The Biggest Punishment in NBA History

The Minnesota Timberwolves have been the worst team in the NBA for over a decade. Some of it traces back to a gigantic mistake they made in the mid-2000’s. This is the story of the worst punishment in NBA history.

[@bonanimathambo8721]

David Stern takes away 5 first rounders. Silver would’ve just asked them to promise not to do it again.

[@kaminsod4077]

And Stern wouldn't have done shit if it was the Lakers or Celtics doing these under the table deals. But because the Timberwolves are the biggest poverty franchise in the league, no one really cares since they'd just spend those picks on busts anyway.

[@MoralesCorner]

​@@kaminsod4077he vettoed CP to the Lakers with Kobe tho

[@pumelelabanca1442]

​@@MoralesCornerThe league neede Cp3 to sell that team.

[@thepoopcast6609]

Bruh!

[@hillsolo]

Silver would've just asked them to promise not to get caught again. There... Fixed it for you.

[@Jackey_Chen]

David Stern Moment

[@legenddog_Cc]

Lol

[@shambles168]

kobe cp3

[@Jackey_Chen]

yep

[@emilfrederiksen.1622]

✡️

[@Joeygames413]

😂

[@justinsalzl1517]

As a lifelong Wolves fan who watched all this unfold in real time - this still brings pain and disappointment.

[@leevidmar346]

Same😢

[@bonanimathambo8721]

Pretty wild that somebody would be facing 200 years in prison for that.

[@afaris88]

He was about to be punished for life and beyond 😅

[@thetruth3454]

but bankers and politicians just act like they made a mistake and get off scott-free, it's crazy.

[@donnydogpiss4533]

@@thetruth3454100%

[@Abdallayamin]

Fr wtf

[@iPartyRocki]

Ironic how the commissioner to do this was extremely corrupt, had inside information on illegal sports betting with referees, and fixed the 1985 draft, possibly more that we don't even know about.

[@GarkKahn]

There's always more we don't know about and with luck we'll after many years when the worst consequences could be a youtube video talking about it at best

[@maxmeier532]

It's not ironic if you think about it this way: There is king who makes the rules and enforces the rules. And there is the peasants and they dont get equal rights, hence are punished when they serve their own best interest.

[@Jim26D]

A Jewish rule is you can break any rules if it benefits your pocketbook just don't get exposed

[@thehaus6998]

​@@Jim26D no it ain't

[@clintstewart5545]

isn't that like most people ? why the anti semitism all those christians fanatics with all those silly tv shows asking money to people envangelists etc ?@@Jim26D

[@Zinnxyy]

I look forward to your videos everyday, keep it up man!

[@observedot7490]

KG is a divisive character no doubt, but let it be known: put this man around a formidable cast of players during his prime, he’s winning WAY more rings

[@dipe6376]

​@shawnkemp6550 facts bro was eating the majority of the capspace

[@bartomiej9807]

@@dipe6376 I checked it, he really did. I am not suprised that he did it in his time in Minnesota, once they got punished - he knew he would not win there, so at least he could get rich. But I did not know he did not accept any salary discount when he went to Boston. I thought Celtics big 3 were similar to Miami, because many ppl explain Miami was not the 1st to create superteam (true), but in fact Heat really were first superteam created from players in their prime, who accepted lower wage to play together.

[@Max-me9ol]

yea thats the case for literally every HOF with a bad team. its the same with lebron for example

[@_veerist]

Almost three-peat on Celtic at 33+ age if not bc of injuries and rigged game 7 of ‘10 finals.

[@OK-yy6qz]

That is entirely theoretical and very debatable. He won 1 ring playing for several years with 2 other stars. Before that he won a total of 2 playoff series against very mid teams

[@maxthomson5851]

Kevin Garnett was him while in his prime

[@AlenVids]

The league also changed the salary cap rules after we gave Garnett his new deal. And then we couldn’t retain Marbury or sign adequate players which isn’t talked about enough.

[@lyndonlouie4108]

I’ll never forget that when it was exposed. I was driving home from work and the radio guy said of Smith’s deal, “it’s like counterfeiting pennies.” Referring to the under the table deal for a so-so Joe Smith. 😂

[@aaronsmith4806]

Being In MN that’s not exactly what we were told was the reason for the punishment. It was always because they negotiated to sign before you legally could. Which is probably the less egregious way of wording that contract. 5 first round picks always seemed insane though considering how worthless most 2nd rd picks are

[@slobberkissintl3548]

They busted into a guy's apartment because he gave money to the families of some really tall kids so they would do their ball bouncing for one agency instead of another. Machine guns? Prison time? Over basketball?! I think they should recruit all the kids with money that they want. Have a tall kid, a fast kid a strong kid and someone pays your rent? What the fuck is wrong with that?

[@sugarnads]

That instantly makes them professionals. Theyre still amateurs.

