The basketball world would not have been the same without an electrifying player like Kevin Garnett. A dominant power forward and center, Garnett played most notably for the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Boston Celtics. He was the first player in 20 years to be drafted directly out of high school when the Timberwolves selected him fifth overall in the 1995 NBA Draft. He made an immediate impact, leading the Timberwolves to eight consecutive playoff appearances and earning the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award in 2004.
Kevin Maurice Garnett was born on May 19, 1976, in Greenville, South Carolina, to Shirley Garnett and O’Lewis McCullough. Though his father was occasionally present, Garnett was primarily raised by his mother, along with his two siblings. His parents never married, and his relationship with his father remained distant.
Garnett discovered his passion for basketball while attending Hillcrest High School in South Carolina. A standout performer, he later transferred to Farragut Career Academy in Chicago for his senior year, where he was named National High School Player of the Year. Forgoing college, he declared for the 1995 NBA Draft and became the first player since 1975 to be drafted directly out of high school.
Garnett played for the Minnesota Timberwolves from 1995 to 2007. His breakout season came in 1996–97, when he led the team to its first-ever playoff appearance. In 1997, he signed a landmark six-year, $126 million contract extension—one of the richest in NBA history at the time. Despite his efforts, the Timberwolves struggled to advance past the first round of the playoffs for several years.
The 2003–04 season marked a turning point. With valuable support from teammates like Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell, the Timberwolves reached the Western Conference Finals for the first time, defeating the Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings before falling to the Los Angeles Lakers. That same season, Garnett averaged 24.2 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game, earning him the 2004 NBA MVP Award.
However, from 2004 to 2007, the Timberwolves failed to make the playoffs, leading to major organizational changes and ultimately Garnett’s departure.
| Birth Date: | 19 May, 1976 |
| Age: | 43 yrs |
| Occupations: | Basketball player Actor |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Greenville |
| Education: | Mauldin High School Farragut Career Academy |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | American retired professional basketball player |
| Net Worth 2021: | 120 million |