T-Wolves bring Garnett back as ambassador, will retire his jersey
The Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx are hiring Kevin Garnett as a team ambassador, the Timberwolves announced Thursday.
Garnett will attend "select" home games in his new role while "elevating the fan experience, championing community initiatives across the Twin Cities, and helping shape the teams' stories through exclusive content," the T-Wolves said in a statement.
Minnesota also confirmed it intends to retire the Hall of Famer's No. 21 jersey, repairing a schism with the retired forward that began during former owner Glen Taylor's reign.
"The Big Ticket is back! Kevin Garnett is synonymous with the Minnesota Timberwolves," franchise owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez said in a statement. "Bringing Kevin home has been a priority since we acquired the teams. He is the greatest player in Timberwolves history, and his impact on our franchise and community is immeasurable."
Garnett, 49, spent the first 12 seasons of his NBA career in Minnesota after the franchise drafted him fifth overall in 1995. He led the Timberwolves to the 2004 Western Conference finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, where they fell in six games.
"I'm thrilled to be back home," Garnett said. "Minnesota is where it all began, where I was young, hungry, and learning how to compete at the highest level.
"I'm excited to be back in the Twin Cities at a time when Marc and Alex are setting a bold new vision for this franchise. Their leadership has brought fresh energy to the organization."
Minnesota traded the 2004 MVP to the Boston Celtics ahead of the 2007-08 season. He formed a Big Three with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen that won a title in their first season together and made another Finals appearance in 2010. The Timberwolves, meanwhile, did not return to the West finals until 2024.
Garnett returned for a second on-court stint in Minnesota in 2014 where he played his last 43 games as a pro. However, he fell out with Taylor following the death of Timberwolves head coach Flip Saunders on Oct. 25, 2015 - days before the start of Garnett's final NBA season.
Garnett took issue with how the team paid tribute to the late coach. He also suggested Taylor broke promises to Garnett about an off-court role with the organization following his playing career. In response, he refused to have his number retired in Minnesota while Taylor was still owner.
"At this point, I don't want any dealings with Glen Taylor or Taylor Corp. or anything that has to do with him," Garnett told The Athletic in 2021. "I love my Timberwolves, I'll always love my guys, I'll always love the people who f--- with me there.
"I'll always have a special place for the city of Minneapolis and the state of Minnesota in my heart. But I don't do business with snakes. I don't do business with snake motherf-----s. I try not to do business with openly snakes or people who are snake-like."
Taylor officially ceded control of the Timberwolves and Lynx following an arbitration hearing in February, ending a four-year ownership dispute with Lore and Rodriguez. The two first entered into a $1.5-billion agreement to purchase the franchises from Taylor in 2021; however, the latter attempted to call off the sale in March 2024, claiming a payment by the partners was made after a scheduled deadline.
Garnett remains the Timberwolves' all-time leader in nearly all counting stats. He played 970 games for the franchise, during which he accrued 19,201 points, 10,718 rebounds, 4,216 assists, 1,590 blocks, and 1,315 steals.