Celtics legend finally granted his longtime wish after almost 10 years

Hall-of-Fame big man and 2008 NBA Champion Kevin Garnett is finally going to be granted his longtime wish. The Boston Celtics legend will be honored by his other NBA home, the Minnesota Timberwolves, when they retire Garnett’s No. 21 jersey sometime over the next two seasons, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

KG spent his first 12 NBA seasons with the Timberwolves, and then his final two, eight years after being traded to Boston in July of 2007. He won the 2004 Most Valuable Player award and led the team to eight straight playoff appearances from 1996-97 through the 2003-04 season. 

Garnett, as of now, is the greatest player to ever suit up for the Timberwolves. He leads the franchise in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. Maybe Anthony Edwards will give him a run for his money when it’s all said and done, but KG is the guy, for now.

Wolves will finally retire Kevin Garnett's number

His impressive resume in Minnesota makes it even more confusing that the Celtics, a franchise with tremendous history and countless legends, were more eager to raise his jersey to the rafters than the franchise he essentially built up in the early stages of his career. Garnett’s jaded relationship with former T-Wolves owner, Glenn Taylor, is to thank.

Garnett actually refused to have his jersey retired in Minnesota as long as Taylor still owned the team.

That is no longer the case.

New Wolves ownership opened the door for a reunion with Garnett

Taylor sold the Timberwolves in 2021 to an investment group led by Marc Lore and former MLB superstar Alex Rodriguez. The two have made a priority of strengthening the relationships with former players, KG in particular, since taking over leadership.

Garnett’s reunion with the Timberwolves doesn’t stop with his number being retired, either. Minnesota is officially hiring him to take on a widespread role with both the Wolves and the city’s WNBA franchise, the Lynx.

Charania described the role as “an all-encompassing role involving business, community and fan-engagement efforts and content development.”

His distance from the Timberwolves since his 2016 retirement has been strange. Especially because of how involved he’s been with the Celtics. Again, Garnett’s No. 5 was raised to the TD Garden rafters in March of 2022. The big man has made several appearances at Boston’s games and practices, including the raising of Banner 18 in October of 2024.

Seeing Garnett mend his relationship with the Timberwolves is great. He’s truly one of a kind when it comes to the passion he played the game with, and he should be able to be honored everywhere he brought that passion.