Kevin Garnett, a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame since 2020, remains a figure firmly embedded in NBA lore. Known for his fiery spirit and an unwavering love for competition, Garnett’s influence stretches far beyond his playing days. One lingering issue, however, has been his strained relationship with the Minnesota Timberwolves—a bond that might soon mend.
According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the new leadership group in Minnesota, which includes former MLB standout Alex Rodriguez, is eager to reconcile with Garnett. These owners recognize Garnett as perhaps the most illustrious player in Timberwolves history and are keen on honoring him by retiring his jersey.
Fans haven't been shy about expressing their enthusiasm over this potential reconciliation. Garnett, a former 15-time All-Star, burst onto the NBA scene with the Timberwolves back in 1995 and dedicated 14 of his 21 seasons to the franchise. He even made a return as a seasoned veteran, guiding rookie Karl-Anthony Towns with his vast reservoir of experience.
Ad
Trending
Voices from around the league echo the sentiment that it’s high time KG's jersey graced the rafters. One fan's tweet summed up the widespread feeling: "Long overdue—KG deserves that jersey in the rafters!"
Ad
The sentiment that Minnesota’s greatest player had to wait this long for his place among franchise immortals has stirred emotions. A fan tweeted, “He shouldn’t have had to wait for new ownership to have it done.
He’s by far their best and greatest player ever. Kevin Garnett WAS Minnesota.
And they’ve done him dirty for far too long.”
Some fans drew parallels with other sports teams, noting, “Really such shame when ownership creates a barrier between the franchise legends and their fans. Wilpons did it with the Mets too, and Cohen immediately fixed it."
Ad
Others scratched their heads, pondering why such an obvious tribute has taken so long. "Wait, so they never thought about retiring his jersey?" one fan commented, while another questioned past conflicts and dismissals, "'some say he's mid?'"
The root of the conflict traces back to an agreement that soured. Garnett's bond with Minnesota was damaged when a proposed post-career role in the front office fell through.
This disappointment was amplified by the loss of Flip Saunders, a key advocate for Garnett's return and mentor to many, who passed away in 2015. When the Timberwolves stepped back from their agreement, Garnett took it as a slight against both himself and Saunders’ legacy.
Fast forward to today, and with Alex Rodriguez and the new ownership at the helm, a fresh dialogue could bring Garnett back into the fold. To many Timberwolves fans, this move isn't just about honoring a player; it’s a celebration of the indelible mark Garnett left while donning the Minnesota jersey.
