You can’t discuss the greatest players in NBA history without mentioning Kevin Garnett.
Selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the No. 5 pick of the 1995 NBA Draft, the 6-foot-11 big man was the first player to go directly from high school to the NBA since 1975. After making the All-Rookie Second Team during his rookie season, Garnett skyrocketed to stardom in his next two seasons with averages of 17.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.5 steals. He made his first of 15 All-Star teams at age 20, and his first of nine All-NBA teams at age 22.
Garnett saw plenty of individual and regular season success in Minnesota, but the postseason got the best of his squad. Garnett, fresh off winning the 2004 NBA MVP, advanced past the first round for the first time during 2003-04, leading the Timberwolves all the way to the Western Conference finals. Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and the Lakers were too much for the Timberwolves, though, eliminating Garnett and Co. in six games.
Garnett was traded to the Boston Celtics in July 2007 to join forces with Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. The trio quickly gelled, winning 66 games during the 2007-08 season before powering through the playoffs to claim the 2008 championship. That season, Garnett won his only Defensive Player of the Year award and also finished third in MVP voting. In The 2008 Finals, he averaged 18.2 points, 13.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.7 steals.
Garnett played six more seasons in Boston before being traded to Brooklyn in 2013. He finished his career back in Minnesota, spending his final two seasons as a veteran mentor for the team.
The NBA legend retired in 2016 with career averages of 17.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.3 steals. He ranks within the top 20 in NBA history for points, rebounds, blocks, steals, games, and minutes. Garnett joined the Turner family in 2016 with his own segment called “Area 21” during TNT’s “Inside The NBA”.
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