TIMBERWOLVES: April 15, 2004: Garnett Named Western Conference Player of the Month

April 15, 2004 — Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett was named Western Conference Player of the Month for the fourth time this season, becoming the first NBA player to accomplish that feat. Garnett led the Wolves to a 6-0 record during the month, closing the season on a nine-game winning streak to claim the Western Conference's No. 1 playoff seed. With a 58-24 record, the Timberwolves won their first-ever Midwest Division crown.

The seven-time All-Star had 24 points and 17 rebounds in the victory at Sacramento on April 8 that catapulted Minnesota past the Kings into the West's top spot. He went 12-for-15 from the floor the following night at Golden State, a team season high for field goal accuracy. He hauled down 22 rebounds April 4 vs. Memphis, his eighth 20-board effort of the season and 22nd of his career.

With four point/rebound double-doubles during the month, Garnett finished with 71 in the 2003-04 regular season, the NBA's highest total since Houston's Hakeem Olajuwon notched 22 in 1992-93. Garnett finished the year averaging a league-leading 13.9 rpg, the first major individual statistical crown in Wolves history. His 894 defensive boards are the most in the NBA since Dennis Rodman grabbed 914 for San Antonio in 1993-94.

Garnett scored 20+ points in five of the team's six April games, bringing his season total to a club-record 66. His double-digit streak stands at 164 games. He also tallied 5.0 apg and a career-high 24.2 ppg, his fifth straight 20-point/10-rebound/5-assist season, joining Larry Bird as the only players in league history to record five such seasons. He amassed 1,987 points and 1,139 rebounds during the regular season, becoming just the fifth player in NBA history (and the first since Buffalo's Bob McAdoo in 1974-75) to lead the NBA in both total points and total rebounds.

In addition to his back-to-back-to-back awards in December, January and February, Garnett also earned the award twice in 2002-03 and once each in 2001-02 and 1999-2000.

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