Kevin Garnett Retires: Twitter Reacts to NBA Legend's Decision
The end has come for Kevin Garnett after 21 NBA seasons that include 15 All-Star appearances, four first-team All-NBA selections, one MVP award and one NBA championship.
On Friday, Kent Youngblood of the Star-Tribune reported Garnett and the Minnesota Timberwolves agreed on a buyout.
Later, on his official Instagram page, Garnett confirmed his retirement with a short video:
A true legend of the NBA, Garnett is going to walk into the Basketball Hall of Fame in five years when he becomes eligible. His impact on basketball in Minnesota is impossible to understate.
Prior to Garnett's arrival in 1995, the Timberwolves franchise didn't make a playoff appearance in six seasons. After missing the postseason in the Big Ticket's rookie year, they made eight straight postseason appearances, including a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2004.
Karl-Anthony Towns, the new face of Timberwolves basketball, was left speechless by Garnett's announcement:
Garnett's former teammate Paul Pierce paid tribute to Garnett:
LeBron James also took to Instagram to give his thoughts:
Josh Eberley of Hoop Magazine had a different reaction to Garnett's announcement, connecting it to all of the marquee retirements this summer:
Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee took a more optimistic outlook by bringing up the 2021 Hall of Fame group:
In case anyone is wondering what Garnett's "stay tuned" from his Instagram video could mean, ESPN's Marc J. Spears offered one possible answer:
In addition to Garnett's importance to professional basketball in Minnesota, ESPN Stats & Info provided a stat that showcases how dominant and versatile he was at his best on the court:
ESPN's Zach Lowe made a point of highlighting Garnett's defensive value:
Defense was a key element of Garnett's game throughout his career. He was voted to the NBA's All-Defensive first team nine times and the second team three other times, and he won four straight rebounding titles from 2003-07.
Per Basketball-Reference.com, Garnett ranks seventh in NBA history with 91.48 win shares.
Scottie Pippen, who knows some things about playing defense, offered a fond farewell to Garnett:
Los Angeles Clippers guard Jamal Crawford had his own personal take on Garnett's unique talents and skill:
Garnett provided some of the NBA's best moments over the last 21 years, including his exuberant "anything is possible!" after finally winning a championship as a member of the Boston Celtics in 2008.
During his time with the Timberwolves, Celtics and Brooklyn Nets, Garnett became one of the faces of the NBA. He had an intensity and passion for the game that few of his peers were capable of matching.
The end came abruptly, but it does not diminish any of the many individual and team accomplishments Garnett had in more than two decades as an NBA superstar.
