Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Timberwolves have officially changed hands. After Glen Taylor attempted to squeeze additional value out of his appreciating asset through arbitration, the NBA ultimately voted to approve Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore as the franchise’s new owners.
One of their first orders of business was bringing back franchise legend Kevin Garnett. His No. 21 has long deserved a place in the rafters, and the NBA champion has made it clear that he’s excited about the opportunity.
LFGGGGGGGGGGGGG pic.twitter.com/MnbSbXsKfx
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) December 24, 2025
This wasn’t a new or sudden development. Garnett should have been celebrated years ago, and the delay can be traced directly to his fractured relationship with Taylor.
Glen Taylor Sets MN Timberwolves Record Straight
It has never been a secret that former Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor’s relationship with Kevin Garnett had deteriorated, yet Taylor continues to engage in a public relations campaign. Long time local insider Darren “Doogie” Wolfson has frequently carried water for Taylor, but this time it was Pioneer Press columnist Charlie Walters who recently spoke with him.
Glen Taylor, when he owned the Timberwolves, on the recent front office return to the Wolves of Kevin Garnett, who finally will have his No. 21 jersey retired by the team: “For five different years I checked with him to see if he would be willing to do it, and he chose not to do it.”
Taylor has consistently maintained that the Timberwolves were always interested in involving Garnett in some capacity. That stance shouldn’t surprise anyone. What is surprising is Taylor’s apparent lack of self-awareness as Garnett’s disinterest was rooted squarely in Taylor’s continued presence with the organization.
Selected fifth overall in the 1995 NBA Draft straight out of high school, Garnett played 970 games for the Timberwolves. He won the league MVP award in 2004 and averaged 19.8 points per game during his tenure in Minnesota.
Garnett is a 15-time All-Star, an NBA champion with the Boston Celtics in 2008, and a Hall of Famer. A player of that caliber is an obvious candidate not only for a jersey retirement, but also for a meaningful consulting role within the franchise. Lore and Rodriguez had already spent years fostering their relationship with “The Big Ticket,” and that groundwork allowed them to quickly repair the long-damaged connection.
Glen Taylor will still occupy his courtside seats at Target Center, but there should be no expectation that Garnett ever acknowledges the former owner when he’s in the building.
Mentioned in this article: Glen Taylor Kevin Garnett
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