Kevin Garnett Nears Retirement, Taking on Timberwolves Mentoring Role

The Minnesota Timberwolves' aging superstar Kevin Garnett has bad knees but a brilliant basketball mind. That's why the team wanted to bring back its all-time leader in most team categories, even though he doesn't have much mileage left on his NBA-worn body. The former MVP was traded back to his original team by way of a deal with the Brooklyn Nets. With Kevin nearing retirement, the Timberwolves have asked him to take on more of a mentoring role for all the youth on the team.

As much as he is known as being a fierce competitor, Garnett can also be a great teacher with the almost two decades of NBA knowledge he possesses. He will play until his knees blow out, and until then, he will become similar to a player/assistant coach, while helping the franchise's youth. Garnett tells Fox Sports North of his understanding of his role for the Wolves:

"I'm not just telling them, but showing them how. I think when you have this raw talent like you have here, it's important to give instruction and demonstrate. These kids have a skill level that got them here, and I'm just trying to give them the little things, the small things that only basketball players or players who have been in the league only know."

If healthy, the Timberwolves should be more in contention with the amount of talent that can be sculpted into a championship club. Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins, Ricky Rubio and Zach LaVine will lead the youth charge, as well as the possible number one pick in this year's draft. The challenge that Garnett has accepted seems to be producing results, with LaVine praising the hard working professional to ESPN:

"He definitely had an effect. He was there every day. He was on the bench. He was in the locker room. He was at practice. You still see his routine. He's still practicing, getting up early before shootarounds. It's great to have a dude like that. We all want to get to his level. He's a Hall of Famer. That's what we all want to get to and he has that type of aura about him where he's just so uplifting. He keeps our morale high."

Could Minnesota be a sleeper team in the Western Conference next year? What kind of impact do you think Garnett will have on the court? Tell us what your thoughts below.