[@LikeLikeLikeLikeLike]

Obviously an amazing video. Talent is extremely entertaining. Humble yourself and the rest will follow. Bravo AM Hoops.

[@k0ldye]

Casey on that grind fr 🔥

[@KKOPPONG]

If my team gets punished like this I’m bouncing asap😂…I’m not about to be with a team that can’t even break the rules without getting caught😂

[@dkdebest]

You are probably suns fan

[@oreonba]

“What are your favorite days of the week? “Monday, Wednesday and Friday” 😊

[@escoofimpakt]

Joe Smith ruined the Warriors and the T wolves LOL

[@fekalistagrzybowory7619]

-160M, superior generocity

[@waikit828]

I am a Warriors fans since 95. I feel Joe Smith was so unlucky because David Stern was the commissioner. If Adam Silver was the commissioner, Joe Smith could do whatever he wanted like showing guns, in the public, signing many $1M contracts, having secrets deals with whatever teams he wanted, and only getting a slap on the wrist, "please forgive this kid" compliments by Adam Silver. Poor Joe!

[@penguinsinorbit2034]

Stern made the game worse... he let the malice at the palace get in his head that he removed hand checking in 04, suspended all those guys for sticking up for themselves, and took the hood out of ball.. Now we got a bunch of soft, cookie cutter athletes who are scared of their own shadow. The JA "incident" is proof people are soft. Its a gun. Who cares you see them all the time in video games and shows.

[@EzMoneyMir]

Stfu what Ja did wasn’t illegal

[@Httyhftdtxth]

Cap

[@injintu]

I graduated from Maryland and I was a Joe Smith fan. His game did not develop in the NBA. He became a decent forward...should have been a center. He was NOT a great NBA player. Joe Smith either did not work hard enough, or was not good enough. I love my Terps, but not Joe Smith.

[@ghostflame9211]

lol thats the argument we're going with? if david stern were still around, ja wouldve been let go, durant would still be a Net (or hell, even a thunder), and these rookies wouldnt be getting these max contracts for doing nothing. and everything would be right with the world.

[@masterpvper9464]

Hi bro love your vids

[@djteh8115]

My fav KZbinr fo real

[@timl9724]

They should've kept Marbury and KG together. Googs was a great fit as the 3rd guy. They just needed a 3-D wing and a solid center. But they let Marbury break-up that team, instead of standing their ground. That 97-98 squad took the 61 win Sonics to the brink in the first round, even with Googs sidelined. The future was looking bright for KG and the T-Wolves. To be fair, Googs' foot injury and free agency put the Timberwolves in a tough financial position. When Googs left for Phoenix for $60 million, and when Smith was signed for peanuts, as a younger and possibly more talented replacement, it seemed like another genius move by McHale. But bringing in Smith to replace Gugliotta really made no sense, since Smith basically played the same position as KG, while Googs could play all three front court positions. Googs wasn't really at the right age for the KG and Marbury timeline, and he broke down from injuries later with the Suns. But if the T-Wolves had re-signed him, they could've flipped him for a younger player, instead of letting an All-Star go for nothing. Also, to be fair, the Marbury trade got back Brandon and Wally, both who looked like win-now starter complements to KG, and they helped get the franchise their first 50 win season. But Marbury was a play-making star who could help carry a team and provide more scoring impact than Brandon ever could. And while Wally Szczerbiak was a nice shooter, he too often wilted in the playoffs. You never know for sure, but at least for a while, McHale was seen as a great team executive, and had he not made those two mistakes of letting Marbury go and doing the dirt of the Smith signing, KG might have had championships with the T-Wolves.

[@tisdue]

almost to a half-mil, bro!

[@ElaStudios101]

i know that this comment is pointless and is probably gonna get no attention but, AM Hoops is one of the best youtubers he deserves so much more attention

[@futurefox635]

agree 100%. Loving his format right now. I just hope he isnt scared to give us more opinion based content once the season starts up!

[@leevidmar346]

This still hurts my heart😢.

[@carlosroman8252]

Good video!

[@Miles_305]

Big facts, Green's reaction (or lack of), speaks volumes🤔

[@rapstallion6615]

He's got one of those too, so they'll be able to overpay Klayklay

[@SackVegasAnime]

Honestly, this shouldn’t be illegal.

[@wagngmagmaasim]

Don't downplay Latrell Sprewell like that, he was legit. He was the leading scorer for the Knicks in the '99 Finals, and the top scorer out of all teams in that year's entire playoffs. If not for his most famous quote, he would be remembered more fondly.

[@MrTitusD]

These are so good

[@SCUMMY4205]

Kobe and KG on the same team would have been a crazy duo

[@bryana.escaleralopez]

If the Lakers did this, Stern wouldn’t have done anything 🤷🏿‍♂️

[@Zero-ge4vb]

Why did cp3 not go to the Lakers then?

