Minnesota Timberwolves announce Kevin Garnett's return to Target Center

The Minnesota Timberwolves have announced franchise legend Kevin Garnett's long-awaited return to Target Center, though fans will have to wait a little longer for his well-deserved jersey retirement.

Garnett will attend the Wolves' regular-season finale against the New Orleans Pelicans on April 12, the team said. It will mark his first appearance at the arena he once called home court since 2018.

"I can't wait to come home," said Garnett. "Coming back for me is about what's next. I've spent time with Marc [Lore] and Alex [Rodriguez], and you can feel the difference. The energy is real. The vision is real. They're building something that lasts, with a team on the court that's hungry to win. I'm excited to be back in the building with the fans."

The Wolves said the evening will feature "special in-game moments and several of his former teammates joining the festivities." At halftime, '90s hip-hop sensation Montell Jordan will perform.

Garnett's No. 21 jersey will be retired next season, the Wolves said. Last year, the organization announced he was rejoining the organization as an ambassador for the Wolves and Lynx, "attending select home games, elevating the fan experience, championing community initiatives across the Twin Cities and helping shape the teams' stories through exclusive content."

The Wolves drafted Garnett fifth overall in 1995, and he rewarded them by becoming the franchise's best player. He brought the Wolves to eight straight playoff appearances and made it to the Western Conference Finals in 2004 while being named MVP. The Wolves traded Garnett to the Boston Celtics in 2007, where he won a championship in his first season with the team. He returned to Minnesota in 2015 and retired a year later.

Garnett had a very public falling out with former Wolves owner Glen Taylor, but Taylor's sale of the franchise to Lore and Rodriguez cleared the way for an amicable reunion.