Rare Photos of Kevin Garnett

Kevin Garnett was originally selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves out of high school with the No. 5 pick in the 1995 NBA draft. KG went on to become a 15-time All-Star, the 2003-04 MVP and the 2007-08 Defensive Player of the Year while leading the Boston Celtics to a championship. As one of the greatest two-way big men ever retires, we present these rare photos through the years of the man nicknamed "The Big Ticket," "The Kid" and "The Franchise."

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
May 19, 2014

Rare Photos of Kevin Garnett

1994

Kevin Garnett starred at Farragut Career Academy in Chicago, where he led the squad to a 28-2 record his senior season and earned National High School Player of the Year honors. Though the T-shirt may indicate he had dreams of playing in Ann Arbor, he instead chose to enter the NBA straight out of high school.

1994

Kevin Garnett was named Mr. Basketball for Illinois after averaging 25 points, 18 rebounds, 7 assists and 7 blocks his senior season at Farragut.

1994

Kevin Garnett poses outside of Farragut Career Academy. KG played for Mauldin High in South Carolina for his first three seasons but transferred to Farragut before his senior year.

1995

Kevin Garnett became only the fourth player to jump directly from high school to the NBA, following Moses Malone, Darryl Dawkins and Bill Willoughby.

1995

Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

Kevin Garnett was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the fifth pick of the 1995 NBA Draft. KG was joined in the Top 5 by Joe Smith, Antonio McDyess, Jerry Stackhouse and Rasheed Wallace.

1996

Kevin Garnett was joined the next year by Stephon Marbury and the two were expected to be the future of the organization.

1996

After Kevin Garnett and Stephon Marbury led Minnesota to the playoffs in 1997 and 1998, Marbury was traded to New Jersey after a dispute with management.

1999

Kevin Garnett's entourage — called the OBF (Official Block Family) — includes friends from Beachwood Drive in his hometown of Mauldin, S.C.

1999

Kevin Garnett strikes a pose.

1999

Kevin Garnett in a profile portrait.

2000

Kevin Garnett puts his arm around Vince Carter after leading Team USA to the gold medal in Sydney.

2000

Tim Hardaway, Vince Carter, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen smile on the floor after leading Team USA to the gold medal in Sydney.

2000

High school star Darius Miles skipped college for the NBA and immediately drew comparisons to Kevin Garnett for their style of play. Those comparisons proved to be incorrect as Miles played nine injury-plagued seasons and is now out of the league.

2002

Kevin Garnett shows his skills during an NBA clinic in Tokyo.

2004

Kevin Garnett poses with Ludacris during an NBA All-Star Party in Los Angeles.

2004

After years of first-round playoff exits, Kevin Garnett was joined by Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell for the 2003-04 season. KG was named NBA MVP after averaging 21 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists. The Timberwolves advanced to the Western Conference Finals before bowing out to the Lakers.

2004

LeBron James, Kevin Garnett and Bernie Mac chat backstage during the 2004 ESPY Awards in Hollywood.

2006

Kevin Garnett travels to New Delhi to debut his limited edition 'Adidas KG basketball shoe.'

2007

Kevin Garnett chats with Barry Bonds before the 2007 All-Star game in Las Vegas.

2007

A day after being traded to the Celtics, Kevin Garnett reconnected with his old Minnesota buddy David Ortiz after throwing out the first pitch at Fenway Park.

2007

After the trade, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce were immediately dubbed "The New Big Three" in Boston and became one of the favorites to win the 2008 NBA title.

2007

Kevin Garnett offers words of encouragement to Serena Williams at the Matt Leinart First Annual Celebrity Bowling Night in Hollywood.

2008

Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

Kevin Garnett averaged 20.4 points per game and 10.5 rebounds per game during the 2008 playoffs.

2008

A 15-time All-Star, Garnett finally won his first and only championship in 2008 with the Boston Celtics.

2008

Kevin Garnett and his Celtics teammates meet President George W. Bush after winning the NBA Championship.

2008

Kevin Garnett poses with his wife Brandi at the 2008 ESPY Awards. The couple married in 2004, which forced KG to miss a chance to defend the gold medal in Athens.

2008

Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett dominated the power forward position for over a decade.

2009

Kevin Garnett poses with then-Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning during a promotional press conference for Wheaties.

2010

Kevin Garnett and LeBron James share a laugh on the bus ride to the stadium prior to the 2010 NBA All-Star game in Dallas.

2011

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

Kevin Garnett poses for a portrait as part of the 2011 NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles.

2011

John Sciulli/Getty Images for Activision

Kevin Garnett battles it out at the first ever Call of Duty XP at the Stages at Playa Vista in Los Angeles.

2011

Kevin Garnett and his wife Brandi attend Day 8 of the 2011 U.S. Open.

2012

Fans wearing masks of Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett pose during Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Celtics and Heat in Boston.

2013

Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant talk during the NBA All-Star practice in Houston. Garnett made 12 consecutive All-Star appearances from 2000 to 2011.

2013

Kevin Garnett poses with Magic Johnson befoe the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Canelo Alvarez fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas,

2013

Kevin Garnett looks on during his first preseason game in a Brooklyn Nets uniform.

2014

Jay-Z congratulates Kevin Garnett late in the fourth quarter of the Brooklyn Nets 97-83 win over the Toronto Raptors in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference First Round at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.