Kendrick Perkins celebrates Kevin Garnett's number being retired in Minnesota originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are a relatively new team when compared to their peers in the NBA. This means they don't have the number of legends as the Los Angeles Lakers or the Boston Celtics. With that, retired numbers are uncommon in Minnesota, as they only have Malik Sealy's #2 before this latest Kevin Garnett jersey number retirement.
His number getting retired is well-deserved because he is the best player in franchise history for a lot of people. Eventually, Anthony Edwards might be able to leapfrog his legacy, but in the meantime, that should not take away from Garnett's legacy with the Timberwolves.
Kendrick Perkins is clearly excited about Kevin Garnett's number getting retired
Garnett spent 14 total seasons with the Timberwolves across two stints. Of course, the second stint was at the tail end of his career, but he was stellar throughout that first 12 years. From 1995 to 2007, Garnett averaged 20.5 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game.
As his numbers suggest, he was one of the league's most versatile players. At 6'11, he did not move like the typical big because he could defend guards, but he can also be physical with some of the biggest centers and power forwards in the league.
MORE: Kevin Garnett believes Victor Wembanyama got too emotional in the Western Conference Finals
Since he won the MVP in 2004 while also leading the Timberwolves to their first trip to the Western Conference Finals, he is finally getting rewarded with the #21 being retired. It will be a long time coming, and it seems his peers are celebrating his achievement.
"It's about damn time, but it would mean everything for Kevin Garnett. The city of Minnesota has been waiting on this moment; the organization has been waiting for this moment. I just can't wait to be there for my brother to get another jersey up in the rafters," Perkins said on ESPN's NBA Today about Garnett's jersey retirement.
Garnett has earned this, and he will finally be immortalized in the rafters of Target Center. It has been a long time coming, and a lot of people have fought for this for a long time. Thankfully, it has arrived and Garnett has received the honor he deserves.
More NBA news:
- Rudy Gobert gets called a first-ballot Hall of Fame candidate by Chris Finch
- Chris Finch does not want to make Anthony Edwards play point guard anymore
- Brandom Miller knows it is tough adjusting without LaMelo Ball in Charlotte
- LaMelo Ball gets called out by Dillon Brooks for his path to the NBA
- Anthony Edwards wants to beat LeBron James for not choosing to join the Timberwolves