Kevin Garnett was drafted fifth overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 1995 NBA draft, and he is still playing in the league. After stints with the Boston Celtics and the Brooklyn Nets, KG is back in Minnesota where his career began for his 20th NBA season and is still playing with great energy like he always has. Garnett has considered retirement after each of the last few seasons, and he will likely do so again after this year, but if he does officially decide to retire he can become a minority owner of the Timberwolves, according to Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press.
Garnett waived his no-trade clause in the middle of last season so that he could be traded from Brooklyn back to Minnesota, and it seems to have rejuvenated him. It seemed like a lock that KG would retire after last season, but he instead decided he wanted to come back and play at least one more and signed a new deal with the Timberwolves. Garnett is making $8.5 million this year, and he has a player option for next year at $8 million. If he turns that down, his contract allows him to invest in the team before next season.
Garnett hasn't given any indication as to whether he is leaning toward retirement after this season, but he has started 24 games so far this season and played just 15.5 minutes in those games. Garnett doesn't put up big numbers like he used to at his advanced age of 39, but the Timberwolves are an extremely young team and Garnett is a leader and mentor to those younger players.
Garnett seems to be enjoying being the veteran leader on this young team, taking rookie Karl-Anthony Towns under his wing. The most recent first overall pick is gaining invaluable knowledge from a future Hall of Famer who has seen just about everything in his NBA career, and Towns' career will most likely be helped big time by being taught by one of the greatest to ever play.
Garnett hasn't given any indication about what his future holds, but it seems likely he will remain around basketball and the Timberwolves specifically. If he decides this is his last year lacing them up every night, it is possible he can be a part owner of the team, and the young players would be able to take comfort in knowing he is close by.
