Garnett Set To Join Sealy As Only Timberwolves With Retired Number

Kevin Garnett's No. 21 

Timberwolves to retire Kevin Garnett's No. 21 jersey against Celtics in February.

Relations thaw as Timberwolves plan to retire Kevin Garnett's No. 21...

The Minnesota Timberwolves will retire Kevin Garnett’s No. 21 jersey on February 28 during a home game against the Boston Celtics, another of Garnett’s former teams, the franchise announced Friday.

Garnett, a Hall of Famer, will be only the second Timberwolves player to receive the honor. The first was Malik Sealy, whose No. 2 was retired after he died in a car crash in 2000.

  

According to the team, the ceremony “will serve as the centerpiece of a season-long celebration honoring Garnett's extraordinary impact on the Timberwolves, the state of Minnesota and an entire generation of basketball fans.”

Garnett tops the Timberwolves’ all-time lists for points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. He’s also the only player in NBA history to lead a single franchise in all five of those categories.

He remains the only Minnesota player ever to win league MVP, taking home the award in the 2003-04 season.

Garnett guided Minnesota to eight consecutive playoff trips from 1997 to 2004. The Timberwolves were bounced in round one in the first seven years, then broke through to the Western Conference finals in 2004.

Kevin Garnett will have his No. 21 jersey retired by the Minnesota Timberwolves after they face another of his former clubs, the Boston Celtics, on Feb. 28, the team announced Friday. pic.twitter.com/hXQ6VAhPqE

— 30 for 30 (@30for30) August 14, 2026

Friday’s announcement also signals a repair in Garnett’s relationship with the Timberwolves, which had been strained by a dispute between him and former owner Glen Taylor.

“Bringing Kevin back to the organization as Team Ambassador has allowed us to celebrate his legacy in a new and meaningful way, and retiring No. 21 is the ultimate recognition of everything he has meant to this franchise and our fans,” current owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez said in a statement.

what’s your fav KG highlight? 🎟️ pic.twitter.com/ngavUOTU2a

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) August 14, 2026

Garnett spent his first 12 NBA seasons in Minnesota before being dealt to Boston in 2007. He was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2007-08 and helped the Celtics win the 2008 NBA championship.

Boston has already retired the No. 5 jersey Garnett wore with the Celtics.