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Kevin Garnett contemplating retirement

By John Buhler

Jan 19, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett (21) reacts to a call from the bench during the first quarter of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 19, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett (21) reacts to a call from the bench during the first quarter of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kevin Garnett reportedly wants to play one more NBA season in 2016-17 at 40 years old, but he is not sure if he is physically up to the challenge.

Kevin Garnett is the greatest player in Minnesota Timberwolves franchise history. He’s been a star in the NBA since he was a teenager in the 1990s. Garnett has won an NBA MVP with the Timberwolves and an NBA Championship as a member of the 2007-08 Boston Celtics.

Garnett even has the chance to set an NBA record for playing in his 22nd NBA season, passing great big men like Robert Parish and Kevin Willis. Though Garnett would like to play ion the 2016-17 NBA season as a 40-year-old, the biggest question is if his body will let him?

According to NBA.com’s Steve Aschburner, Garnett is being very quiet about whether he will play in 2016-17 or opting to retire after 21 NBA seasons with the Timberwolves, Celtics, and Brooklyn Nets.

Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor divulged to Aschburner about a conversation he had with Garnett about playing next season. Taylor said, “I just asked him, ‘Kevin, what are you going to do?’ His answer was, ‘I’d really like to play next year ‘cuz I’d like to go out knowing we got into the playoffs.’ Then he said, ‘I don’t know if I can.'”

Garnett’s Timberwolves hold the longest active NBA Playoffs drought, as Minnesota hasn’t qualified for the Western Conference Playoffs since 2004. Though Garnett only played in 38 games last season with failing knees, his team is on the precipice of potentially something spectacular.

Minnesota has two future NBA All-Stars in center Karl-Anthony Towns and small forward Andrew Wiggins, two interesting young pieces in rookie point guard Kris Dunn and the high-flying Zach LaVine, a serviceable veteran point guard in Ricky Rubio, and now a top five head coach in the game in defensive guru Tom Thibodeau.

If things go according to plan, Minnesota should end its 12-year playoff drought this spring. Garnett should be able to play on a playoff caliber Timberwolves team in 2016-17 if he is up for the challenge physically for a 22nd NBA season at 40 years old. It would be fantastic for the game to see Garnett play more NBA seasons than anyone while mentoring this young Timberwolves corps into playoff relevance.

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