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Kevin Garnett to give out 1,000 tickets in appreciation of Minnesota fans
Minnesota forward Kevin Garnett has purchased 1,000 tickets to an upcoming Timberwolves to give away to the team's fans as a gesture of appreciation, the team announced Sunday.
Beginning at 9 a.m. central time Monday, fans can sign up to claim tickets for that evening's game against the Los Angeles Clippers at a dedicated website. The first 500 fans to register will receive a pair of tickets.
• Kevin Garnett: The Kid who changed the game (and the Timberwolves)
The 19-year NBA veteran played in Minnesota for 12 seasons before being traded to Boston prior to the 2007-08 season.
After spending a season and a half with the Brooklyn Nets, the 38 year old was traded back to his original team on Feb. 19 for Thaddeus Young.
“The response and support I’ve received from Wolves fans since my return to Minnesota has been nothing short of amazing. It’s been unbelievable,” Garnett said in a statement.
“As a gesture of thanks, I would like to treat some fans to Monday night’s game against the Clippers. Love you all, and thanks for the love. Enjoy the game on me.”
Rare Photos of Kevin Garnett
1994
Kevin Garnett starred at Farragut Career Academy in Chicago, where he led the squad to a 28-2 record his senior season and earned National High School Player of the Year honors. Though the T-shirt may indicate he had dreams of playing in Ann Arbor, he instead chose to enter the NBA straight out of high school.
1994
Kevin Garnett was named Mr. Basketball for Illinois after averaging 25 points, 18 rebounds, 7 assists and 7 blocks his senior season at Farragut.
1994
Kevin Garnett poses outside of Farragut Career Academy. KG played for Mauldin High in South Carolina for his first three seasons but transferred to Farragut before his senior year.
1995
Kevin Garnett became only the fourth player to jump directly from high school to the NBA, following Moses Malone, Darryl Dawkins and Bill Willoughby.
1995
Kevin Garnett was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the fifth pick of the 1995 NBA Draft. KG was joined in the Top 5 by Joe Smith, Antonio McDyess, Jerry Stackhouse and Rasheed Wallace.
1996
Kevin Garnett was joined the next year by Stephon Marbury and the two were expected to be the future of the organization.
1996
After Kevin Garnett and Stephon Marbury led Minnesota to the playoffs in 1997 and 1998, Marbury was traded to New Jersey after a dispute with management.
1999
Kevin Garnett's entourage — called the OBF (Official Block Family) — includes friends from Beachwood Drive in his hometown of Mauldin, S.C.
1999
Kevin Garnett strikes a pose.
1999
Kevin Garnett in a profile portrait.
2000
Kevin Garnett puts his arm around Vince Carter after leading Team USA to the gold medal in Sydney.
2000
Tim Hardaway, Vince Carter, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen smile on the floor after leading Team USA to the gold medal in Sydney.
2000
High school star Darius Miles skipped college for the NBA and immediately drew comparisons to Kevin Garnett for their style of play. Those comparisons proved to be incorrect as Miles played nine injury-plagued seasons and is now out of the league.
2002
Kevin Garnett shows his skills during an NBA clinic in Tokyo.
2004
Kevin Garnett poses with Ludacris during an NBA All-Star Party in Los Angeles.
2004
After years of first-round playoff exits, Kevin Garnett was joined by Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell for the 2003-04 season. KG was named NBA MVP after averaging 21 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists. The Timberwolves advanced to the Western Conference Finals before bowing out to the Lakers.
2004
LeBron James, Kevin Garnett and Bernie Mac chat backstage during the 2004 ESPY Awards in Hollywood.
2006
Kevin Garnett travels to New Delhi to debut his limited edition 'Adidas KG basketball shoe.'
2007
Kevin Garnett chats with Barry Bonds before the 2007 All-Star game in Las Vegas.
2007
A day after being traded to the Celtics, Kevin Garnett reconnected with his old Minnesota buddy David Ortiz after throwing out the first pitch at Fenway Park.
2007
After the trade, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce were immediately dubbed "The New Big Three" in Boston and became one of the favorites to win the 2008 NBA title.
2007
Kevin Garnett offers words of encouragement to Serena Williams at the Matt Leinart First Annual Celebrity Bowling Night in Hollywood.
2008
Kevin Garnett averaged 20.4 points per game and 10.5 rebounds per game during the 2008 playoffs.
2008
A 15-time All-Star, Garnett finally won his first and only championship in 2008 with the Boston Celtics.
2008
Kevin Garnett and his Celtics teammates meet President George W. Bush after winning the NBA Championship.
2008
Kevin Garnett poses with his wife Brandi at the 2008 ESPY Awards. The couple married in 2004, which forced KG to miss a chance to defend the gold medal in Athens.
2008
Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett dominated the power forward position for over a decade.
2009
Kevin Garnett poses with then-Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning during a promotional press conference for Wheaties.
2010
Kevin Garnett and LeBron James share a laugh on the bus ride to the stadium prior to the 2010 NBA All-Star game in Dallas.
2011
Kevin Garnett poses for a portrait as part of the 2011 NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles.
2011
Kevin Garnett battles it out at the first ever Call of Duty XP at the Stages at Playa Vista in Los Angeles.
2011
Kevin Garnett and his wife Brandi attend Day 8 of the 2011 U.S. Open.
2012
Fans wearing masks of Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett pose during Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Celtics and Heat in Boston.
2013
Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant talk during the NBA All-Star practice in Houston. Garnett made 12 consecutive All-Star appearances from 2000 to 2011.
2013
Kevin Garnett poses with Magic Johnson befoe the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Canelo Alvarez fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas,
2013
Kevin Garnett looks on during his first preseason game in a Brooklyn Nets uniform.
2014
Jay-Z congratulates Kevin Garnett late in the fourth quarter of the Brooklyn Nets 97-83 win over the Toronto Raptors in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference First Round at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
2015
Eight years after being traded to Boston, Kevin Garnett returned to Minnesota in a trade with Brooklyn for Thaddeus Young.
2015
Kevin Garnett throws out the first pitch prior to the Minnesota Twins game against the Kansas City Royals at Target Field in Minneapolis.
2015
Kevin Garnett poses with Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Karl-Anthony Towns for an SI cover shoot in Minneapolis.
- Will Green
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