By: Kylan W. Watson
On Friday, September 23rd, 2016 Kevin “The Big Ticket” Garnett retired. His retirement marks the end of an historic career and he is the latest NBA great to retire this year, adding his name to an NBA retirement list that includes Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan.
Garnett has spent the last 21 years in the National Basketball Association (NBA), he was the first NBA player since Moses Malone to skip college and go straight to the NBA. With that decision Garnett paved the way for Kobe Bryant and LeBron James to make a similar decision. Garnett is one of the greatest power forwards to ever play the game. Garnett was also one of the reasons the NBA lockout of 1997 happened, because he signed a five year 126 million dollar contract as a rookie. He has made $330 million dollars in his career.
Garnett has one league MVP, a 2008 finals championship with the Celtics, he averaged 17.8 points per game, grabbed 10.8 rebounds per game, and averaged 3.7 assists per game. Garnett is also a four-time rebounding champion he has registered 50,000 minutes in his 21 year NBA career.
It is only fitting that Garnett ends his career where it began. He spent thirteen years with the Timberwolves. He put the Timberwolves on the map, and for a long time he was a huge star in Minnesota. Garnett was a joy to watch as a fan of his, he had some great years. Garnett was also a throwback to a time when people trash talked up and down the basketball court. He was the ultimate trash talker and his game backed up his trash talk.
The NBA will not be the same without Garnett he was one of the few big men who was multifaceted. He could shoot a jump shot, take you off the dribble, and was not afraid to get physical.
