The Minnesota Timberwolves have announced that Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett will return to the franchise as a team ambassador, with plans to retire his No. 21 jersey. This reunion follows the team's sale to new owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez. Garnett, who played 12 of his 21 NBA seasons with Minnesota, expressed excitement about rejoining the organization.
Kevin Garnett, the iconic center who defined much of the Minnesota Timberwolves' early success, is returning to the franchise in a non-playing capacity. On Thursday, the Timberwolves formalized his hiring as a team ambassador, a role that will involve business development, community initiatives, fan engagement, and content creation. He will also support the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx in a similar way. The announcement includes plans for a jersey retirement ceremony for his No. 21 at Target Center on a future date, likely within the next two seasons.
This development mends a long-standing rift between Garnett and the organization, stemming from tensions with former owner Glen Taylor. Drafted fifth overall in 1995 directly out of high school, Garnett spent his first 12 seasons with the Timberwolves, becoming the franchise's all-time leader in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, games, and minutes. He earned 10 All-Star selections, three All-NBA First Team honors, four rebounding titles, and the 2004 MVP award after averaging 24.2 points and 13.9 rebounds per game. Under his leadership, Minnesota achieved eight consecutive playoff appearances from 1997 to 2004—the longest streak in team history—after missing the postseason entirely before his arrival.
Relations soured after his 2007 trade to Boston, where he won his only NBA championship in 2008. The Celtics retired his No. 5 jersey in March 2022. Garnett returned briefly for the 2015-16 season, orchestrated by coach Flip Saunders, who died of cancer that year. Promises of minority ownership under Taylor fell through, leading to a contract buyout. In a 2020 interview with The Athletic, Garnett stated, “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.”
The path cleared after Lore and Rodriguez completed their purchase earlier this year. Garnett said in a team statement, “I’m thrilled to be back home. Minnesota is where it all began... I’m excited to help build what’s next for the Timberwolves, our fans and this community.” New owners added, “Bringing Kevin home has been a priority... This is more than a reunion—it’s a statement about honoring our past while pursuing excellence.” His visible role will include attending home games and shaping fan experiences.
