The Minnesota Timberwolves have been the NBA's most disrespected team for too long, and it's time we gave them their flowers.

After back-to-back Western Conference Finals appearances, you'd think the Wolves would be getting some love. But nope—all the buzz this season has been about the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs. And sure, both teams hit 60 wins while Minnesota finished below 50. But here's the thing: the Timberwolves have a habit of making people eat their words.

Remember when they upset the Nuggets in the first round? Everyone shrugged it off. Anthony Edwards was banged up, and the Spurs were next. Oddsmakers made them 14.5-point underdogs. Yet somehow, we keep forgetting that this is the same team that knocked off the Lakers and Warriors as a No. 6 seed in 2025, and the same squad that ran through the Suns and Nuggets the year before. Doubting Minnesota has become a dangerous game.

So what will it take for the Wolves to finally get their due? They've already done the hard part. But if you need a reminder, just look at Game 1 against the 62-win Spurs. Minnesota went on the road and held Victor Wembanyama—the alien himself—to just 11 points in 40 minutes. Edwards dropped 18 off the bench in his return, and the Timberwolves showed San Antonio what playoff basketball really looks like. There are levels to this game, and the Wolves are proving they belong at the top.

Nobody's saying Minnesota has this series locked up—they still need three more wins. But let's stop pretending a Spurs-Thunder conference finals is a done deal. The Timberwolves have earned our respect. It's about time we gave it to them.