Garnett urges T-Wolves to get back on track: 'It's a s--- storm up there'

The Jimmy Butler saga shows no signs of slowing down and it appears a Minnesota Timberwolves legend is among those watching it all unfold.

Kevin Garnett has now chimed, hoping the franchise he spent 14 seasons with gets back on track to develop its young core of Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins.

"I'm a T-Wolf for life, man," Garnett told The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski. "I'm 'Sota for life. I've always wanted better for not only the city and the franchise, but Wigs, KAT, those are my guys. I root for those guys. Gorgui Dieng. Those are my guys. I'm just hoping they can get through this rough patch and everybody can get on the same patch and figure it out. It's a s--- storm up there."

Reports emerged in September that Butler demanded a trade from the Timberwolves, with team president and head coach Tom Thibodeau seemingly unwilling to move on. Butler returned to practice on Wednesday, only to verbally confront several players and front-office members.

Garnett sees some similarities between his and Butler's intensity, but differences in the intention of their outbursts.

"You don't think that I went crazy sometimes? Man, I was a damn Tasmanian devil," Garnett said. "I would say s--- at (Kevin) McHale. I would say s--- at Flip (Saunders). But it was all to motivate all of us. We had a big game against Chicago and I'm just raising the level to what I'm expecting the next day to be like."

Garnett was drafted No. 5 overall by the T-Wolves in 1995 and quickly became the centerpiece of the franchise. Minnesota was home for the big man before he was dealt to the Boston Celtics in 2007.

"I never requested a trade because I viewed 'Sota as mine," he said. "I built this house. I'm not leaving this goddamn house. You can get the f--- up out of here. You don't like it, then leave.

"I would hear a bunch of whining and it's snowing and it's cold and why are we practicing. Man, you know what this was when you signed up. If you don't want to be here, get the f--- up out of here, man. Guys know this. Guys know what you sign up for. I never asked for a trade because I never wanted to be traded."

Garnett won his first and only NBA championship with the Celtics in 2008. He briefly returned to the Timberwolves in 2015 to mentor the young roster before retiring after the 2015-16 season.