The story takes place in 2015, when KG was old enough to do push-ups on the playoff stage.
This is his second season with the Nets, and he's already halfway through the season, and KG always says this in interviews:
"I think I'm better suited to be a mentor now."
"The team is still fighting for the playoffs and I feel like the team needs me to help the team gain some experience."
"I like Mason (Plumlee) a lot and I'll take him with me."
Of course, KG misses Pierce, who has gone to Washington by this time to assist John Wall and Bradley Beale, but he and Pierce have always had phone calls or text messages.
He once said to Pierce:
'It's good to retire in Brooklyn, at least it's worthy of this Number 2 shirt, I don't want to move with my family during the season.
In fact, Brooklyn is not bad, the team is still impacting the playoffs, the 38-year-old Garnett also averaged 20 minutes per game, and also had 6.8 points and 6.8 rebounds, he is still the first person on the team to reach the training ground, and he is still the old wolf who scolds you because you stand wrong and the defensive mistakes.
KG kept training and taking care of his body, but halfway through the season, rumors of the Nets wanting to rebuild the team intensified...
11 hours before the closing date of the transaction, KG's mobile phone rang.
KG recalls:
"I knew it was Paul when I heard the rooster's throat, I didn't have to look at it."
"He told me everything about Washington and about the days we used to play together in Boston."
"But I think he had something to say, and sure enough, Rivers called me too."
"Then there was the management, and they asked me if I wanted to go back to Minnesota."
"Heck, I don't want to move, but if it's Minnesota or Boston, does it still have to ask me?"
On Feb. 20, the deal between the Nets and Timberwolves went well with Kevin Garnett agreeing to waive the trade veto in his contract — they traded KG for 27-year-old forward Thaddeus Young.
Garnett's former mentor, timberwolves coach and basketball president at the time, Phillip Sanders, has maintained a great relationship with KG, and the deal is because he has always advocated bringing KG back to Minnesota and hopes that the future Hall of Fame forward will provide guidance to the young players in the Timberwolves.
Sanders then revealed that Garnett's debut back to the Timberwolves is expected to be Feb. 26, a day of play against the Timberwolves at home against the Wizards.
The Wolf King came home.
In 1995, this tall skinny man was brought back to the Timberwolves by McHale, and a few years later, he became the MVP, became the All-Star MVP, he was the first person on the team to have all the data, he has been yearning for the championship trophy...
In 2007, he was traded to Boston, where he came to be called his second home, where he took the best defensive player, became the all-Star ticket king, and lifted the gold cup he wanted most...
In 2015, it is another few years, the days of going around are coming to an end, 18 years old to 38 years old, since you can go home, it is the best arrangement.
KG does not envy Dirk, Kobe, duncan's one-man- and one-city, but his own scripts are written by himself, and he has never regretted joining Boston, nor has he ever regretted spending his best 12 years with the Timberwolves.
"Minnesota is going to freeze to death, and I'll have to bring my coat with me." KG said to Nets reporter McGonagaen before he went home to pack up his things and leave.
"That's what the Timberwolves jersey is like, except for what KG wears." A fan wearing KG's new No. 21 jersey shouted outside the target center.
In the years since Garnett left, the Timberwolves have changed the floor a few times, changed the team logo a few times, changed a lot of players, and changed a lot of jerseys, but when people mention the Timberwolves, they still think of Kevin Garnett.
On this day, old posters were put on all over Minnesota, and people turned out the jerseys they thought they would never use again, blue, white, black... They all came to the target center, and all of them brushed the 21st.
Today is a big day, this man is back, the hero of the city, proud, he will once again wear the familiar number 21, facing the familiar referee, the familiar audience, the familiar team.
The Wolf King is back, a dozen years of fluttering, journey, home has always been home.
He ran out of the locker room aisle and the pitch erupted in loud cheers.
That's enough.
Garnett stood on the field, his head bowed, it was difficult to hide his excitement, from the time he warmed up he had kept his head down, he felt that his emotions were very bad, it seemed to be a little nervous.
When it came to the game, his hands didn't feel good, but fortunately, the audience did not hesitate to cheer and applaud him, and every move he made, every shot, was accompanied by cheers from the audience - everyone in the city told this man how much they loved you.
Finally, he scored the first goal, the ceiling in the center of the target was about to be lifted by a huge sound wave, all the fans cheered and clapped at each other, as if they had won the championship, KG turned his head and shouted at the opponent after scoring the goal, of course, this is not enough.
"I try not to let myself cry in front of everyone because I'm not that kind of character." That's what KG said before the game.
Did KG ever cry? Cried.
Once he was interviewed at an empty target center, he hated failure, he let his emotions go unashamed, and then he choked up and shed tears at the camera.
On another occasion he knelt in the middle of the North Shore garden, covered his face with his hands, stood up and fell into the arms of the staff.
He choked for victory, but he never shed tears for himself.
But the fans are different.
In 2003, a young man came to the target center, and he couldn't hide his excitement in front of his idol — he danced a striptease, his right shoulder was written KG, his chest was written wolfs, but he danced, and it wasn't long before he was taken away by security guards, who was known as the "Jiggly Boy" known to local Minnesota fans.
In 2015, it was not only Kevin who experienced 12 years of vicissitudes, but also the young man at that time had two sideburns and white hair, and his three sons sat next to him.
Before this day, the Timberwolves staff sent him a special text message: "KG is coming back, what about Jiggly?" ”
The arena camera swept by, the first time, the second time, the man refused two invitations to dance Jam, but the camera persevered, and the third time, he stood up, and the two children pulled him to the landing.
He began his own dance.
Same position, same dance, same people.
I stood on the side of the audience and looked at you who were fighting for the city.
There was no text on his shoulder, but his chest was full of words - "WELCOME HOME KG"
The stadium was full of people, but at the time, it seemed as if there were only two of them in the world.
He pointed to KG and gave him a thumbs up;
KG also saluted him, patted his chest, thanked him, and the action was completed in one go.
Then KG looked back at the court, but it didn't affect the tears in his eyes.
"I had to divert my attention, the game was going on and I couldn't cry." KG recalled.
In that game, the Timberwolves defeated the Wizards at home.
The team won, which made KG happy, but it wasn't just that he won, he raised his long arm and greeted everyone in the arena.
"I've seen so many familiar faces, and I'm so grateful that they love me so much."
After the interview, KG slowly got up, patted the Timberwolves behind him and returned to the locker room.
He still had a smile on his face.
"It feels good, home is home."
To Kevin Garnett, who officially became a member of the Hall of Fame:
You stepped through the snow of Minnesota,
The wind blowing through Brooklyn,
There is green blood flowing in the body,
Many years later, you and I are no longer teenagers,
But wherever you go,
Wherever you are,
Tidy up the orange suit,
We love you as always.
(Edogawa Kabei)