The first 12 years of Kevin Garnett’s NBA career were spent in Minnesota and they were absolutely the best years of his career.
He was an 10-time NBA All-Star in that span, won an MVP and took a lowly Timberwolves franchise to a Conference Finals. By all accounts, this was where he spent the prime of his career. He won a ring in Boston, but he was at his absolute peak in Minnesota.
So it might come as a shock to most people that, at this point, the future Hall of Famer doesn’t want his jersey retired in Minnesota, like he does in Boston.
When speaking about a possible jersey retirement in Minnesota with The Athletic, Garnett said it wouldn’t feel “genuine.” Why? Because of beef with Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor.
“Glen knows where I’m at, I’m not entertaining it. First of all, it’s not genuine. Two, he’s getting pressure from a lot of fans and, I guess, the community there. Glen and I had an understanding before Flip died, and when Flip died, that understanding went with Flip. For that, I won’t forgive Glen. I won’t forgive him for that. I thought he was a straight up person, straight up business man, and when Flip died, everything went with him.
Ouch. Those are pretty harsh words from KG. But he has his reasons.
When he went back to Minnesota in 2015, Garnett made it clear he wanted to join the team’s ownership group and be a decision-maker within the franchise.
The late Flip Saunders — the team’s head coach at the time — lined that up for Garnett with Taylor. Saunders passed away later that fall after battling cancer. After his passing, Taylor hired Tom Thibodeau to take over the franchise as the coach and GM. A move which, Garnett says, went back on the plans he, Taylor and Saunders discussed.
Garnett later went on to say he still has love for the team and people in Minnesota, but he called Taylor a “snake” and said he couldn’t work with him.
In other words, Timberwolves fans, don’t hold your breath waiting on that jersey retirement. The Celtics one in Boston will have to be good enough.
