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The Top 10 Moments Of Kevin Garnett’s Career

By Gerald Bourguet

Nov 27, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett (21) look on from the sideline during the third quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The The Timberwolves won 101-91. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett (21) look on from the sideline during the third quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The The Timberwolves won 101-91. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kevin Garnett
SACRAMENTO, CA – MAY 16: Chris Webber #4 of the Sacramento Kings and Kevin Garnett #21 of Minnesota Timberwolves attempt to rebound in Game six of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2004 NBA Playoffs at Arco Arena on May 16, 2004 in Sacramento, California. The Kings won 104-87. (Photo by: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) /

1. 2004 Western Conference Semifinals, Game 7

Winning a championship was the height of Kevin Garnett’s team success, and winning the MVP was the height of his individual success.

But the 2004 NBA Playoffs provided the quintessential look at how the majority of Kevin Garnett’s career went: One undeniably talented and dedicated man doing everything in his power to win for a less than stellar Minnesota Timberwolves team.

Though the Wolves added Cassell and Sprewell that season, Cassell was slightly banged up and the onus once again fell on KG to deliver his team to the promised land. Only this time, Garnett was finally able to carry them all the way to the Western Conference Finals.

In an intense seven-game series with the Sacramento Kings in the conference semifinals, Garnett averaged 23.9 points, 15.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 3.4 blocks and 1.7 steals per game. He saved his best performance for that legendary Game 7, which he would describe beforehand with an amazingly fitting war metaphor.

In the series’ decisive game, KG delivered a whopping 32 points, 21 rebounds, five blocks, four steals and two assists in 46 minutes of action — on his 28th birthday, no less.

The Wolves won the narrow game by three, due in no small part to KG’s two-way dominance and 12-of-23 shooting. In fact, only four other Minnesota players — Cassell, Sprewell, Wally Szczerbiak and Trenton Hassell — managed to score at all.

After the game, he jumped up on the scorer’s table and gave us an everlasting look at what Kevin Garnett’s prime with the Minnesota Timberwolves was all about. They never reached the pinnacle of NBA success, and it often took one man’s Herculean effort to get them as much success as they had, but damn it if it wasn’t worth it to Kevin Garnett and the Timberwolves faithful.

More hoops habit: NBA: 50 Greatest Players Of All Time

It was not the peak of Garnett’s career, but it was as fitting a lasting memory for his Hall of Fame career as any.

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