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Kevin Garnett returns to Minnesota amid a wave of KG-ishness
The Minnesota Timberwolves knew exactly what they were getting when they re-acquired the Minnesota legend earlier in February, so Garnett’s first day in his return to the franchise shouldn’t have taken anyone by surprise.
Garnett was ebullient and playful with assembled media in his first news conference on Tuesday, decisive in his remarks about his prospects as a future Wolves coach, and combative with his new teammates as he observed Minnesota’s practice on Tuesday. It was typical KG.
The future Basketball Hall of Famer, who will play his first game in nearly eight years a member of the Timberwolves on Wednesday, began his day with some typical KG-like poses in his new/old uniform:
He then made a point to rouse a little rabble at Wolves practice:
Rubio on KG's 1st practice: "he already yelled at Pek twice to get back on defense. I don't think Pek has been yelled at his entire career"
— Jon Krawczynski (@APkrawczynski) February 24, 2015
Ricky says he hopes Garnett teaches him "the bad side." Ricky says he's "too nice."
— Zachary Bennett (@ZacharyBD) February 24, 2015
And then he set to meet with the media – many of whom were carryovers from Garnett’s initial run with the club from 1995 until 2007.
After an introduction from Wolves radio voice Alan Horton was briefly shouted down by longtime Minnesota Star-Tribune columnist Sid Hartman, Garnett spoke about his return to the city with the downtown he swore he didn’t even recognize, before nodding toward LeBron James’ 2014 return to Cleveland:
“I figure if LeBron can go home then, [shoot], why can’t I?”
Of course, LeBron’s red-hot Cavaliers recently cobbled together a 12-game winning streak, while the Timberwolves were the proud owners of a 15-game losing streak earlier in the season, and they’re stuck in the Western Conference cellar.
At age 38, Garnett is having his toughest year as a player, which is why some media wondered if he wouldn’t mind advancing toward the coaching ranks when his active career ends. With the team’s current (supposedly as a last resort, he swears) coach in Flip Saunders sitting next to him at the podium, KG was emphatic:
“You can’t persuade me to coach.”
Come on, really?
For those at work:
“H-E-L-L-N-A-H, hell nah. Not a ‘no,’ but a ‘nah.’ You can’t pay me enough to coach. No offense to the current players, no offense to the current coaches, but NAH.”
So there’s that.
Garnett went on to deflect all manner of questions surrounding his future beyond this season (his contract expires in July), his possible interest in owning part of the Wolves. Saunders also told the press that he wasn’t “going to touch” any on-record discussions about future ownership.
KG also pointed out that while he doesn’t “take any mess,” he certainly wasn’t going to throw anyone’s cell phone in the toilet. Nor has he ever thrown anyone’s phone or anyone, Garnett pointed out, in a toilet. Saunders, who created the half-story/half-anecdote earlier in the week, did little to take the blame for creating the damn quote.
In the end, Garnett promised that he would act as “an open book” for Timberwolves players like Andrew Wiggins and Ricky Rubio, in the same way that one former teammate (and current Minnesota assistant) did for him all the way back during Bill Clinton’s first term as President:
"I'm trying to be like what Sam Mitchell was for me."- KG
— Timberwolves PR (@Twolves_PR) February 24, 2015
Garnett will return to the Timberwolves’ home court, to many cheers, on Wednesday evening.
(Hat-tip on the Vines: SB Nation.)
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is an editor for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at KDonhoops@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @KDonhoops
