What happened between Kevin Garnett and Timberwolves in 2016 fallout? Revisiting clash as franchise decides to honor legend

Kevin Garnett is finally getting his legacy honored in Minnesota as the Timberwolves have decided to retire KG's number 21 jersey over the next two seasons. On Thursday, NBA insider Shams Charania broke the news to the community in an X post.

He revealed that Garnett and the Timberwolves have found common ground under new ownership after being at odds since 2016.

"Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett is reuniting with the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Lynx in a new, all-encompassing role involving business, community efforts and content development, sources told ESPN. His long-awaited No. 21 Wolves jersey retirement will also happen in Minnesota," Charanis tweeted.

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Kevin Garnett getting his jersey retired is a moment of happiness for the former MVP and the Timberwolves fans, who remember him as their franchise's face before Anthony Edwards.

However, this dream would never have become a reality if former Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor were still in charge. KG had a sour relationship with Taylor for the majority of his time in Minnesota.

At first, the former Timberwolves owner did not build around Garnett and provide him with suitable pieces to win a championship. The 15-time All-Star carried a team with average and under-average players on his back to the Western Conference Finals in 2004.

KG dedicated 13 years of his career to the Timberwolves before he was traded to the Celtics in 2007. According to a report from Matthew Schmidt, the former MVP did not want to leave Minnesota.

After winning the championship in Boston, KG spent the final years of his career playing for the Brooklyn Nets. However, before the 2015-16 season, the Timberwolves brought Garnett home for a final ride.

Flip Saunders played a big role in convincing the former MVP to return after a sour exit in 2007. He agreed to give Garnett a place in the front office once his career was over. Unfortunately, Saunders was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease and passed away before the season began.

Taylor assumed command of the management and brought in Tom Thibodeau as the head coach. He drove Garnett out the door into retirement and did not uphold the promises Saunders made to the former MVP.

This upset Kevin Garnett to his core, who then refused to let the Timberwolves retire his jersey for almost a decade. He believed that Taylor was retiring the jersey because of the pressure from the fans, and not of his own choice.

However, now that Taylor is gone, the new Timberwolves ownership has rewarded Kevin Garnett with the respect he deserves for the glory he brought to the Timberwolves during his time there.

Kevin Garnett's most notable accomplishments in Minnesota

Kevin Garnett has earned his place in the rafters of the Target Center. Even though he did not bring a championship to Minnesota, he brought them very close to winning one in 2004.

Garnett dominated the franchise's all-time stats. He is the only player from the franchise to win an MVP award. He leads the franchise in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks, making him the only player in the league to lead a team's all-time stats in those five categories.

He led Minnesota to eight playoff appearances between 1996 and 2004. The 2004 run was their last one for almost two decades until Anthony Edwards led them to the Western Conference Finals in 2024. Lastly, Kevin Garnett will become the second player to have his jersey retired by the Timberwolves.

Edited by Avi Shravan