When fans think of ultimate competitors who played the power forward position in the NBA, there is one name that rings out among the greats who dominated. NBA champion and future Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett has positioned himself in the race to inherit his former team the Minnesota Timberwolves. According to Shams Charania and Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, current owner, Glen Taylor stated he is “seriously considering all his options.” Garnett is not alone as he and his group of investors are pressing toward the bid. Several other ownership groups according to Taylor expressed their interest in buying the team per Jon Krawczynski.
Garnett was selected in the first round as the No. 5 pick in the 1995 in NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite his best years in the North Star State, Garnett has an opportunity to have a share in a company that has yet to revive its championship hopes.
It is not a norm that former athletes are likely to salivate over ownership since most NBA teams are inherited by children of current owners or valued at a billion-dollar price for wealthy candidates. Most retired NBA players are taking over the media sports world creating their own platforms which is something Garnett is familiar with. When he’s not giving advice to toughen up the next upcoming power forwards to grace the hardwood, he’s on NBA TNT’s Area 21 giving the fans and haters free game on having that drive to be great.
Garnett posted on his Instagram story in hopes that he and his group can secure the sell from Taylor. An owner’s vital role is to construct and rebuild a team to succeed. This could be the peacemaker between Garnett and Taylor given their long history since the passing of Flip Saunders in October of 2015. Garnett in recent years referenced Taylor to a “snake.”
“I don’t do business with snakem*************. I try not to do business with openly snakes or people who are snake-like.”
That unfiltered comment is the personality that resonates with Garnett’s trash talk but his clarity of speaking what’s on his mind. There is no denying Garnett established Minnesota at the pinnacle of his career during his 2004 MVP season. The Wolves failed surrounding Garnett with complementary pieces to compete for a championship despite a western conference finals appearance against the late Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Despite his nickname for emphatic dunks and lanky athleticism, hopefully, Garnett and his team walk away with the “Big Ticket” in ownership and leave out on good terms with Taylor. Not many NBA players have had great relationships with their owners and when it pertains to business deals, sometimes the burned bridge can always be repaired.
If Garnett is the front runner to purchase the Timberwolves, this will only be the tip of the iceberg in ownership as the NBA deals with its social justice stances. What better way to fight against social injustice than to take on an economic approach that many aren’t used to? Even P Diddy years ago entertained the idea bidding to buy the NFL Carolina Panthers although it was purchased by David Tepper.
Garnett will be inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 2021 which was currently postponed due to the coronavirus per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
For Garnett’s photos and tweets, click on the next page.