After 21 seasons, the Big Ticket’s career has officially expired.
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MINNEAPOLIS – Kevin Garnett announced today on social media that he will retire after 21 seasons. “I can”t ever put that into words. “I’m just thankful. I’m just thankful for everybody and the love”, said Garnett, who is shown walking around the court.
Garnett posted a video on his Instagram account saying “farewell” and “thank you”.
“Farewell”, the screen read at the end of the video. The sky is limit for the 20-year-old big man already, and with the knowledge extracted from Garnett and the motivation to “take it from here”, the mere existence of Towns in the National Basketball Association for the next decade-plus should be a sight to behold.
Minnesota Timberwolves fans will sorely miss KG, but so will the rest of the National Basketball Association. In any case, he was a big man without a traditional big man’s game.
When 18-year old Garnett was drafted in 1995, he wasn’t the first player to skip college and go straight to the pros. Garnett’s loyalty to the team despite their inability to advance deep in the playoffs was commended by many, but he eventually grew exhausted of not winning championships and brokered a trade to the Boston Celtics in 2007. After Garnett signed a six-year, $126 million extension with the Wolves during the 1998 season, Marbury demanded a trade, and was sent to the New Jersey Nets in 1999.
In the summer of 2007, with the Wolves feeling they needed to rebuild, Garnett agreed to a blockbuster trade that sent him to the Celtics in exchange for Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Al Jefferson, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair and two first-round draft choices, which became Wayne Ellington and Jonny Flynn. “He doesn’t want to play”, Rivers said. “In Boston, he was still a dominant player”. “I’m not going to say too much about it, but once Flip passed away it threw a wrench into everything”. He could have been the leading scorer there very easily. I think he realized, “Why am I doing this?’ “I would have absolutely been interested in bringing him here”. “It wasn’t a great ending”, Rivers said. “I just know he’d be a great asset to any team”.
Edwards led the way for the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship drivers.
Still, he provided value in other areas. His value lied more in terms of being a mentor for young stars Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins than for his production. “I’ll take it from here”.
Here are the top 10 plays of Garnett’s career, compiled by the Timberwolves. “I learned what hard work really means”. He last played January 23 vs. Memphis, then missed the rest of the season with knee soreness. I enjoyed watching you play every single game. Garnett matured and grew into an MVP with the Wolves, and returned to finish his career here. Would he return? Would he not?
Garnett informed the Timberwolves of his decision to retire Friday. The San Antonio Spurs did the same thing with Tim Duncan, when he retired earlier this year. The 2021 Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame class may include all three players.
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Garnett’s effect on the game stretched far beyond his patented baseline turnaround jump shot. He would talk to himself, hit himself, or trash talk his opponent. Taylor said. “I wish him continued success in the next chapter of his life”.
