Minnesota Timberwolves to finally retire Kevin Garnett’s jersey

The Minnesota Timberwolves have officially brought franchise legend Kevin Garnett back into the organization and announced plans to retire his iconic No. 21 jersey, ending a years-long estrangement between the Hall of Famer and his first NBA team. 

Garnett, who starred for the Timberwolves from 1995 to 2007 and again in the 2015‑16 season, has agreed to take on a new team ambassador role, the franchise confirmed Thursday. 

The position will involve business initiatives, community outreach, fan engagement, and content development for both the Timberwolves and the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx. 

The Timberwolves reportedly plan to hold a jersey retirement ceremony for Garnett sometime during the next one to two seasons, finally honoring his lasting impact on the franchise. The celebration will see his No. 21 raised to the rafters at Target Center, a long‑anticipated milestone for Wolves fans. 

The move represents a full‑circle moment for a player whose relationship with the Timberwolves fractured in the years after his retirement. 

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Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett is reuniting with the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Lynx in a new, all-encompassing role involving business, community efforts and content development, sources told ESPN. His long-awaited No. 21 Wolves jersey retirement will also happen in Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/DedJhDezd3

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 18, 2025

Garnett and former owner Glen Taylor fell out amid a dispute over post‑career plans and unfulfilled promises, leaving Garnett distant from the franchise and withholding support for a jersey retirement under Taylor’s stewardship. 

That dynamic shifted this year after the Timberwolves and Lynx were sold to Lore and Rodriguez, clearing the path for reconciliation. 

The organization and Garnett reportedly worked through their differences, culminating in the ambassador agreement announced Thursday. 

A Hall of Famer and 2004 NBA MVP, Garnett was a perennial All‑Star with the Timberwolves and remains the franchise’s all‑time leader in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, and games played.

He also led Minnesota to its first Western Conference Finals appearance in 2004, cementing his place as the face of the franchise for a generation — and even retiring with the team in 2016.

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