PF | 6-11, 240 lbs
2015-16 season: 38 games, 38 starts, 3.2 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.6 APG, 47 FG%, 66.7 FT%
Kevin Garnett isn’t an MVP caliber player. He’s not the Garnett who could score 24 points, haul in 15 rebounds and dish out seven assists. That’s not who he is anymore and he hasn’t been that for quite some time.
However, that doesn’t there’s not value.
He is still the “ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE” instense player that basketball fans grew to love.
Garnett appeared in 38 games last season, a career-low. But when Garnett was on the court, Minnesota was a better defensive team. He had a +2.5 defensive box plus, which is the estimate of defensive points per 100 possessions a play contributes.
That mark led the Wolves and only Garnett, Gorgui Dieng, Karl-Anthony Towns and Ricky Rubio finished with a + in that category.
He wasn’t much of a threat offensively, but he did give us this “mic drop” moment.
Garnett was also a tremendous leader for the Wolves, but that’s not a surprise because he’s been that for his entire career. There were times throughout the season when he would have a mini clinic with Dieng, Towns and Nemanja Bjelica – showing them how to set screens, create a shot offensively or pass out of a situation. He doesn’t like being called a coach on the floor, but that’s exactly what he was for the team during practices. During games, you could hear Garnett’s voice congratulating players and sometimes, just maybe, yelling at opposing players.
“Get one, KAT!”
Or he’d pull a player aside for a quick tidbit of advice.
Someone Vine that vid of KG in Towns’ ear. That is gold.
It won’t go down as one of his best seasons if you’re just looking at his Basketball Reference page, but his impact was undeniable. Just look at how fast Towns was to adjust to the NBA. Not to take anything at all away from Towns, but it certainly helps to have a guy like KG there to mentor you.
“Day one you come in and set the tone to what hard work is and the examples of. I try to be just as that. I wish I was a lot more healthy to go a lot longer and as hard as I want,” Garnett said. “But I’ve always been a gutted player and I’ve always given what I have. I’m teaching these guys how to communicate with each other, how to come in and get your work in.”
Flip Saunders’ plan when he traded for Garnett in 2015 came to fruition in 2015-16.
3.) Dec. 9 vs. Los Angeles Lakers
In this 123-122 thrilling win over the Lakers, Garnett played just 14 minutes and 41 seconds, but was extremely valuable during that time, finishing with six points, four rebounds, four assists and a steal. He was a perfect 3-for-3 from the field.
2.) Nov. 23 vs. Philadelphia 76ers
KG nearly finished with what would have been his only double-double of the season, finishing with eight points, 10 rebounds, two steals and a block in 18 minutes of play. He shot 4-for-5 from the field. Better yet, the Wolves avoided falling to the 0-14 76ers.
1.) Nov. 15 vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Garnett’s best game of the season came in this 114-106 home loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in mid-November. Like his game against the Lakers, Garnett had a solid all-around game, finishing with eight points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals in 24 minutes of play. Garnett shot a perfect 4-for-4 from the field.
The main focus for Garnett is to get his body right. Garnett hasn’t played 70 games since 2010-11. He probably won’t hit that number again in his career, but if this team is a playoff contender next season, Garnett could be a valuable piece down the stretch, even if it’s only for 10 minutes per game.
Garnett works his tail off at each and every practice and he’s been playing at the highest level for 21 years. Eventually that’s all going to catch up to a guy and it has definitely caught Garnett.
But again, he still has plenty of value for a team with so many young players and so few veterans set to return. He also has a prior relationship from his time in Boston with new head coach Tom Thibodeau. That relationship could help transition other players on the team to Thibodeau’s style.
Garnett is 39 years old, about two weeks away from turning 40, so no season is guaranteed. But his role in 2016-17 will probably be similar to what we saw in 2015-16 from Garnett. He’s a great mentor for guys like Towns and Dieng. At this point, what he gives you on the court is an added bonus, but we saw last year, even in a very limited role, that this team is better defensively with Garnett on the court. We’ll see if he can get his body right in the offseason.
“Seeing KG log 50,000 minutes is an unbelievable milestone. It’s really unreal to be able to witness that, to see such an accomplishment. It just says a lot of KG’s determination and love for the game. It shows everybody that he comes to work, still to this day, and is ready to give 110 percent with the career that he’s had and soon to be a Hall of Famer.” – Wolves guard Tyus Jones on Garnett reaching the 50,000 minute milestone earlier this season.
[gallery_embed:31979]
