If you walked into the Target Center anytime between 2016 and late 2025, there was a glaring, 21-shaped hole in the rafters. It felt wrong. For a franchise that spent most of its early existence essentially being a punchline for the rest of the NBA, Kevin Garnett wasn't just a player. He was the entire identity.
He was the kid who skipped college in '95, showing up in Minneapolis with a 7-foot frame and the motor of a caffeinated pit bull. Honestly, the Timberwolves before KG were a mess. They’d never won more than 29 games in a season. Then this skinny teenager shows up, starts yelling at teammates and stanchions alike, and suddenly Minnesota is a playoff staple for eight straight years.
But for a long time, the relationship between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Kevin Garnett was, well, toxic. It was a messy divorce involving broken promises, a legendary coach’s death, and a billionaire owner KG wouldn't even look at.
The MVP Year and the "What If" of 2004
You can't talk about Garnett without talking about the 2003-04 season. This was the peak. People forget how dominant he actually was because the modern NBA is so obsessed with triple-doubles. KG was basically a walking 20-10-5 before that was a cool thing for big men to do. He averaged 24.2 points and led the league with 13.9 rebounds that year.
The Wolves finished 58-24. First seed in the West.
They finally got past the first-round hex by beating Denver and then survived a brutal seven-game war with Sacramento. I still remember Game 7 against the Kings—KG went for 32 points, 21 rebounds, and 5 blocks on his birthday. It was the loudest that arena has ever been. But then Sam Cassell’s hip gave out, and they lost to the Lakers in the Conference Finals.
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That was the ceiling. After that, the front office basically failed to build anything competent around him. They missed on draft picks, made weird trades, and eventually, the "Big Ticket" was out of tickets.
The Trade That Changed Everything (Twice)
In 2007, the Wolves finally traded him to Boston. It remains the largest trade for a single player in NBA history—seven players for one guy. Al Jefferson, Sebastian Telfair, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, and two first-rounders.
Boston got a ring. Minnesota got a decade of "The Lost Years."
The return for KG was... underwhelming, to put it lightly. Al Jefferson was a beast in the post, sure, but he wasn't a franchise savior. The Wolves went from a perennial playoff team to a basement dweller almost overnight. It took them thirteen years to see the second round of the playoffs again.
The Beef with Glen Taylor
So, why did it take until December 2025 to get his jersey retired?
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It basically comes down to a feud with former owner Glen Taylor. When KG came back in 2015 to finish his career, it was supposed to be a storybook ending. Flip Saunders, the coach who was like a father figure to Garnett, brought him home. The plan was for KG to eventually move into the front office or ownership.
Then Flip tragically passed away from Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
According to KG, the handshake agreement he had with Taylor died with Flip. He felt Taylor went back on his word. In a 2020 interview, Garnett straight up called Taylor a "snake." He refused to let the team retire his jersey as long as Taylor was in charge. It was a stalemate that lasted nearly a decade, even while the Celtics were raising his No. 5 to their rafters in 2022.
The 2026 Reality: A Legend Returns
Things changed when Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez finally took full control of the team in 2025. They made mending the fence with No. 21 a priority. You’ve probably seen the news by now: as of late 2025, Garnett is officially back as a Team Ambassador.
The jersey retirement is finally happening.
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It's a weird feeling for Wolves fans. For years, the franchise tried to move on with Karl-Anthony Towns and then Anthony Edwards, but the shadow of Garnett was always there. You’d see kids wearing the old "trees" jerseys from the late 90s more often than the current ones. Now, with the team actually being a contender again in the Western Conference, having the franchise's GOAT back in the building feels like the final piece of the puzzle.
Garnett’s Records in Minnesota:
- Points: 19,201 (1st)
- Rebounds: 10,718 (1st)
- Assists: 4,216 (1st)
- Blocks: 1,590 (1st)
- Steals: 1,315 (1st)
Basically, if there’s a statistical category that matters, Kevin Garnett owns it. He played 970 games for this team. To put that in perspective, the next closest guy is Sam Mitchell at 757.
What This Means for the Current Wolves
The timing of this reunion is actually perfect. Anthony Edwards has that same "kill everyone on the court" energy that KG had, and having Garnett around the facility as a mentor (even in a business role) is huge.
But it's also a lesson in franchise management. The reason the Minnesota Timberwolves Kevin Garnett era ended in a trade rather than a title was a series of front-office blunders—the Joe Smith illegal contract scandal being the biggest one. It cost them five first-round picks (later reduced to three), effectively kneecapping their ability to get KG help during his prime.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're a fan of the Big Ticket or just a basketball historian, here is what you should be looking for in 2026:
- Jersey Retirement Gear: Expect a massive drop of "Mitchell & Ness" style throwback merchandise. The original 1995-96 rookie jersey and the 2004 MVP "trees" jersey are already spiking in resale value.
- Attend the Ceremony: The date hasn't been set in stone yet, but expect it to be a home game against a high-profile opponent (likely Boston or the Lakers). Tickets will be the most expensive in Target Center history.
- Watch the Content: As part of his new role, KG is helping develop team-produced content. If you loved "Area 21," keep an eye on the Wolves' official YouTube and social channels for new KG-led storytelling.
- Ownership Stake: While he's starting as an ambassador, many insiders believe this is the first step toward Garnett finally getting that piece of the team he was promised a decade ago.
The bridge is built. The "snake" era is over. Minnesota finally has its heart back.
Reference Checklist:
- NBA MVP Award (2004)
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (Class of 2020)
- Minnesota Timberwolves All-Time Leaderboard (Basketball-Reference)
- Reporting on the Lore/Rodriguez ownership transition (Star Tribune, December 2025)