Exactly halfway through the season, Minnesota is on pace for 60 wins, a plateau that has long signified true regular-season greatness in the NBA.

Never before have the Timberwolves eclipsed that mark. Such a win total would likely result in the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

Timberwolves guard Mike Conley conceded 60 wins “would be a good number.”

“If we can get there,” he said, “that’d be a feat in itself.”

And yet, he hasn’t put any thought into such potential achievements. Yes, that was followed up by the cliche that the Wolves are taking things one game at a time.

But Conley also acknowledged that Minnesota indeed has long-term goals. Frankly, they’re just much bigger.

“The big goal is you want to be playing at the end of June, whenever the (NBA) Finals is,” he said. “So, hopefully, we give ourselves a chance at doing that.”

While Minnesota is still thought of as more of a fun story locally and nationally, with a group of disciplined veterans still playing the game at an incredibly high level and the highlight reel that is Anthony Edwards combining forces to be on pace for the best season in franchise history, the locker room is aiming higher.

Yes, even one playoff series victory — something the Wolves haven’t achieved since 2004 — would be considered a success and a major step forward by many. But this roster seems to recognize the moment and opportunity in front of it.

“We always talk about it: You never know if you’re gonna get another opportunity to win a championship. Doesn’t matter if you’re a young team, if you’re a team with experience. You never know. This league, so many things happen,” Wolves veteran center Rudy Gobert said. “You gotta embrace the moment and make the most of every situation, and I think that’s what we’re trying to do. And we’re trying to carry that over to the younger guys. And it’s fun because they embrace it. We’re not trying to waste any time. We can do something unique right now. Let’s do it.”

The title talk has officially begun, openly and publicly, for the ears of all who are willing to listen. That’s what makes it real. The dreams have been spoken into existence. When the players set that as the bar, others should follow.

There is no more shying away from it.

Perhaps that would have sounded insane back in October, with Minnesota fresh off another first-round playoff exit. But circumstances have clearly changed.

“It’s something I think we can possibly do,” reserve center Naz Reid said. “The sky is the limit for us.”

Why wouldn’t it be? Minnesota has already toppled fellow contenders this season in Boston, the L.A. Clippers, Denver and Oklahoma City, whom the Wolves will again battle Saturday. The Timberwolves are in a prime position to make the West playoffs run through Target Center, where they are nearly unbeatable.

They sport the NBA’s top defense and are flush with offensive firepower. Gobert has returned to his All-NBA level, Edwards is a surefire all-star, Conley looks like one of the best point guards in basketball and Karl-Anthony Towns, Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, Kyle Anderson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker are all capable of lifting the team to victory via their individual methods on any given night.

It looks like a championship-caliber roster. On a game-by-game basis, it looks like a championship-caliber team. So it’s about time the Wolves recognized their championship-caliber mindset.

Just because you haven’t, doesn’t mean you can’t. These Timberwolves look primed to skip a few rungs on the ladder and reach the tippy top via one giant leap.

“My goal for us is not really 60 wins, it’s to win a championship,” Edwards said. “I don’t care, as long we get to where we need to be offensively and defensively, that’s the goal. I think that’s the main goal, for sure.”

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