When Kevin Garnett signed a deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves before last season, it was seen as a move to allow the team bring back an all-time great to mentor a core of young players. After drafting Kentucky big man Karl-Anthony Towns with the first overall pick this summer, that role became even more evident. Garnett has taken the role of a mentor seriously and personally, doing his part to turn Towns into the generational talent that KG was in his first stint in Minnesota.
In a piece written by ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan, Garnett’s mentorship of the young star was brought into public light. MacMullan writes about Garnett’s legendary intensity spreading into practices and work-out sessions with the young players on the Wolves’ roster. Within all of those stories, Garnett had plenty of praise for the Rookie of the Year frontrunner, including praising Towns’ flashy and intense play:
Everything with Karl is high-flying, two-handed dunks and windmills. He’s hanging on the rim, swinging in the air, and I love it.
Garnett also praised Towns’ motor in a way that only he can:
You can’t teach the beast. It’s either in you or it isn’t. You can’t just go to the store and buy a six-pack of beast. It don’t work like that.
In his own special way, Garnett gave the greatest praise he could to the promising rookie. If there is one thing that KG is most-known for -even with the boundless talent that he had- it is his intensity and high motor. Therefore, it is high praise for him to be impressed with a 20 year old’s ability to play with that same passion.
The Timberwolves can be ecstatic with the way Garnett has taken it upon himself to mentor Towns and the other young players on the roster. The duo of Towns and Andrew Wiggins has plenty of talent and has the potential to be an all-time great combination. However, Garnett’s leadership in teaching the two young stars can be the thing that really puts them over the top. Kevin Garnett was unable to bring a championship to Minnesota in his prime, but his new role may indirectly lead to one in the future.
