Tim Connelly
President of Basketball Operations for the Minnesota Timberwolves since 2022.
Timothy Martin Connelly is an American basketball executive currently serving as the president of basketball operations for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Born on May 15, 1976, in Baltimore, Maryland, Connelly began his career as an intern with the Washington Wizards in 1995. After roles with the New Orleans Hornets and a long tenure with the Denver Nuggets starting in June 2013, he signed a five-year, $40 million contract to join Minnesota on May 23, 2022.
- Role
- President of Basketball Operations
- Affiliation
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Tenure
- May 23, 2022–Present
- Previous Role at Denver Nuggets
- June 17, 2013 to May 23, 2022
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Connelly's executive journey started in 1995 when he wrote directly to Chuck Douglas, the director of college scouting for the Washington Wizards. He progressed from an intern to assistant video coordinator by 1999 and a full-time scout in 2000 under NBA legend Wes Unseld. In 2011, he moved to the New Orleans Hornets as assistant general manager under Dell Demps, handling scouting, trade negotiations, and draft preparations. His most notable tenure began on June 17, 2013, when he was named executive vice president of basketball operations and general manager for the Denver Nuggets, replacing Masai Ujiri. On June 14, 2017, he was promoted to president of basketball operations, with Artūras Karnišovas promoted to general manager on the same day.
In Their Own Story
Under Connelly's leadership in Denver, the team broke a five-year playoff drought by reaching the 2019 NBA playoffs. His draft acumen brought core pieces like Nikola Jokic, Gary Harris, Jamal Murray, Monté Morris, and Michael Porter Jr. to the franchise. In 2020, he finished ninth for the Executive of the Year Award. A significant moment occurred in 2021 when he orchestrated a trade bringing Aaron Gordon to the team while sending away longtime core piece Gary Harris; Connelly later stated he asked All-Star center Nikola Jokić for permission before accepting the deal. This roster construction culminated in the Nuggets winning the 2023 NBA Finals. On May 23, 2022, Connelly agreed to a five-year, $40 million contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Shortly after taking over, on July 6, 2022, he executed a major trade sending five picks and five players for four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert.
Reader's Guide
Connelly is raised in Baltimore, Maryland, where he grew up with four brothers and two sisters. He attended Fordham University before transferring to Catholic University in Washington, D.C., for his junior year. His family is deeply entrenched in basketball; all four brothers—Pat, Joe, Dan, and Kevin—work as scouts or managers in the NBA or college basketball. Pat served as assistant general manager of the Phoenix Suns, Joe works in player development for the Washington Wizards, Dan is an advanced scout for the Utah Jazz, and Kevin runs a high school scouting service. Connelly is married to Negah, and they have three children. He remains a fan of his hometown teams, the Baltimore Ravens and Baltimore Orioles.
Did You Know?
- Connelly wrote directly to Chuck Douglas in his junior year of college to secure an internship with the Washington Wizards.
- He was promoted to president of basketball operations at the Nuggets on June 14, 2017, the same day Artūras Karnišovas was promoted to general manager.
- Connelly has three brothers—Mike, Brian, and Kevin—though Kevin's professional role in NBA or college basketball scouting and management is not widely documented or confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Tim Connelly?
Tim Connelly is an American basketball executive born on May 15, 1976, in Baltimore, Maryland. He currently holds the title of President of Basketball Operations for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
What is Tim Connelly's role with the Timberwolves?
He serves as President of Basketball Operations, overseeing the team's front-office basketball decisions. He has held that position since May 23, 2022.
How did Tim Connelly break into the NBA front office?
He started as an intern with the Washington Wizards back in 1996. He then worked with the New Orleans Hornets before landing a long-running role with the Denver Nuggets in June 2013.
How long did Tim Connelly spend with the Denver Nuggets?
His tenure in Denver ran from June 17, 2013, through May 23, 2022—nearly nine years. He departed the Nuggets to take the Timberwolves' top basketball-operations job.
What deal did Tim Connelly sign to join Minnesota?
On May 23, 2022, he agreed to a five-year contract worth $40 million with the Timberwolves. That agreement brought him into the President of Basketball Operations seat he still occupies.
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