Should the T-Wolves Do More for KG?
The relationship between Kevin Garnett and the franchise he broke into the NBA with didn’t excatly end in the most amicable fashion.
Regardless, he’s the greatest player in team history (by a very wide margin), and as he makes his first visit to Minny as an opposing player this week, shouldn’t he be expecting more than this:
The only plan the Timberwolves had for the player who was once their Big Ticket was to announce him first to allow him to get a lengthy ovation.
No flashy video tribute or special gifts.
Call me old-fashioned, but that’s just embarrassing. KG is the franchise leader in every meaningful statistical category, and hardly anyone would own a T-Wolves jersey if he never played there.
You’d think that the least McHale and company could do - even though the injured Garnett isn’t expected to suit up on Friday night - is splice together some video clips of his greatest moments, which not so incidentally, happen to also be the team’s greatest.
55 Responses to “Should the T-Wolves Do More for KG?”
Feb.5 at 1:34 pm
ciolkstar says:
first. Word Press is a Biyatch.
Feb.5 at 1:35 pm
jbn74sb says:
Maybe Telfair’s chick could fire a couple of shots in the air as a tribute.
Feb.5 at 1:39 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
You’re old-fashioned, mutoni. Why do they need to do more now? He’s not retiring, is he? Didn’t they already pay him almost $200 million? That’s not enough of a tribute? Maybe they could hang one of his old contracts from the rafters, although it might cause the arena to collapse.
Feb.5 at 1:39 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Should KG have done more for the TWolves? Seems like a fair question.
Feb.5 at 1:50 pm
k.o. says:
i would like to argue that mark madsen is perhaps the greatest t-wolf to have ever played. maybe.
Feb.5 at 1:51 pm
Tommy Patron says:
What more could KG have done for the T-Wolves?
Feb.5 at 1:51 pm
SG says:
KG will forever be my favorite player but I don’t care that the Wolves have nothing else in store for his return. Any sort of video or check presenting (like the Sonics for Ray Allen) would seem cheesy and insufficient. Besides, no tribute by the franchise will come even close to the reception the fans have (or had) planned for him.
Feb.5 at 1:52 pm
Ryne Nelson says:
What would you have them do? Did Utah celebrate Malone when he returned in a Lakers jersey for teh first time? Honestly, I don’t remember. But why should the Wolves see any obligation to celebrating Garnett? After all, they traded him, and that should send a pretty strong message to the Ticket about how they felt about building talent AROUND him.
Feb.5 at 1:55 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Tommy: Gotten them out of the first round more than once ever?
Feb.5 at 2:06 pm
Bryant Reeves says:
I read the title and immediately assumed that the T-Wolves were trading big Al to Boston for Scalabrine, draft picks and Eddie House.
Feb.5 at 2:27 pm
its just alex says:
I see you no point in celebrating the downfall of your own team. I’m sure KG is perfectly happy just sitting on the opposing bench.
Feb.5 at 2:34 pm
phunkykarma says:
The greatest player in team history ? KG? I thought Micheal Williams was.
Feb.5 at 2:51 pm
Ill WIll says:
Sam Mitchell made KG.
Feb.5 at 2:53 pm
Tommy Patron says:
Russ: You don’t feel he was doing EVERYTHING he was capable of?
Feb.5 at 3:04 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Tommy: I’m not good with the rules, but I don’t remember him restructuring his contract so they could sign another All-Star.
Feb.5 at 3:13 pm
Captain America says:
You guyz are way behind the news. KG may not even show up at the Target Center, may not travel with the club. You see, KG doesn’t fancy sitting on or behind the bench when he can’t play. He has been watching the games from the locker room. The real issue today is whether or not KG should travel to Minneapolis for the game even if not playing.
Feb.5 at 3:19 pm
Jukai says:
I think Garnett should make a tribute video for the Timberwolves. He has the 250 million dollars to do so.
Feb.5 at 3:22 pm
Ryan Jones says:
But Cap’n, I thought the real issue today was whether you were voting for Romney or Mussolini?
I kid, I kid.
