Kevin Garnett (born May 19, 1976 in Mauldin, South Carolina), often simply known as KG, is a professional basketball player in the NBA. He is also known by the nickname The Big Ticket. Garnett's four-year high school basketball statistics added up to 2,533 points, 1,807 rebounds and 739 blocked shots. After graduating from Farragut Academy in Chicago, he was drafted in 1995, the first player in 20 years to join the league straight from high school. Because of his freakish athleticism and 7-foot stature, he is widely considered to be one of the most unique and revolutionary basketball players ever to play the game. Garnett can play all five positions on the floor, making him the one and only to do so in the history of modern professional basketball, though he has made his mark playing the power forward position.
Garnett led the Minnesota Timberwolves in blocks in his rookie season. He has since become not only the best player on the Timberwolves, but also one of the best players in the NBA. Garnett was selected to play in every All-Star game after his second season, winning All-Star MVP in 2003.
Garnett was a candidate for league MVP in 2002 and 2003, finishing second in the voting to Tim Duncan in 2003. He was named league MVP in 2004 after leading the NBA in rebounds per game at 13.9, and finishing second in points per game at 24.3.
Garnett and the Timberwolves have had difficulty in the playoffs, however, losing seven consecutive first round series. This streak ended in 2004, as the Timberwolves achieved the best record in the Western Conference and defeated the Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings in the playoffs before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. In the process, Garnett silenced numerous critics when he became only the 5th player in history to record 30+ points and 20+ rebounds in a 7th game. He registered 32 points and 21 rebounds in the Game 7 victory over Sacramento. Sam Cassell, Latrell Sprewell and Michael Olowokandi played key roles alongside Garnett in the Timberwolves' 2004 success.
On January 4th, 2005, Garnett scored a Timberwolves franchise record 47 points in a losing effort against Western Conference rivals the Phoenix Suns.
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Last updated: 05-07-2005 08:22:31
Last updated: 05-13-2005 07:56:04
