The Kevin Garnett era with the Timberwolves has ended.
Again.
Garnett, the best player in franchise history and a certain future Hall of Famer, retired Friday. Garnett led the team to eight straight playoff appearances starting in the spring of 1997 and to the 2003-04 Western Conference finals.
Garnett and the Timberwolves came to an agreement Friday, and Garnett officially retired.
In an enigmatic video posted to his Instagram account Friday afternoon, Garnett is seen walking in a quiet, empty Target Center. "I'm just thankful man," he said. "I can't ever put that into words. I'm just thankful. I'm just thankful for everybody and the love. I never would have thought that people loved me like this. But, for it to be reality is something else. We're going to be all right, man. I don't expect this to be easy. But so far so good. Stay tuned."
As the video ends, the word, "Farewell" appears on the screen. Followed by, "Thank you for the journey."
The Wolves issued a news release on Garnett's retirement after the video was posted.
"It has been a real joy to watch KG come into the league as a young man and watch him develop his skills to become one of the very best in the NBA," Wolves owner Glen Taylor said in the release. "I have treasured the opportunity to see him grow as a leader. I wish him continued success in the next chapter of his life. His Minnesota fans will always cherish the memories he has provided."
The news comes with the Timberwolves first training camp under Tom Thibodeau set to begin Tuesday.
Garnett, who waived his no-trade clause in order to reunite with the Timberwolves in February of 2015 in a move orchestrated by the late president of basketball operations and coach Flip Saunders, will not play out the second year of his two-year, $16.5 million contract. The Wolves will take the same procedural step the San Antonio Spurs took when Tim Duncan retired at the end of last season. That would be waiving Garnett, which will guarantee him the $8 million left on his contract. The NBA thus will lose three all-time greats _ Garnett, Duncan and Kobe Bryant _ to retirement in the same offseason.
