due to injury or illness.

1992-93
Had a team season-high and career-high 17 rebounds Dec. 27 vs. Golden State ... Played in 298 straight games until a DNP-CD March 2 ... Scored 20 points March 17 vs. Milwaukee, his high as a Pacer ... Averaged 7.2 points and 3.1 rebounds in only 17.3 minutes per game ... Appeared in the season's first 55 contests, extending his consecutive-game streak to 298 before Coach Bob Hill elected not to use him in a March 2 contest against the San Antonio Spurs, the only game Mitchell missed all season ... Appeared in all four games of a first-round series loss to the New York Knicks.

1991-92
Played in 82 games (starting 63) for a second straight season ... Left Minnesota as the club's all-time leading rebounder with 1,455, a mark broken by Christian Laettner during the 1994-95 season ... Led Minnesota in total rebounds, with 473 ... Notched eight double-doubles during the year, highlighted by a 24-point, 14-rebound outing against the Washington Bullets on Nov. 13 ... Grabbed 17 rebounds against the Golden State Warriors on December 27, the most by a Minnesota player all season.

1990-91
Started 60 games, logging 3,121 minutes (38.1 mpg) ... Exploded for a career-high 37 points in a Feb. 3 double-overtime victory vs. Philadelphia ... Set a club record by playing all 58 minutes in that contest against the Sixers ... Played in all 82 games, averaging 14.6 points and 6.3 rebounds ... Honored as the Timberwolves' Defensive Player of the Year

1989-90
Was fifth among NBA rookies in scoring (12.7 ppg) and fourth (5.8 rpg) in rebounding ... Appeared in 80 games

COLLEGE
A 6-7 native of Georgia, Mitchell attended nearby Mercer College. He ranked ninth in the NCAA in scoring (25.0 ppg) as a senior and left Mercer as the school's all-time leading scorer. Mitchell was chosen in the third round of the 1985 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets, but the club cut him prior to the 1985-86 season

• Sam and his wife Anita have two daughters, Morganne and Maya
• Learned to speak French while playing professional basketball in France (1987-89)
• Spent two seasons in the CBA (1985-87)...Helped lead the Rapid City Thrillers to the 1987 CBA Championship...Learned to speak French while playing pro basketball in France (1987-89)
• Names Martin Luther King and Malcolm X as the people he'd most like to meet
• Volunteers his time to the Special Olympics in Macon, GA and in Minneapolis, MN
• Signed his first Minnesota contract on Director of Player Personnel Billy McKinney's back during warm-ups for the Midwest Revue in San Antonio