Kevin Garnett wants nothing to do with Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor because, according to KG, Taylor failed to follow through on an "understanding" five years ago to move him into the team's ownership group and/or front office.
That means Garnett also wants nothing to do with any plans the franchise may have to retire his No. 21 jersey.
"I don’t do business with snake motherf—ers. I try not to do business with openly snakes or people who are snake-like," Garnett said in a Q&A with The Athletic's Shams Charania published Tuesday (subscription required).
MORE: The time a young KG talked trash to Michael Jordan
A Garnett jersey in the Target Center rafters would be a slam dunk otherwise. Garnett was the expansion franchise's first superstar and he was elected this month to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
KG said he loves Minnesota and the fans, but he "won't forgive" Taylor for failing to honor an agreement he said the two had before former coach and team president Flip Saunders died in 2015. Taylor hired Tom Thibodeau in 2016 to succeed Saunders.
"I thought (Taylor) was a straight up person, straight up business man, and when Flip died, everything went with him," Garnett told Charania.
Thibodeau was fired in January 2019 and replaced as coach by Saunders' son Ryan.
Garnett is embracing one other jersey ceremony — in Boston, where the Celtics will send his No. 5 to the TD Garden ceiling next season. His will be the 23rd retired number in Celtics history, or about 1 1/2 rosters worth.
"Anybody who understands the Celtics culture, it’s a nurturing culture, it’s a real fraternity, and it supports each other. To be part of it is something special. I’m glad I’m part of it, and I’m glad I was able to experience the better way of the NBA and seeing how winning franchises really do things. That left a huge, huge impression on me that I’ll take to my grave," Garnett told Charania.
