Kevin Garnett’s No. 21 jersey is finally headed to the rafters in Minnesota - and for Timberwolves fans, it’s a moment that’s been a long time coming. After years of tension and missed opportunities, the franchise is officially honoring the player who put them on the map. The jersey retirement will take place over the next two seasons, marking a full-circle moment for both Garnett and the Timberwolves.
The announcement came via NBA insider Shams Charania, who revealed that Garnett and the Timberwolves have reached a long-awaited reconciliation under the team’s new ownership. But this isn’t just a ceremonial gesture - Garnett is also stepping into a broader role with the organization, one that includes business ventures, community outreach, and content development. In short, KG is back in the fold in a meaningful way.
This is more than just a jersey retirement. It’s the closing of an emotional chapter that’s been open since 2016, when Garnett’s relationship with the Timberwolves - and more specifically, former owner Glen Taylor - fractured beyond repair.
A Complicated History
To understand how significant this moment is, you have to go back to the early 2000s. Garnett didn’t just play for the Timberwolves - he was the Timberwolves. Drafted in 1995 straight out of high school, he gave the franchise 13 seasons of relentless effort, elite production, and unmatched intensity.
But for much of that time, the front office failed to build a true contender around him. Despite Garnett’s MVP-level play, the roster around him was often underwhelming. Still, he dragged Minnesota to eight playoff appearances between 1996 and 2004, including a run to the Western Conference Finals in 2004 - the closest the franchise has ever come to an NBA Finals berth.
Garnett’s time in Minnesota came to an end in 2007 when he was traded to the Boston Celtics. According to reports, he didn’t want to leave - but the writing was on the wall.
The team wasn’t going anywhere, and he deserved a shot at a title. He got it in Boston, winning a championship in 2008.
After a stint in Brooklyn, Garnett returned to Minnesota in 2015 for what was supposed to be a final ride - and more. Then-president of basketball operations Flip Saunders had envisioned a post-retirement role for Garnett in the front office, a way to keep him tied to the franchise long after his playing days were over.
But tragedy struck when Saunders was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and passed away before the season began. With Taylor back in control, things quickly unraveled.
Tom Thibodeau was brought in as head coach and president of basketball operations, and the promises made to Garnett were left unfulfilled. Feeling disrespected and disillusioned, Garnett retired - and made it clear he wanted no part of a jersey retirement under Taylor’s watch.
A New Era, A New Chapter
That stalemate lasted nearly a decade. Garnett refused to allow the franchise to honor him while Taylor was still in charge, believing any such gesture would be more about optics than genuine appreciation. But now, with new ownership at the helm, the relationship has thawed.
The Timberwolves are finally giving Garnett the recognition he earned - not just with stats, but with sweat equity and loyalty. And make no mistake, his impact on the franchise is undeniable.
He’s the only Timberwolves player to win an MVP award. He leads the franchise in every major statistical category: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.
That’s not just rare - that’s unprecedented. No other player in NBA history leads a single franchise in all five of those categories.
And while he never brought a championship to Minnesota, he delivered something just as valuable at the time: relevance. Before Anthony Edwards became the face of the modern Wolves, Garnett was Minnesota basketball. His 2004 playoff run remains one of the most memorable in franchise history - and until 2024, when Edwards led the team back to the Western Conference Finals, it was the high-water mark.
Now, Garnett will become just the second player in franchise history to have his jersey retired - a long-overdue honor for the man who helped build the Timberwolves' identity from the ground up.
The Legacy Lives On
This isn’t just a symbolic gesture - it’s a restoration. Garnett’s return to the organization in a broader role signals a new chapter, one rooted in respect, collaboration, and legacy-building. For a franchise that’s spent much of its existence trying to find its footing, embracing its past is a crucial step forward.
Kevin Garnett gave everything he had to Minnesota. And now, finally, the Timberwolves are giving something back.