Photo ©2004 NBAE, photo by David Sherman
Kevin Garnett came to the Timberwolves in 1995 as the first player to turn pro directly from high school in two decades. His first dozen years with the team coincided with its greatest success, but he only won a championship after being traded. Now he returns to the team as a 20-year veteran making a final stand—with the stated goal of becoming the Wolves’ owner.
“The NBA trade deadline has led to a few exciting trades, but none have been more fun than the one that will send Kevin Garnett back to the Timberwolves. Garnett has been on a slow, mostly sad march toward retirement as a member of the Brooklyn Nets for the last few seasons, but today he agreed to waive his no-trade clause so that the Nets could send him back to Minnesota.”
—Deadspin.com, 2/19
“He was born in South Carolina, became a high school sensation in the Chicago area and a champion in Boston. But for him, Minnesota will always be home. …‘It’s perfect,’ Garnett said. …‘If you have a story, this is a fairy tale. This is a perfect ending to it.’”
—ESPN.com, 2/24
“‘As one of our veteran guys told our young guys yesterday, ‘Hey, listen, when KG walks in the locker room your phones better be tucked away, because if they’re not, they’re going to get thrown in the toilet on game night,’ [Timberwolves coach Flip] Saunders said.”
—Boston.com, 2/23
“‘This is his locker and I’m actually kind of scared because I think he is going to say something about me being in his locker,’ young [Timberwolf] Zach LaVine said. LaVine offered the locker back to Garnett, who declined and instead will dress one seat over.”
—Pioneer Press, 2/21
“I’ll be honest with you, I do not recognize downtown at all. …My friend tried to take me to Uptown, and I didn’t recognize nothing.”
—Garnett, press conference, 2/24
“The moment wasn’t wasted on Wednesday night in Minnesota’s 97-77 win against the Washington Wizards, Garnett’s first game back in a Timberwolves uniform. …His every entrance and exit was greeted with a standing ovation, his every deflection met with roaring applause.”
—SI.com, 2/26
“But it is important to remember that this entire shebang could still eventually result in refreshed disaster. Either way, it won’t be boring.”
—MinnPost, 2/25
