Thibodeau: Timberwolves 'can't wait on potential any longer'

For Tom Thibodeau, the time to act is now. Simply being touted as a young, up-and-coming team isn't good enough.

"If you're waiting on potential, you're waiting on losing," the Minnesota Timberwolves bench boss told reporters Sunday after his team's 142-110 preseason loss to the Golden State Warriors in Shanghai, according to Ximo Pierto. "We can't wait on potential any longer."

With a pair of former No. 1 overall picks in Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns, and the blockbuster addition of Jimmy Butler via trade, the Timberwolves have amassed one of the most exciting young cores in the NBA today.

However, the franchise also owns the longest active playoff drought in the league, having failed to appear in the postseason since 2004. In order to earn a playoff berth in a packed Western Conference, the Timberwolves need to start delivering on expectations.

Minnesota finished 31-51 in 2016-17, the first season with Thibodeau acting as both the team's head coach and team president. It was the first time in Thibodeau's coaching career that his squad finished with a losing record; he previously posted five straight winning campaigns as head coach of the Chicago Bulls from 2010-15.