Ohm Youngmisuk, ESPN Staff WriterMay 30, 2024, 08:00 AM ET
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Ohm Youngmisuk has been covering the Giants, Jets, and the NFL since 2006, following his coverage of the Nets, Knicks, and the NBA for almost a decade. He started at ESPNNewYork.com after working at the New York Daily News for nearly 12 years and is a graduate of Michigan State University.
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Right before Rudy Gobert and Daniel Gafford step to half court for tipoff of Thursday’s Game 5, an unmistakable opening guitar solo will cut through the roar of the home crowd, setting the stage for the Minnesota Timberwolves‘ biggest game in two decades against the Dallas Mavericks. This will be followed by a drumbeat and synthesizer that is as Minnesotan as the Wolves logo in the middle of the Target Center’s court.
The opening to “When Doves Cry” will rile up the home crowd. The only thing missing will be the late Prince in attendance, cheering on his favorite basketball team.
“He would’ve loved to be sitting front row so he could represent his city,” said Londell McMillan, Prince’s longtime friend and former attorney to ESPN. “He would’ve loved Anthony Edwards and the chemistry, and Jaden McDaniels, because he likes tough play. He was a tough guy. The balance of the team, he would’ve seen them as a band that’s well-refined.
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“The one thing he might’ve said is that he liked the white shirts, but he would’ve been like, where’s the purple?”
The legendary artist passed away due to an accidental fentanyl overdose in 2016 at the age of 57, but his presence is still strongly felt throughout his hometown of Minneapolis, especially in the arena where he would sit courtside for multiple games per season.
“They meant the world to him,” Johnny Nelson, Prince’s nephew, told ESPN of the Wolves.
Outside the Target Center, a large colorful mural of Prince is displayed on the side of an adjacent parking structure while the historic nightclub First Avenue — where Prince performed and filmed scenes for “Purple Rain” — sits across the street.
Since 2012, it has been a tradition to start games with “When Doves Cry.” But after the artist’s passing, the team began new traditions, such as playing “Let’s Go Crazy” at the start of the fourth quarter and “Controversy” when there’s a call the crowd doesn’t appreciate.
The Timberwolves are honoring Prince — and the unique bond he had with the team and the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx — during this breakout postseason. From the older generation who shared unforgettable nights with the iconic artist to young stars like Karl-Anthony Towns, who recognize what he means to Minneapolis and the franchise, the spirit of the Wolves’ most iconic fan continues to resonate throughout Minnesota basketball.
“He was a total basketball head,” said James “Jimmy Jam” Harris, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame producer and dedicated Timberwolves fan who had known Prince since junior high. “He’d always talk about what the Wolves need to do is this, or they need to run pick-and-roll. He totally was immersed in basketball.
“He would’ve loved this team.”
A mural of legendary musician Prince in downtown Minneapolis. Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
THE TIMBERWOLVES AVERAGED 60 losses a season in their first seven years as an expansion franchise in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Despite the lack of success, Minnesota games were no strangers to music royalty.
Harris and his partner, Terry Lewis, who wrote and produced hits for artists such as Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, New Edition, Boyz II Men, George Michael, and Usher, were Wolves season-ticket holders. The duo once led an ownership group with Jackson and Magic Johnson that considered buying the Timberwolves to retain the franchise in Minnesota in the mid-’90s. They scheduled their activities around the Timberwolves and would often bring artists they were working with to games.
When Prince joined them, his presence created significant excitement in the Target Center.
“When he came in, he was, like, in a parka and he would keep it over his head,” Kevin Harlan, a TNT play-by-play announcer who was the voice of the Timberwolves from 1989 to 1998, told ESPN. “You could not take your eyes off of him, even though he wasn’t demonstrative.
“In this community, he was so legendary and such an icon, maybe more than anybody else that has ever come from here. [There’s Minnesota’s] Bob Dylan, but it didn’t get much bigger than Prince. When he would come, there was a murmur.”
Nothing compared to the unique way in which Prince watched the Wolves play.
