The Minnesota Timberwolves are in the midst of their best run since the Kevin Garnett era two decades ago, but a cloud that loomed over the franchise was the uncertainty in its relationship with the biggest superstar in franchise history to that point. 

With Minnesota’s next great superstar, Anthony Edwards, leading the team to similar heights, the Timberwolves finally decided to mend the bridge between themselves and Garnett. Earlier this week, it was announced that Garnett would be joining the Timberwolves and Lynx (WNBA) organizations as a team ambassador. 

Naz Reid is one of the modern-day Timberwolves who plays like he grew up watching Garnett, and the fans in Minnesota have a similar amount of affection for Reid, even if he isn’t an MVP-caliber player like Garnett was. Reid is certainly one of the players who would benefit most from having Garnett around, and Garnett has been known to take youngsters under his wing.

“I haven't had a chance to meet him personally,” Reid said. “But just by off his energy and things that he's done in the past, I'm sure it's going to be good for us in the organization and the fans. That'd be good for the fans to see him come back. I think we'll get a lot of juice from that.”

For Garnett, his new role with the Timberwolves and Lynx organizations is only half of it. It was also announced this week that the Timberwolves would finally be retiring Garnett’s jersey this season, honoring Garnett with a long-overdue accolade. 

For someone like Reid, who grew up during the tail end of Garnett’s NBA dominance, he was still happy to see “The Big Ticket” receive the highest honor that one can with an individual franchise. 

“Yeah, I’m happy to see that, 100%,” Reid said. “I think he deserves all the work that he's put in. Hall of Famer, obviously. I think it just goes to speak to what he's done for this organization.”

Garnett’s relationship with the organization had previously soured at the tail-end of his career, when an ownership stake promised to him by former team governor Glen Taylor fell through. With Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore officially taking over the organization in July, that opened the door for a reunion between Garnett and the franchise with which he made his name. 

“Bringing Kevin home has been a priority since we acquired the teams,” Rodriguez and Lore said in a joint statement. “He is the greatest player in Timberwolves history, and his impact on our franchise and community is immeasurable. 

“This is more than a reunion—it’s a statement about honoring our past while pursuing excellence and building one of the most admired sports organizations in the world.”

And if Garnett can rub off on the current roster, that'll be even better.