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1995–96 Minnesota Timberwolves season

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The 1995–96 NBA season was the Timberwolves' 7th season in the National Basketball Association.[1] This season is most memorable when the Timberwolves selected high school basketball star Kevin Garnett with the fifth overall pick in the 1995 NBA draft.[2][3][4][5][6][7] The team also signed free agent All-Star guard Terry Porter,[8][9][10][11] and re-signed former T-Wolves forward Sam Mitchell during the off-season.[12][13] The Timberwolves got off to a bad start losing nine of their first ten games, as head coach Bill Blair was fired after a 6–14 start and was replaced with Flip Saunders,[14][15][16] while Michael Williams was out for the remainder of the season with a left heel injury after only just nine games.[17][18]

1995–96 Minnesota Timberwolves season
Head coach
General managerKevin McHale
Owner(s)Glen Taylor
ArenaTarget Center
Results
Record26–56 (.317)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Midwest)
Conference: 12th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKARE
KLGT
Midwest Sports Channel
RadioKFAN
< 1994–95 1996–97 >

At midseason, the team traded Christian Laettner and Sean Rooks to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Andrew Lang and Spud Webb,[19][20][21][22] as the team re-acquired second-year guard Darrick Martin after a brief stint with the expansion Vancouver Grizzlies.[23] After holding a 13–32 record at the All-Star break,[24] and despite posting an 8–8 record in March, the Timberwolves lost their final six games, and finished fifth in the Midwest Division with a 26–56 record, missing the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season.[25]

Isaiah Rider continued to lead the T-Wolves in scoring with 19.6 points per game, while Tom Gugliotta provided the team with 16.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game, and Mitchell contributed 10.8 points per game. In addition, Garnett averaged 10.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, and finished in sixth place in Rookie of the Year voting,[26][27][28] while Porter provided with 9.4 points and 5.5 assists per game, and Doug West contributed 6.4 points per game.[29]

Following the season, Rider, who dealt with off-the-court troubles, was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers,[30][31][32][33] while Lang was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks,[34] Martin signed with the Los Angeles Clippers,[35][23] and Webb was released to free agency.

Offseason

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NBA draft

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Main article: 1995 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 5 Kevin Garnett SF/PF   United States
2 48 Mark Davis SG/SF   United States Texas Tech
2 49 Jerome Allen PG   United States Pennsylvania

Kevin Garnett

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In Garnett's rookie season, the Timberwolves were in the midst of a transition phase; they replaced Bill Blair with Flip Saunders as head coach early in the season and made several trades. Garnett initially came off the bench in his rookie year, but moved into the starting lineup soon after Saunders became head coach. In his rookie year, Garnett and fellow newcomer Tom Gugliotta carried the scoring load. Garnett did not immediately leap to stardom as later prep-to-pro prospects such as Amar'e Stoudemire, LeBron James, and Dwight Howard would, but he did have a very respectable rookie year. He averaged 10.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game and was voted into the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. Despite having some promising players, the Timberwolves suffered through their seventh consecutive sub-30 win season and failed to make the playoffs. At the time Garnett was the youngest NBA player in history at 19 years and 11 months of age.

Roster

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1995–96 Minnesota Timberwolves roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
G 53 Allen, Jerome 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 184 lb (83 kg) –– Penn
F 33 Bragg, Marques 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) –– Providence
F 7 Davis, Mark 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) –– Texas Tech
F 21 Garnett, Kevin 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) –– Farragut Academy (IL)
F 24 Gugliotta, Tom 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) –– NC State
C 28 Lang, Andrew 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 245 lb (111 kg) –– Arkansas
G 15 Martin, Darrick 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 170 lb (77 kg) –– UCLA
F 42 Mitchell, Sam 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) –– Mercer
G 30 Porter, Terry 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) –– UW–Stevens Point
G 34 Rider, Isaiah 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) –– UNLV
C 40 Riley, Eric 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 245 lb (111 kg) –– Michigan
G 4 Webb, Spud 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) 133 lb (60 kg) –– NC State
G 5 West, Doug 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) –– Villanova
G 4 Williams, Micheal 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) –– Baylor
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  •   Injured

