The Minnesota Timberwolves will retire Kevin Garnett’s No. 21 jersey, the team announced on Friday.
Garnett played 14 seasons for the Timberwolves in two separate stints. He began his NBA career with Minnesota as the team’s 1995 first-round pick (No. 5 overall) out of Chicago’s Farragut Career Academy.
The 6-foot-11 forward is the Timberwolves’ all-time leading scorer with 19,201 points. He also leads the franchise with 10,718 rebounds, 1,590 blocks, 1,318 steals, 970 games played, field goals made (7,647) and attempted (15,560), free throws made (3,743) and attempted (4,806), and 16 triple-doubles.
Garnett was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020.
The ceremony for Garnett’s jersey retirement will take place on Feb. 28 following the Timberwolves’ matchup with the Boston Celtics, another of the Hall of Famer’s former teams.
His No. 21 will be the second jersey retired by the Timberwolves, joining Malik Sealy, whose No. 2 was retired following his death in 2000.
Garnett originally played 12 seasons with the Timberwolves, winning NBA MVP for the 2003-04 season and Defensive Player of the Year during the 2007-08 campaign. He was traded to the Celtics before the 2007-08 season in exchange for five players and two first-round picks, and won the 2008 NBA championship.
The Celtics traded Garnett with Paul Pierce to the Brooklyn Nets in 2013 in a deal involving eight players and six first-round picks. The Nets traded him back to the Timberwolves in February 2015 and he played two more seasons before retiring in 2016. He returned once more to Minnesota for a role as team ambassador in December 2025.
“Minnesota is home. That’s never changed. This is where it all started for me, so seeing No. 21 go up in Target Center and sharing that moment with the fans, my family, teammates, coaches, and everyone who’s been part of this journey means everything,” Garnett said in the team’s announcement.
“I’m excited about this team. Watching Ant, JMac, and the guys grow, and seeing this next wave of the league, there’s a lot to look forward to,” he added. I’m still working, still building, still creating. But 21 being retired is forever — and it’s also just the beginning of something new. I can’t wait to be back in that building, feel that energy, and celebrate it with everybody. Let’s get it.”
In addition to retiring Garnett’s jersey, the Timberwolves will commemorate his career throughout the 2026-27 season with several theme nights dedicated to their franchise icon, including celebrating when he was drafted, his MVP performance in the 2003 NBA All-Star Game and winning the NBA MVP award. Fans in attendance will also receive special items such as figurines and t-shirts.
Read the full article here