Kevin Garnett has played in the NBA for a very long time, specifically, over 50,000 minutes.
During the Minnesota Timberwolves' 114-106 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies Sunday, Garnett played a season-high 24 minutes. That made him just the fifth NBA player ever to top 50,000 career minutes.
Garnett joins Elvin Hayes, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone and Jason Kidd in the 50k club, an incredible accomplishment, attesting to players’ durability and skill to have such long NBA careers.
“Sam subbed me and the first thing they said was, ‘You have 50,000 minutes,’ ” Garnett told the Star Tribune. “And I said, ‘Yeah, I feel all 50.’ And I’m not joking.’’
Garnett may not be 50, but he is one of the oldest players in the league at 39 years old. This season will be his 21st NBA season, and his playing career is older than some of the current rookies in the league.
Since being drafted fifth overall by the Wolves, Garnett has been a 15-time All-Star, winning the 2004 league MVP and the 2008 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, as well as being a four-time All-NBA first team member. He also won an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008 after being traded by the Wolves. Last season, Garnett was reunited with Minnesota in a trade and signed a two-year extension.
“Durability is something I take pride in,” Garnett said. “At this stage of my career, able to be out here, starting? I don’t put a lot of [stats] up. But, energywise, I’m giving what I have. I’d like to think I can still guard. That says a lot.”
Garnett may have a few seasons left in him, but he has already started talking about his post-career plans. He has previously expressed interest in owning the Timberwolves, notes Yahoo Sports.