Timberwolves Fire Rodgers After 6-23 Start

Jimmy Rodgers, who guided the Minnesota Timberwolves to only two victories in their last 18 games, has been fired, the team said Monday.

“It’s something I did not want to do,” said Jack McCloskey, the team’s general manager. “But it was certainly a decision I had to make.”

Assistant Sidney Lowe was named interim coach. Lowe, who will be 33 next week, is the NBA’s youngest coach.

Rodgers was dismissed less than 1 1/2 seasons after replacing the fired Bill Musselman, who coached the team through its first two seasons. At 6-23, the Timberwolves have the league’s second-worst record. In Rodgers’ first season, they were an NBA-worst 15-67.

McCloskey watched last Wednesday night’s 98-78 home loss to the Lakers--one of eight defeats by at least 20 points this season.

“We’re out there pressing and double-teaming in the backcourt against a veteran, veteran team,” McCloskey said. “And they’re getting layups and easy shots. That hurt him. That Laker thing hurt him.”

In 1 1/2 seasons, Rodgers compiled a 21-90 (.189) record, the worst of any coach during that span. Fired after his second season as Boston’s coach, 1989-90, Rodgers has a 115-160 coaching record in the NBA.

“There’s no question we have more talent than our record indicates,” Lowe said. “As Jack said, we really haven’t been putting out the effort. My job--the coach’s job--is to make sure that we put our players in the position to win each and every night.

“I’m not knocking Jimmy. All I’m concerned about is doing the best I can to motivate them.”