Feb.5 at 3:25 pm
Tommy Patron says:
Ryan: True, but neither has Kobe, and it seems like the Lakers have managed to put something in place around him. I think the KG situation is a case of a bad strategy for a small market team, ill-conceived from the jump.
Feb.5 at 3:29 pm
RV says:
i dont think they should do anything more, when dream played in toronto and he came back to houston, all he got was the standing ovation also. KG definitely didnt mean more to Minny than Dream did to Houston. Plus, having all this extra stuff just puts KG on a pedestal, not what you want as a coach when you’re trying to convince your team it can beat his team.
Feb.5 at 3:33 pm
Tommy Patron says:
Plus, look at how poorly they have drafted. Ray Allen (traded to Milwaukee), Gordon Malone, Paul Grant, Andrae Patterson, Rasho Nesterovic, Louis Bullock, William Avery, Wally Szczerbiak, Igor Rakocevic, Loren Woods, Marcus Taylor, Rick Rickert, Ndudi Ebi, Blake Stepp, Bracey Wright, Rashad McCants, Loukas Mavrokefalidis, Bobby Jones, Craig Smith, Brandon Roy (traded to Portland), Chris Richard, Corey Brewer. That’s how they’ve drafted.
Feb.5 at 3:33 pm
Captain America says:
Ryan, lol, Tommy, I agree with you. KG literally grew up with the Wolves fanchise, from “da kid” to the “Ticket”. Trades are financial transactions where assets are swapped and shipped but the fans get no opportunity for closure. The KG hero worship fans would like to give him his standing O and put some closure to the trade. If KG doesn’t show up, it will be a real downer for the fans who followed him and watched him grow from high school and the 12 years that followed.
Feb.5 at 3:41 pm
Captain America says:
Tommy, when you consider Wolves’ drafts, you left out a few caveats. The NBA penalty imposed on the Wolves over the Joe Smith situation didn’t help. Also, many of those you listed were 2nd rounders. Craig Smith is good, Foye (you didn’t list) is playing now after injury, Corey Brewer is a rook with a good trajectory. In other news, how many GM’s drive one of his players to the D-league and spends two days with working with him there? That’s what McHale did with Chris Richards last week.
Feb.5 at 4:07 pm
Allenp says:
There can be no defense of McHale. None.
Feb.5 at 4:14 pm
Mike says:
Interesting fact that’s beside the point: Kobe is 6′ 6″ and weighs 220 lbs (well, he did before he lost 15 pounds in the summer) KG is 6′ 11″ and weighs 220 lbs The guy’s a stick! Like a taller Larry Hughes. How has his body held up all these years???
Feb.5 at 4:15 pm
Bryant Reeves says:
Allenp, I agree - he was an unstoppable player
Feb.5 at 4:42 pm
lockedc says:
that´s sick.how long was he a wolf?in germany high-class football(soccer)-players who stay long time with one team will get an all-star game after their career.and why shouldn´t KG get an celebration in minny before the game.damn!!
Feb.5 at 4:59 pm
data187 says:
chrsitian laettner is the greatest t-wolf ever…
or cheeroke parks
Feb.5 at 5:26 pm
Donn says:
Just have JR Rider go to center court and smoke a joint in honor of KG…..
Feb.5 at 5:35 pm
Reggie Evans says:
I think they should hoist Kevin McHale up into the rafters, as a tribute to KG.
Feb.5 at 6:06 pm
Kevin says:
i think if i were the Wolves i’d want to do more for KG, but it would be difficult for part of me to watch him thrive in another city
Feb.5 at 6:11 pm
whooo! says:
i forget what happened to shaq in l.a., but for horry, they gave him a framed jersey (cuz he’ll never have his retired). but the wolves will retire kg’s jersey eventually, so there’s time for the highlight video and all the hoopla involved in it. do you really wanna show the highlight video of a guy who’s on the team with the most wins while you’re struggling at the pits? i’m sure the fans would LOVE that. the special introduction will be good enough.
Feb.5 at 6:12 pm
whooo! says:
relating to these two teams, what happened when mchale visited boston last time? did they throw him a parade?
Feb.5 at 6:13 pm
whooo! says:
actually, if a video’s being done, they should show the good times w/ his growth, the mvp, and then show some struggles and the john thopmson interview where kg starts tearing up. then flash to the success he’s having in boston and the smiles. that would make the entire crowd just feel good that he’s in a better place.
