Speaking to Adi Joseph of USA Today, future Hall-of-Famer Kevin Garnett explains that he received multiple TV offers following his retirement as a player, but opted to join TNT because Turner was the only network willing to give him the kind of unique role he sought, rather than having him become a panelist on a studio show.
Although Garnett’s conversation with Joseph focused in part on KG’s analyst role with TNT, the longtime NBA big man also weighed in on a few other topics of note, including why he doesn’t currently have a role with the Timberwolves. Here are a few notable Garnett quotes from the piece, which is worth reading in full:
On whether he might return to the Wolves as a front office exec or minority owner:
“It seemed like it was perfect for how Flip [Saunders] organized and put it together and designed it. Obviously when he left us, [team owner] Glen [Taylor] saw differently and wanted to go a different way. I’ve always said I wanted to be a part of an organization that is about winning more progressively, in that direction. Minnesota seemed like a perfect fit for that. That has changed. I don’t see myself doing that any time soon, but that still is a goal of mine. I would like to be part of an organization that is part of winning, that I can help the young guys progress. So that’s still a dream but not a priority at this point.”
On whether it was disappointing that the possibility of taking on a role with the Wolves became less viable:
“A little bit. A little bit. To say Debbie Downer is an understatement. It was a huge disappointment and one that showed me the true Glen Taylor. It showed me how he really feels. When this guy got the team, it was worth $90MM. When I left it, it was worth somewhere in the $400 [millions]. That was never taken into account in my value or none of that. I guess I served my purpose, and I was on to the next. So it’s all good. So it’s all good. I’m moving on and taking my ball and playing somewhere else. (Laughs.)”
On whether he has the urge to keep playing basketball, possibly in Ice Cube’s BIG3 league:
“Before I walked away from the Timberwolves, I was prepared to play a couple years. So when I walked away from that, I hung my shoes up for good and put the glass on it. And I have not had an itch to be out there at all. So, no. Ice Cube’s people called me from the [BIG3] — three-on-three doesn’t do it for me, bruh, I’m sorry.”
I don’t know whatever discussions were going on behind the scenes but I don’t think any sports team has an obligation to find retirement jobs for their old players. When it works out it’s cool for the fans and everything but sometimes it seems to be more for nostalgia than anything else.
I agree, but it’s not like Garnett was a scrub or a guy who barely played for the organization. He was the face of the franchise through their greatest times. I would think the Taylor owed it to Garnett considering all the butts he put in the seat through all his years there, not to mention all the money he helped Taylor make.
The thing is, what is KG owed, exactly? I don’t mean that rhetorically… I mean, what’s the role he should fill? It’s easy to think about it in the abstract but coming up with a specific unfilled need that KG can fill is another story.
Don’t get me wrong, I love KG and it’d be cool to have him around… but without being behind the scenes it’s impossible to know exactly why Taylor and Thibs didn’t
In basketball more than any other major sport, ego management is key, and if there’s lots of strong personalities moving in different directions, it could tear a young developing core of players apart. The new Wolves core is just starting to click and I guess I give the benefit of the doubt to the guys in charge st this point.
No disrespect meant to KG at all.
There are old players. And then you have true franchise players. In their entire team history, the only time the T-Wolves were ever relevant was when KG got them there. Without his efforts on mostly underwhelming squads, the team is probably already out of the Twin Cities. So while I agree that you don’t have to make the extra effort for all your former players, i would say the Big Ticket is an exception
Amen