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Garnett agrees to contract extension with Timberwolves
by Brandt Williams, Minnesota Public Radio
October 1, 2003

Kevin Garnett talks to reporters shortly before a news conference announcing he intended to stay with the team after the upcoming season. (NBA photo)

The Minnesota Timberwolves and Kevin Garnett have come to an agreement on a five-year contract extension for the All-Star forward. The team won't say how much the deal will cost the team. However, Garnett's current contract is paying him, on average, more than $20 million a year, and the new deal is expected to be at least as lucrative on an annual basis. Garnett says he's just glad to get the contract negotiations out the way so he can concentrate on playing basketball.

Minneapolis, Minn. — A diamond earring the size of a peanut M&M sparkled in Garnett's left ear as he told a herd of reporters how happy he was to be staying in Minnesota. The Timberwolves are the only professional basketball team Garnett has played for since he came to the NBA eight years ago, straight out of high school. When asked if he thought about playing for another team, Garnett said his loyalties lie in Minnesota.

"At the end of the day, man, I'm a Timberwolf. I bleed blue and green," Garnett said. "I'm a loyal person, I don't like to change a lot of things in my life. I'm not a real complicated person. I like things to be simple."

Garnett is known as one of the best all around players in the NBA. He's been named to the All Star team six times, and has been consistently ranked near the top of offensive and defensive categories each year. However, Garnett has not been able to get the Timberwolves through the first round of the playoffs. He says at the end of last season, after losing to the Los Angeles Lakers, he wasn't thinking about his contract.

"I felt like crap after game six. I'll be totally honest with you. Negotiations and contract talks -- economic-wise, was the last thing on my mind that night," Garnett said.

Garnett and team officials were trying to figure out how to win a championship. This summer the team acquired several new players, including veteran guards Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell. Garnett and head coach Flip Saunders said they believe the new guys are just what they need to get over the hump. Saunders credited team owner Glen Taylor for doing what needed to be done to keep Garnett in Minnesota.

"Glen has showed his commitment to the city, in keeping the team here -- to the fans, as far as letting Kevin go out and do his job and bringing the players we brought in this year. And then again, in his commitment to signing Kevin. And so I want to thank Glen and his partners," said Saunders.

Taylor said he believes Garnett will play for the Timberwolves for the rest of his career. However, he said he knew that one of the best ways to keep Garnett in Minnesota was to acquire better teammates for him.

"We had one kind of negotiation talk, and that was after the playoff loss. The only thing Kevin was interested in and I was interested in -- we talked about the team we would put together this coming year. And he said that would be key to his decision," said Taylor.

Along with Garnett's hefty salary, this season's payroll will weigh heavily on Taylor's pocketbook. When asked what it will take for the team to break even this year, Taylor had two words.

"A miracle."

The Timberwolves begin the regular season in four weeks against Milwaukee.

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