Feb.5 at 6:26 pm
gdon says:
Yes.. feel good.. until they get back to the realization that the only meaningful basketball played in Minny, is the one against the Heat vying for that #1 pick…
Feb.5 at 6:27 pm
gdon says:
I mean, everyone knows the T-wolves and Heat are going to lose more than enough of their remaining games. It’s those pivotal games where they face each to see how truly wants that first pick most. (I don’t know how many remain, if any)
Feb.5 at 6:44 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
They should show an Al Jefferson highlight reel and give the first 120 fans through the doors a million dollars apiece.
Feb.5 at 6:48 pm
Captain America says:
data187, ouch, that hurts…
Feb.5 at 6:54 pm
Captain America says:
Maybe Spree gives him a boat?
Feb.5 at 7:22 pm
Captain America says:
Maybe KG doesn’t have the stomach for Minne?
Feb.5 at 7:54 pm
RV says:
Mike, although he’s thin, KG is pretty strong, not shaq strong, but strong enough to bang inside, think bruce lee
Feb.5 at 7:55 pm
RV says:
oh yeah, plus the fact that he really weighs 250….
Feb.5 at 7:56 pm
Cub Buenning says:
Russ, why aren’t you running a team? You could be the Bill Veck of the NBA…
Feb.5 at 8:04 pm
RV says:
or maybe not, NBA.com has him at 220, yahoo at 253, i guess he’s 253 “with shoes”.. he’s slightly under 7 feet tall not 7′1 like most people think, so i guess thats explains just a tiny bit..
Feb.5 at 8:11 pm
your motha says:
KG is a smelly ass
Feb.5 at 11:13 pm
K-k-k-kobe says:
@RV: KG has long been acknowledged to be 6′13. He’s just never wanted the tag of being a 7-footer (same as Tim Duncan), but he’s easily 7′1. Check past pictures of him next to Dirk and he’s got inches on him.
Feb.5 at 11:14 pm
K-k-k-kobe says:
Oh, and Mr Ryan Jones… KG has taken a salary cut on his extensions at least once in the past. Look it up.
Feb.6 at 1:29 am
Dacre says:
Christian Laettner - played on the original Dream Team…
surely they should play a highlight reel The Laet-train!
Feb.6 at 1:30 am
Dacre says:
RV. Your wrong - Bruce Lee couldn’t bang inside…
think Yuta Tabuse.
Feb.6 at 3:24 am
Jeff of InsideHoops says:
The Wolves should help Sprewell feed his family
Feb.6 at 3:34 am
Froggiestyle says:
Marcel, what kind of crack are you smoking? Then LA should tribute the Wolves every time they play since the Lakers are originally from the land of lakes - ie. MN. And Boston should tribute MN for putting them back on the map. Everything else said and done, I love KG and all - but da Kid has about 1 or 2 solid 4th quarters under his belt lifetime - can we get interest back on all the times he would pass the buck and hope someone else would take over? The boy NEEDS Ray Allen and P Pierce come the 4th.
Feb.6 at 8:42 am
Jimmy2k8 says:
Jamario released a preview of some possible dunks for the slam dunk contest. Lets see the Gaye man dunk from a foot behind the foul line like Jamario. Check out his dunks www.jamariomoonshine.com
Feb.6 at 1:42 pm
Mike says:
You’re OLD-FASHIONED. No tribute needed. He couldn’t get the Wolves over the hump, because he needed 2 FAT contracts. And Boston fans will soon learn once the playoffs start that the disappointment that comes with watching KG in “crunch time” is all too real…
Feb.6 at 11:27 pm
BooGarnett says:
KG has done nothing but run his mouth since he left. He deserves nothing.
I am booing him.
Feb.6 at 11:29 pm
BooGarnett says:
After Antoine Walker played 8 years in Boston he came back to town to nothing. In fact Ainge had the standing ovation cut short because the media was killing him at the time. Hey but classy as they ever were the Celtics had fans write into their website to share all their great stories about Walter Mcarty (rolling eyes)