Roster

Regular season

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Season standings

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Midwest Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-San Antonio Spurs 59 23 .720 – 33–8 26–15 19–5
x-Utah Jazz 55 27 .671 4 34–7 21–20 14–10
x-Houston Rockets 48 34 .585 11 27–14 21–20 15–9
Denver Nuggets 35 47 .427 24 24–17 11–30 13–11
Minnesota Timberwolves 26 56 .317 33 17–24 9–32 10–14
Dallas Mavericks 26 56 .317 33 16–25 10–31 10–14
Vancouver Grizzlies 15 67 .183 44 10–31 5–36 3–21
Western Conference
# Team W L PCT GB GP
1 c-Seattle SuperSonics * 64 18 .780 – 82
2 y-San Antonio Spurs * 59 23 .720 5 82
3 x-Utah Jazz 55 27 .671 9 82
4 x-Los Angeles Lakers 53 29 .646 11 82
5 x-Houston Rockets 48 34 .585 16 82
6 x-Portland Trail Blazers 44 38 .537 20 82
7 x-Phoenix Suns 41 41 .500 23 82
8 x-Sacramento Kings 39 43 .476 25 82
9 Golden State Warriors 36 46 .439 28 82
10 Denver Nuggets 35 47 .427 29 82
11 Los Angeles Clippers 29 53 .354 35 82
12 Minnesota Timberwolves 26 56 .317 38 82
13 Dallas Mavericks 26 56 .317 38 82
14 Vancouver Grizzlies 15 67 .183 49 82

Record vs. opponents

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1995-96 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA VAN WAS
Atlanta — 4–0 3–1 0–4 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–0 0–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 4–0 2–1 2–2 2–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 4–0 1–1 2–0 1–3
Boston 0–4 — 2–2 0–3 1–3 0–2 1–1 2–1 0–2 1–1 0–4 2–0 0–2 3–1 3–1 2–0 2–2 0–4 1–3 4–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 3–1 0–2 1–1 2–2
Charlotte 1–3 2–2 — 1–3 3–1 2–0 2–0 1–3 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 0–3 3–0 0–4 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 2–0 3–1
Chicago 4–0 3–0 3–1 — 4–0 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–0 2–0 3–1 4–0 2–0 3–0 3–1 3–1 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 2–0 4–0
Cleveland 1–3 3–1 1–3 0–4 — 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 2–0 1–3 4–0 2–0 1–2 3–1 1–2 4–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 3–1 0–2 2–0 3–1
Dallas 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 — 2–2 0–2 2–2 1–3 0–2 2–2 0–4 0–2 1–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–4 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 1–3 4–0 0–2
Denver 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 — 1–1 2–2 1–3 0–2 1–3 2–2 0–2 1–1 4–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–1 0–4 0–4 0–4 1–3 2–0 3–1 3–1 1–1
Detroit 2–2 1–2 3–1 0–4 2–2 2–0 1–1 — 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 0–2 1–3 2–2 1–1 4–0 0–4 1–3 4–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 0–2 2–0 1–2
Golden State 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–2 0–2 — 2–2 1–1 3–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–3 4–0 1–1
Houston 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–2 — 2–0 4–0 3–1 0–2 2–0 2–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–0 2–2 4–0 1–1
Indiana 3–1 4–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 0–2 — 2–0 1–1 3–0 3–1 1–1 1–3 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 4–0 0–2 2–0 3–0
L.A. Clippers 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 3–1 0–2 1–3 0–4 0–2 — 0–4 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–4 0–2 1–3 3–1 1–1
L.A. Lakers 2–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 4–0 2–2 2–0 3–1 1–3 1–1 4–0 — 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–0 2–2 4–0 1–1
Miami 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 0–3 1–1 0–2 — 3–0 1–1 5–0 1–3 1–3 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–1 0–2 1–1 2–2
Milwaukee 2–2 1–3 1–3 0–4 0–4 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–1 0–2 0–3 — 1–1 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–3
Minnesota 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 4–0 0–4 1–1 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–3 1–3 1–1 1–1 — 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–3 0–4 3–1 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–3 2–2 0–2
New Jersey 0–4 2–2 3–0 0–3 2–1 1–1 2–0 0–4 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 0–2 0–5 3–1 1–1 — 2–2 0–4 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 0–2 2–0 2–2
New York 1–2 4–0 0–3 1–3 1–3 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 2–2 — 1–3 3–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 4–0 1–1 1–1 3–1
Orlando 2–2 3–1 4–0 1–3 2–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 3–1 3–1 2–0 4–0 3–1 — 4–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 1–1 2–0 4–0
Philadelphia 1–2 0–4 1–3 0–4 0–4 2–0 0–2 0–4 0–2 0–2 1–3 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 — 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–3
Phoenix 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 3–1 1–3 0–2 3–1 1–3 1–1 1–3 1–3 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–0 — 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–0 1–3 4–0 2–0
Portland 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 4–0 4–0 0–2 3–1 2–2 1–1 2–2 2–2 2–0 0–2 4–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 — 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–0 1–3 2–2 0–2
Sacramento 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–2 4–0 1–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 2–2 1–3 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 — 1–3 0–4 2–0 0–4 2–2 0–2
San Antonio 2–0 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–2 4–0 0–2 3–1 3–1 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–1 3–1 3–1 — 2–2 2–0 3–1 4–0 1–1
Seattle 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 4–0 4–0 0–2 4–0 2–2 2–0 2–0 4–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 4–0 3–1 4–0 2–2 — 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–1
Toronto 0–4 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–1 0–2 0–4 1–1 0–2 0–4 2–0 0–2 1–2 2–2 1–1 2–2 0–4 1–2 1–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 — 0–2 1–1 3–1
Utah 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 3–1 1–3 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 3–1 4–0 1–3 1–3 2–0 — 4–0 1–1
Vancouver 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–3 0–2 0–4 0–4 0–2 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–4 2–2 2–2 0–4 1–3 1–1 0–4 — 0–2
Washington 3–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 1–3 2–0 1–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 0–3 1–1 1–1 2–2 3–1 2–0 2–2 1–3 0–4 3–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 2–0 —