[@kobblestone]

Knicks*

[@MoralesCorner]

Well he vettoed CP to the Lakers with Kobe tho

[@eaglsevn]

that thumbnail is crazy 💀

[@derrickvalenzuela2972]

That’s wild to thing these things took place almost slick but not slick enough.I just wonder what would have happened if they gotten away with it? They would have won more games and championships. And maybe KG would have been there is while career and they could have gotten more players.

[@brucelau2023]

Joe Smith legit ruined the Timberwolves 💯💯💯💯💯

[@jayherbogaming]

This has nothing to do with Kevin Garnett It's about the Joe Smith illegal contract with the Timberwolves

[@09lowkey]

Those illegal dealings by Timberwolves management cost Kevin Garnett legitimate contention in his prime. So it doesn't have anything to do with KG but it heavily effected his legacy as a player. They lost 3 years worth of draft assets, whether that could've turned out to be a couple of role players or a throw in to trade for a difference maker, they didn't have those assets.

[@futurefox635]

Its probably the biggest reason why KG didnt get a ring Pre-celtics

[@jokerofmorocco]

Not directly but indirectly it wasted his prime

[@georgec.7406]

dang. good video

[@brucelau2023]

Total David Stern moment

[@sfb1219]

When it's the summer and no stories ... you do this

[@Berty4ever_]

Shoutout to Joe Smith for being a cheatcode on hoops grid 😂

[@aldens.5592]

Love your videos I want to be like you

[@nbapbaupdate8338]

Kevin Garnett DISASTER Timberwolves Era 😅😂😅😂😅😂

[@tillitsdone]

This must happen in the NFL too. With their salary cap, which takes a lot of juggling even when you're playing by the rules.

[@CARL_093]

i never forget KG during those times i m a young nba fan

[@maxmeier532]

Damn, KG and Kobe could have been a thing? That could have imploded or be the craziest great combo of all time. Nothing in between.

[@Judah_Cummings32]

If you are alive rn 👇🏼

[@noobroblox1409]

Ye

[@ZayToDiffrent]

Nah I’m a Spirit sorry

[@Eat_My_Shortz]

Gotta feel bad for Joe smith

[@sarc4sm68]

Of all the players why Joe Smith? Dude was no one, pairing him with KG means nothing didnt even reach WCF plus he did become a journey man lmao

[@JayTeeAyy]

Joe Smith could’ve put on for all the Joe Smith’s in the world, smh 🤦‍♂️

[@LemonRiver27]

You can hear his phone notification in the background lmao

[@sethrathnayake8028]

200 years😂😂😂. Bro he ain't immortal 🤣

[@TuNnL]

Still one of the dumbest things that happened in NBA history. The Minnesota Timberwolves should have known if they put that deal in writing, it would be exposed. Throughout history, greed has always trumped common sense. It's the very reason the phrase "handshake agreement" still exists in 2023. 🤝

[@claytonroitenberg1935]

Ruined my whole childhood all those winter nights in Minneapolis watching the wolves on TV my young self didn’t realize how much they punished us

[@Roihclem871]

Dennis Schroeder agent appreciates this video

[@c.n.i7105]

David Stern rigged the Ewing’s draft, the 88’ Finals, the 02’ Western Finals and vetoed CP’s trade

[@lilypfefferle7525]

Thanks NBA for punishing a small market team for doing what big market teams do every single season.

[@Project_Artic]

David Stern would of banned Ja Morant for 5 seasons.

[@timstar28]

Damn I didn't even know about all this 😂 that's why you're A.M goat 🐐

[@Sadly.JayJay]

Bro your lying you 2 mins into the video

[@timstar28]

Not uh I was a bit over half lmao

[@Bisonyeet1543]

KG a menace to everyone on earth

[@tuckingfenpin]

Glen Taylor has been a bottom 5 owner in the NBA for over 20 years and it gets swept under the rug.

[@doowserg7263]

I wish Marbury would have flew right by KG. Would have been cool to see them stay together through their primes.

I don't get it. Even if he could've sign the deal with the Timberwolves - how is 86M+ after 3 years playing for the minimum a better deal than 80M+ from the Warriors?! I mean, yes, the Warriors were not that great back than, but isn't the bird in the hand worth more than the maybe slightly bigger bird in the bush?

[@ImadogGarcia]

He wasn’t a smart business man. I would’ve signed that offer from the printer.

[@maxmeier532]

who knows what else was promised or paid via other channels.

[@sgalicia007]

*VIDEO RECOMMENDATIONS* especially right now in off season 2011 Mavs road to the championship -going 7 w the Trail Blazers -Sweeping the lakers, WHEN EVERYONE HAD LAKERS WINNING -Beating the young and up and coming OKC - to besting the prime Lebrón and súper Team Heat!

