Tom Thibodeau thanks Kevin Garnett, cites unequaled passion

Timberwolves players and coach Tom Thibodeau will assemble for media day on Monday. On Tuesday the first practice of training camp will commence.

Kevin Garnett will not be around.

After days of negotiation between Garnett and the team an agreement was reached on Friday, Garnett retired, ending his second stint with the team that drafted him out of high school with the fifth overall pick in the 1995 draft.

On Saturday, the Timberwolves released a statement from Thibodeau, who was an assistant coach with Boston when Garnett helped the Celtics win the NBA title in 2008.

"I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and thank Kevin for all of his great accomplishments and contributions to the NBA, the Minnesota Timberwolves organization, and for me personally with the Boston Celtics," the statement said. "Kevin combined great talent with a relentless drive and intelligence. I will always cherish the memories of the way in which he led the Celtics to the 2008 NBA championship. His willingness to sacrifice and his unselfishness led us to that title. Kevin will always be remembered for the way in which he played the game. His fierce competitiveness, his unequaled passion for the game and the many ways in which he cared about this team was truly special. KG is without question the all-time best player to wear a Minnesota Timberwolves jersey, and he is also one of the best ever to play this game.''

Starting with his second season in the league, Garnett led the Wolves to eight straight playoff appearances, culminating with a run to the Western Conference finals in spring 2004. He was traded to Boston in summer 2007 and returned to the Wolves in February 2015, but he played only five games for them that season and only 38 the next season because of knee pain.

Kent Youngblood