The Minnesota Timberwolves are high on every basketball fan’s list of most exciting teams to watch, primarily because of their skilled young talent. Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine are good enough and young enough to make a leap together into playoff contention, and there’s nothing more exciting for hoop nerds than a potential next incarnation of the Oklahoma City Thunder of a few years ago. But one of the biggest questions remaining to the team before its season starts is about their oldest player.
Kevin Garnett is signed to the Wolves for one more season, but at 40 years old and after only averaging 14 minutes in 38 games last year, him returning is no sure thing — and according to Minnesota owner Glen Taylor, it’s still a mystery.
“Kevin hasn’t told me or informed me yet if he’s coming back to play or if he isn’t coming back,” Wolves owner Glen Taylor told NBA.com Thursday. “I can only assume I’ll be hearing from him in the next three weeks.”
In three weeks, the Wolves start training camp — the basis for the timeline Taylor provides. Even though he doesn’t fit the youth movement in Minneapolis, KG’s veteran leadership is near-unparalleled in the NBA, and his brief court time last season proved he can still be a very effective defender. From previous indications, Garnett will likely remain around the team once his playing days are officially over, but there’s no substitute for the influence the Big Ticket can exert with his legendary practice work ethic. Here’s hoping we don’t have to say goodbye to Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett in the same offseason.
(Via NBA.com)
