Did the Timberwolves just place a curse on themselves ahead of the Western Conference Finals?
Minnesota has looked anything but cursed in the 2024 NBA Playoffs, making quick work of the Suns before knocking off the defending champion Nuggets to reach the conference finals for the first time in two decades. Between their defensive prowess and Anthony Edwards' stardom, the Timberwolves are favored to reach the NBA Finals — and they certainly caught the attention of NBA stars around the league.
The Timberwolves aren't taking anything for granted. They put in the work as soon as Game 7 ended to ensure they're ready to roll when Game 1 tips off on Wednesday. Could their efforts backfire, though?
Here's a closer look at the Timberwolves' postgame workout photos and why fans believe they might curse the franchise.
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Timberwolves workout photos
The Timberwolves posted behind-the-scenes photos of Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels working out shortly after their Game 7 win. They weren't received very well.
not satisfied. pic.twitter.com/qvp1r08K2N
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) May 20, 2024
Many NBA fans (and players) are superstitious. A few remembered a similar video posted by the NBA in 2022, showing members of the Phoenix Suns working out in the tunnel after a regular season win against the Warriors.
The clip of Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, Cameron Payne and Jae Crowder intensely working out raised some eyebrows on social media, and it gained attention when the Suns were upset by the Mavericks in the conference semifinals six weeks later. Phoenix finished the regular season 2-4 after the video was posted, despite starting 62-14.
“Winners work” …the @suns put in extra work following their 4-point road W. 💪🏽 pic.twitter.com/Tp1qeIkApk
— NBA (@NBA) March 31, 2022
"Phoenix did this and they have never been the same," one user replied to the Timberwolves, while another said, "Oh no this might backfire."
Phoenix did this and they have never been the same.
— T Hampshire (@trenthampshire) May 20, 2024
The Timberwolves find themselves playing the Mavericks just as the Suns did in the 2022 playoffs when their series ended with a demoralizing blowout loss in Game 7. Like Phoenix, Minnesota has home-court advantage on its side. Dallas, however, has Luka Doncic. That was enough in 2022 against the Suns, and a supporting cast that now includes Kyrie Irving could make the Mavericks quite formidable even as an underdog.
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Whether the Timberwolves are now cursed or not, one could argue they needed to rest after a grueling series rather than work out. Minnesota played one more game than Dallas in the conference semifinals and has one fewer day of rest before the series tips off on Wednesday. Game 7 also required a 20-point comeback on the road, so it's fair to question whether hitting the gym was the right strategy.
The Timberwolves didn't care much about what everyone else had to say when they went down 3-2 in the series against the Nuggets, and they can quickly put any concerns of superstitious fans behind them by coming out strong against the Mavericks.