Los Angeles (AFP)
Former NBA star Kevin Garnett, who played fourteen seasons for the Minnesota Timberwolves, is preparing an offer with other investors to buy out the franchise, The Athletic reported on Tuesday.
Current Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor said on Tuesday that "several groups of potential buyers have expressed interest" in the club's buyout and that he is seriously considering all options, the website reports.
“Everyone has been told that (the team) has to stay in Minnesota,” added Taylor, who has owned the franchise since 1994 and reportedly priced at at least $ 1.2 billion.
Among the contenders is therefore Kevin Garnett, 44, retired from the prosecution since 2016 and considered the best player in the history of the franchise. "For Garnett, this project is personal because of the history that links him to the franchise. He wants to buy the team and keep it in Minnesota," said The Athletic.
The former strong winger was drafted in 5th position in 1995 by the Timberwolves, straight out of high school. In this jersey, he was rewarded with several individual trophies including that of MVP (best player of the season) in 2004. But his only NBA champion ring was with the Boston Celtics that he gleaned it in 2008.
After two years with the Brooklyn Nets, Garnett returned at age 38 to finish his career with the Timberwolves for two final seasons.
Along with Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, who tragically died in early January in a helicopter crash, and Tim Duncan, Garnett is among the former players set to enter the NBA Hall of Fame this year, but the induction ceremony had to be postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Timberwolves, who include All-Star hub Karl-Anthony Towns and point guard D'Angelo Russell, are second-to-last in the Western Conference and have not been invited to participate in the resumption of the season scheduled for July 30 at Disney World (Orlando).
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