Game log

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Player statistics

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Ragular season

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Player POS GP GS MP REB AST STL BLK PTS MPG RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Terry Porter PG 82 40 2,072 212 452 89 15 773 25.3 2.6 5.5 1.1 .2 9.4
Kevin Garnett SF 80 43 2,293 501 145 86 131 835 28.7 6.3 1.8 1.1 1.6 10.4
Tom Gugliotta PF 78 78 2,835 690 238 139 96 1,261 36.3 8.8 3.1 1.8 1.2 16.2
Sam Mitchell SF 78 42 2,145 339 74 49 26 844 27.5 4.3 .9 .6 .3 10.8
Isaiah Rider SG 75 68 2,594 309 213 48 23 1,470 34.6 4.1 2.8 .6 .3 19.6
Doug West SG 73 16 1,639 161 119 30 17 465 22.5 2.2 1.6 .4 .2 6.4
Mark Davis SF 57 0 571 125 47 40 22 188 10.0 2.2 .8 .7 .4 3.3
Marques Bragg PF 53 0 369 79 8 17 8 131 7.0 1.5 .2 .3 .2 2.5
Sean Rooks† C 49 7 902 204 38 19 28 331 18.4 4.2 .8 .4 .6 6.8
Christian Laettner† C 44 44 1,518 302 129 40 43 792 34.5 6.9 2.9 .9 1.0 18.0
Jerome Allen SG 41 0 362 25 49 21 5 108 8.8 .6 1.2 .5 .1 2.6
Darrick Martin† PG 35 16 747 44 156 26 2 254 21.3 1.3 4.5 .7 .1 7.3
Spud Webb† PG 26 21 645 40 154 25 5 244 24.8 1.5 5.9 1.0 .2 9.4
Eric Riley C 25 10 310 76 5 8 16 92 12.4 3.0 .2 .3 .6 3.7
Andrew Lang† C 20 18 550 121 3 7 41 175 27.5 6.1 .2 .4 2.1 8.8
Micheal Williams PG 9 7 189 23 31 5 3 55 21.0 2.6 3.4 .6 .3 6.1
Charles Smith PG 8 0 39 5 6 1 0 6 4.9 .6 .8 .1 .0 .8
  • † Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Timberwolves only.