[@Jim26D]

Friends of the program

[@robmarino314]

How do you not mention Kevin McHale's name when he was in the Timberwolves front office and this was probably all his idea in the first place?

[@pinbarbecue1100]

Not surprised. The Timberwolves organizations was terrible for years and when they drafted KG back then. Bad picks, horrible decisions ,etc. Things like this happened all the time whether the organizations gonna get caught or not

[@doowserg7263]

The Gobert trade was a testament to the fact they are the same people in the present. 😅

[@sambeaumont395]

Out $166m Surely some of those years overlapped and the initial ones that didn’t he still got paid something?

[@MWDango33]

The worst punishment in the NBA is to be drafted by the timberwolves.

[@GarkKahn]

Or sacramento

[@alfredogonzalez7250]

@@GarkKahn Eh not as bad anymore. It's more like Charlotte or Detroit.

[@maxmeier532]

Hornets have entered the chat.

[@tims4502]

All of that for Joe Smith. Bad enough to get caught for an allstar or superstar player? But Joe Smirh???

[@2TM24]

He could have been a all star atleast 4x time Dude was a Number 1 pick and also played like a Superstars for the Warriors

[@bobbosworld6795]

Imagine they had kg sprewell and tony allen?! Nobody would ever be able to score on them.

[@mjalejo9375]

In ‘01 Gilbert Arenas was still on the board, and ‘02 Boozer is still there. If ‘Sota have their picks they could have had a young Arenas and boozer to pair with KG.

[@chrislee232445]

David Stern has always been terrible dictator for NBA, He vetoed the CP 3 trade, Fined the hell out of AI and Cuban for being themselves, While allowing those corrupted referees roaming around

[@NeykongTV]

What? Its illegal to help and invest on someone?

[@brianclark1524]

You should do an updated list of worst defenders in the nba because your first video was great

[@iixxion]

what's actually bad about the secret deals? simply because they are trying to go around the CBA? why is this even prohibited by the CBA tho?

[@88rkinlaw]

I don't really understand why that's illegal. Seems like common business practice in the NBA. Why didn't Miller get jail time?

[@bandito241]

Joe Smith wasn’t even that good, and that hurt more 😂

[@09lowkey]

Wait, so this dude was offered $80mil by the Warriors, but turned it down for the prospect of ~4mil for 3 years and $87mil 3 years later? Seems to me he could've just played well and got another contract. Also, Terry Porter wasn't "some random dude". He was a 2x All-Star in Portland, but he was post-prime when he was in Minnesota so I guess there's truth to that. KG & Kobe would've be awesome to watch.

[@crypto40]

I really don’t get why these younger players wanna test free agency like bro..your new to the league just keep balling and your money will come. Hell any normal human would be grateful to get 1 million. Might as well 1 million a YEAR

[@clermontflorida]

Mavs did the same thing with Nowitzki

[@thinlion01]

Wolves would have never drafted Parker lol

[@TheBootyGoonz]

3:02 Nowadays in 2023, on a scale from 1 to terrible, it don’t seem that bad.

[@SnorlaxSolos]

The biggest punishment is getting drafted by the Timberwolves

[@juliuskroger5086]

It's still 8 million for putting a ball in a basket. I like to watch but this is one of the most unimportant jobs in the world. Imagine teachers or nurses in the U.S. or anywhere for that natter would get paid at least a portion of that.

[@MoralesCorner]

The thumbnail is truly disgusting to see.

[@DonGivani]

This is the reason why I admire Man City, Kevin De Bruyne..... No need for golddiggers agents, just handle his business all by himself....("if you are interested in me, just talk to me”, no foolish overpaid agent)

[@georockmann7113]

Am I the only one hung up about that guy facing 200 years over this?

[@nbapbaupdate8338]

Jaylen Brown your next video A.M. Hoops 🙏🙏🙏

[@makubex2961]

why you have to do that on the thumb nail?

[@joelman1989]

KG could have easily been a top 15 player man. Even a top 10. He was at least as good as Tim Duncan. I don’t like him much as a person but he had the worst luck in the league.

[@johnrivera922]

Who were the lakers holding on to for garnet?

[@momo82041]

You can’t be punishing small market teams with the draft like that. Like the t wolves literally can’t get players any other way. Punish the upper management and owner but not the franchise like that.

[@josephine7583]

KG and Kobe would’ve been amazing

[@memoirsofalegend5472]

Casey take down that pic of KG bruh. Come on now

[@ThePointAfterPod]

W content

[@davidkeeran8766]

Now their wasting kats prime

[@blaze_editz64]

AM hoops da goat 🔥

[@emmanuelonoja9102]

David stern was very stern

[@toomuchmoney7105]

I think that’s why Westbrook just sign for so low they about to pay him good lol😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@Jim26D]

Yet David the hat stern can fix the ewing draft