Sitting courtside, Prince would focus on the offensive play of the Minnesota Timberwolves. David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images
“He would only watch the side that offensively we would play on,” Sam Cassell, who played in Minnesota from 2003 to 2005 and is now a Boston Celtics assistant coach, told ESPN. “He would cross his legs. He had these big old shades on. And he’d just watch one side. In the second half, he’ll watch the other side. We were playing the Lakers and he would never watch what the Lakers were doing on the other end of the court offensively.
“When I saw that, it was so awkward, man. I was like, ‘Wow, he cold.’ He don’t care nothing about what the Lakers are doing. He’s just worried about the T-Wolves. That was crazy.”
He also knew the roster and players’ tendencies and strengths like a general manager.
Troy Hudson recalled a moment during the 2002-03 season, his first of five in Minnesota, when he was sitting with Kevin Garnett at the South Beach nightclub in Minneapolis. Someone tapped Garnett on his shoulder.
Hudson turned around and saw Prince.
“He leans over and says, ‘KG, if I were coaching you guys, you would play the point guard. And T-Hud will play off guard,” Hudson told ESPN. “He’s the scorer, and you are a great passer.’”
Cassell remembers a time when he and Garnett were out at another Minneapolis nightclub, and Prince’s security guard approached them. The guard told the two Wolves the singer wanted to perform for them. It was nearly two in the morning. The club cleared out the other customers, allowing Prince to take the stage and play his guitar. He then asked Cassell and Garnett what songs they wanted to hear. Cassell was amazed when Prince greeted him by name at a jazz club in Los Angeles. The Wolves players were always surprised by Prince’s fandom. Prince’s love for basketball remained strong throughout his career. He would often play basketball at Paisley Park before parties, showcasing his skills on the court. Prince’s basketball skills were even immortalized in a skit on Dave Chappelle’s show. The Timberwolves honored Prince with a special jersey inspired by him two years after his death. The team also played only Prince music during games and had special giveaways to honor him. The Lynx celebrated their championship win at Paisley Park with a private concert by Prince, leaving everyone in awe of his performance. Él tocó seis éxitos, incluyendo “When Doves Cry”, “Kiss” y “Sign o’ the Times”. En una canción, Prince tocó todos los instrumentos en el escenario.
“Tocó la batería, bajo, guitarra eléctrica, piano”, dijo Petersen, quien también fue asistente con los Lynx de 2008 a 2017. “Bailó y actuó como si estuviera en el escenario siendo pagado millones por esto.”
Cuando se tomó un descanso alrededor de las 3 a.m., algunos empleados de los Lynx creyeron que Prince había terminado y decidieron dar por terminada la noche. Los que se quedaron vieron a Prince dar un épico bis. Invitó a jugadoras como Seimone Augustus y Renee Montgomery al escenario para cantar y bailar con él. Incluso incorporó a los Lynx en algunas de sus letras. Incluso tomó pedidos y caminó entre la multitud mientras actuaba.
Fiestearon en Paisley Park hasta que vieron salir el sol.
“Fue un trato inolvidable, de una vez en la vida”, dijo Reeve, aún sonando asombrada casi una década después. “Su amor por Minneapolis, era su hogar y nunca se fue. Tenía su lugar, abrazaba ser minnesotano y ser un gran fanático del baloncesto. Es difícil no sentir que no vive a través de todos esos recuerdos y momentos en los que nos apoyó.”
“Desearíamos que todavía estuviera aquí.”
De cualquier manera en la que termine esta temporada para los Wolves, Harris sabe que el espíritu de Prince ha sido parte de esta sorprendente carrera, que esperan extender mientras intentan convertirse en el primer equipo en la historia de la NBA en superar una desventaja de 3-0 en los playoffs.
“Creo que definitivamente se siente su espíritu”, dijo Harris. “Su espíritu, su creatividad definitivamente se siente. Su fanatismo por los Wolves y por el estado de Minnesota se siente.”
“Él es absolutamente parte de esto. Está en su palco viendo los acontecimientos, y sé que está muy feliz y muy orgulloso.”