Kevin Garnett, a 15-time NBA All-Star, was a fierce competitor and dominant defender who led the Boston Celtics to the 2008 NBA championship.
Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett will have his No. 21 jersey retired by the team next season, the Minnesota Timberwolves announced today. Per the team, the ceremony’s details and date will be announced at a later time.
Garnett, who serves as a team ambassador, will also appear at the Wolves’ game on April 12 when Minnesota hosts the New Orleans Pelicans (8:30 p.m. ET, NBA League Pass) in its season finale. That will mark Garnett’s first appearance at Target Center since 2018.
NEWS: Welcome Back, KG!
Full Release: https://t.co/LtlgLIwDKb
— Timberwolves PR (@Twolves_PR) April 3, 2026
THE BIG TICKET RETURNS TO TARGET CENTER!
April 12th. 🎟️ pic.twitter.com/vhFIbZtgfQ
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) April 3, 2026
Garnett, the most iconic player in team history, is returning for a special night. That event begins his long-awaited reunification with the organization and follows the announcement of his role as team ambassador earlier this season.
Garnett’s return marks a milestone for the organization, signaling a new era of alignment, momentum and commitment to delivering best-in-class, fan-focused experiences. The reunion will evoke KG’s 1990’s era, featuring special in‑game moments and several of his former teammates joining the festivities.
Fans will be part of the action all night with exclusive in‑game experiences and giveaways, capped by a halftime performance from hip‑hop legend Montell Jordan, best known for the ultimate 1990’s anthem, “This Is How We Do It,” all designed to celebrate and thank Wolves fans for their passion and loyalty.
“I can’t wait to come home,” Garnett said in a statement released by the team. “Coming back for me is about what’s next. I’ve spent time with Marc and Alex, and you can feel the difference. The energy is real. The vision is real. They’re building something that lasts, with a team on the court that’s hungry to win. I’m excited to be back in the building with the fans.”
“Kevin Garnett has always represented the heart and intensity of this franchise,” Timberwolves & Lynx co‑chairmen Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez said in a statement. “The energy he generates is unmistakable, and welcoming him home to Target Center is a moment our fans have been eagerly anticipating.”
The native of South Carolina, who finished high school in Chicago and trailblazed his way directly to the NBA draft, remains the all-time Timberwolves leader in points, rebounds, steals, blocks, games and minutes. He won the NBA MVP award in 2004, helped the team make the playoffs eight straight times (1997-2004) for the longest streak in franchise history and earned 10 of his 15 career All-Star selections with Minnesota.
Garnett had his first falling out with the Timberwolves after they traded him to Boston in 2007. Former team owner Glen Taylor later told a local newspaper columnist he felt “KG tanked it” by sitting out the final five games of a 50-loss season in 2006-07 with a leg injury.
Garnett won an NBA championship in 2008 with the Celtics, who retired his No. 5 jersey there in 2022 to further frustrate the Timberwolves fans pining for his return to a relationship with his original team. After six seasons with Boston, Garnett was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2013. In the middle of his second season there, he was traded back to the Timberwolves and re-signed for the following season before retiring.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
