KG’s homecoming ovation

Kevin Garnett returned to Target Center on April 12 for the Minnesota Timberwolves’ regular-season finale and got a standing ovation from the home crowd. (espn.com) The Hall of Famer walked out during Fan Appreciation Night introductions, patted his heart and greeted fans before Minnesota beat the New Orleans Pelicans 132-126. (espn.com) (apnews.com) It was Garnett’s first appearance at Target Center since 2018, and the team had announced the visit on April 3 as part of its 1990s-themed finale. (nba.com) (sports.yahoo.com) The return closed a break that lasted through the end of Glen Taylor’s ownership era. Garnett had publicly feuded with Taylor for years over a promised ownership stake that never materialized. (espn.com) (nba.com) That changed in December 2025, when the Timberwolves and Lynx brought Garnett back as team ambassador under owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez. The club said his role would cover business, community, fan engagement and content work. (espn.com) (nba.com) The Timberwolves also said Garnett’s No. 21 jersey will be retired in a future ceremony, ending one of the longest unresolved standoffs between a franchise and its signature player. (nba.com) (espn.com) Garnett was the fifth pick in the 1995 National Basketball Association draft, spent 14 seasons with Minnesota across two stints, and remains the central figure in the franchise’s history. He won the 2004 Most Valuable Player award and led the Timberwolves to the Western Conference finals that season. (nba.com) (britannica.com) Minnesota entered Sunday locked into the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference, so the game itself carried less weight than the reunion. The Timberwolves rested nine of their top 10 players and will open the first round against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday. (apnews.com) (nba.com) For one night, the loudest moment in Minneapolis came before tipoff, when Garnett looked into the stands and answered the ovation with a hand over his heart. (espn.com)