Awards and honors

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Transactions

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References

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  1. ^ 1995-96 Minnesota Timberwolves
  2. ^ Wise, Mike (June 29, 1995). "PRO BASKETBALL; Underclassmen Rule Atop N.B.A. Draft Board". The New York Times. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  3. ^ Heisler, Mark (June 29, 1995). "NBA Is a Young Man's Game: Draft: Smith, McDyess, Stackhouse, Wallace and Garnett Lead the Way". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  4. ^ "NBA DRAFT: Clippers Deal No. 2 McDyess to Nuggets: Pro Basketball: L.A. Gets Rodney Rogers and Rights to Oregon State's Brent Barry. O'Bannon Goes Ninth to New Jersey, and Zidek Is Selected No. 22 by Charlotte". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. June 29, 1995. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  5. ^ Nakamura, David (June 29, 1995). "Joe Goes West as Warriors Make Smith No. 1 Pick". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  6. ^ Smith, Sam (November 2, 1995). "'Kid' Garnett Takes on Man-Sized Job". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  7. ^ "1995 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  8. ^ "Timberwolves Sign Free Agent Porter". Eugene Register-Guard. News Service Reports. October 15, 1995. p. 2F. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  9. ^ Smith, Sam (October 15, 1995). "Rookies Provide Proviso Influence". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  10. ^ "Transactions". The New York Times. October 15, 1995. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  11. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; McHale Moves to Improve Timberwolves". The New York Times. October 17, 1995. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  12. ^ "NBA Locks Out Refs After Pledge Rejected". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. September 30, 1995. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  13. ^ "NBA Off-Season Transactions". United Press International. October 5, 1995. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  14. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Minnesota Throws Coach to the Wolves". The New York Times. December 19, 1995. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  15. ^ "At 6-14, Timberwolves Fire Blair as Coach". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. December 19, 1995. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  16. ^ "Another Year, Another Firing: Timberwolves Dump Blair". Chicago Tribune. December 19, 1995. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  17. ^ "PLUS: BASKETBALL; Williams Cleared". The New York Times. Associated Press. September 26, 1997. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  18. ^ "Timberwolves' Williams Finally Returns". United Press International. December 12, 1997. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  19. ^ "Hawks Trade Lang, Webb to Timberwolves for Laettner, Rooks". Associated Press. February 22, 1996. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  20. ^ "Laettner, Rooks Traded to Hawks". United Press International. February 22, 1996. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  21. ^ Brown, Clifton (February 23, 1996). "PRO BASKETBALL; On Deadline, Riley Makes Bold Moves". The New York Times. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  22. ^ "Hardaway Heads for the Heat in Trade". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 23, 1996. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  23. ^ a b Baker, Chris (February 11, 1997). "He's Tiny, But His Presence Is Huge". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  24. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 8, 1996". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  25. ^ "1995–96 Minnesota Timberwolves Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  26. ^ "Stoudamire Named Top Rookie After Lukewarm NBA Reception". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 16, 1996. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  27. ^ "Raptors' Stoudamire Easily Captures Rookie Honors". Chicago Tribune. Tribune News Services. May 16, 1996. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  28. ^ "1995–96 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  29. ^ "1995–96 Minnesota Timberwolves Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  30. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Rider, Then Anderson, Join the Trail Blazers". The New York Times. July 24, 1996. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  31. ^ "Portland Gets Rider, Signs Anderson". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. July 24, 1996. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  32. ^ "Rider, Anderson to Blazers". Tampa Bay Times. July 24, 1996. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  33. ^ "Rider Traded to Blazers for 2 Players". United Press International. July 24, 1996. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  34. ^ "Bucks Acquire Andrew Lang from Timberwolves". Associated Press. July 11, 1996. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  35. ^ Baker, Chris (September 20, 1996). "Clippers Sign Former Bruin". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
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