Sports
Kevin Garnett Returns to Minnesota in Deadline Deal
In this March 18, 2007, file photo, Minnesota Timberwolves’ Kevin Garnett (21) goes to the hoop in the second quarter of their NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles. Garnett is coming back to the place it all began. A person with knowledge of the deal says the Minnesota Timberwolves are sending forward Thaddeus Young to the Brooklyn Nets for Garnett. The person spoke Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015, on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been officially announced. (AP Photo/Gus Ruelas, File)
JON KRAWCZYNSKI, AP Basketball Writer
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — For 12 years in Minnesota, Kevin Garnett gave the Timberwolves something they didn’t have before he arrived and haven’t had since he left — an identity.
Now the Old Wolf who put the franchise on the map is coming back to the place it all began. And it won’t be for just one final victory lap.
The Timberwolves sent forward Thaddeus Young to the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday for Garnett, the beloved icon who will be tasked with tutoring a young and impressionable nucleus in hopes of ending a playoff drought that will reach 11 straight years this season.
“Kevin doesn’t like change,” said Wolves president and coach Flip Saunders, who coached Garnett for 10 years in his first stint in Minnesota. “That’s how he’s always been. But I think when he looks back, he doesn’t think moving from Brooklyn to here as a big change. I think he looks at it from moving back and being home.”
As the deal started to take shape, some envisioned the 38-year-old Garnett coming back for a final two-month swan song before retiring this summer. But the Wolves hope to sign him to a new two-year deal when his contract expires, according a person with knowledge of the team’s thinking. The person requested anonymity because both sides have yet to discuss the parameters of a deal, and won’t until he becomes a free agent July 1.
That ensures the Wolves will have him on the court as a veteran mentor for a young roster that includes point guard Ricky Rubio, No. 1 overall draft pick Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine, Shabazz Muhammad and Gorgui Dieng.
“I’m going to be here with my notebook and see whatever he does,” Rubio said. “I remember watching him with the Timberwolves and the Boston Celtics winning a championship, playing against him was something special. You could see players were afraid of him. That means he was tough, but he was a winner. No matter what a team needs to do, he did it.”
The Timberwolves and Nets had been discussing the possibility of bringing Garnett back to Minnesota for some time leading up to the trade deadline on Thursday, but he didn’t inform the two teams that he would waive his no-trade clause until about 30 minutes before the trade deadline.
Garnett was drafted straight out of high school in 1995 and spent his first 12 seasons in Minnesota. He guided the Timberwolves to the only eight playoff appearances in franchise history and won the MVP award while leading them to the Western Conference finals in 2004.
The Wolves traded Garnett to Boston in 2007 and the Celtics won a championship in his first season there. Garnett remained with Boston until he was dealt along with Celtics mainstay Paul Pierce to Brooklyn on the night of the 2013 draft.
Now he’s back, though Saunders said he will not make his debut until Wednesday night at home against Washington.
“When you think of the Timberwolves, you think of Kevin Garnett,” Wiggins said. “That’s the first thing that comes up.”
In Minnesota, he will be reunited with Saunders and assistant coach Sam Mitchell, one of Garnett’s favorite former teammates.
Pierce spent just a year in Brooklyn and now Garnett is gone too, with the Nets getting a solid replacement in Young, who has played much better as the season went on. Young is only 26 and in the prime of his career, which made the Wolves initially reluctant to part with him. But he has a player option on his contract for almost $10 million next season and was routinely undersized at power forward, so he likely did not figure into Minnesota’s long-term plans.
“Thanks @MNTimberwolves organization and fans for welcoming my family and I. We really appreciate you all,” Young tweeted. “Hello @BrooklynNets, can’t wait for the new opportunity ….. my family and I are very excited and ready.”
Garnett is no longer a force on offense, and has often sat out the second night of back-to-back games. But he remains a solid rebounder and defender, plus a highly regarded locker room leader who should make an impact on a young Timberwolves team. He is averaging just 6.8 points and 20.3 minutes per game for the Nets, who are languishing on the fringes of playoff contention in the lackluster Eastern Conference.
The Timberwolves have never made the postseason without Garnett prowling the paint. He may not be the player he was when he left in 2007, but the Wolves hope that when they return to the playoffs, Garnett will still have a major influence.
“Whatever he says, we’re going to do it,” Rubio said. “He’s going to have the voice in the locker room. We’re going to learn a lot from him. It’s great. Not just because he did great things over here. He’s been one of the greatest ever in this sport and I’m happy to be his teammate.”
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Bay Area
Love Life Organization Shows Love
As part of Love Life Week, the Love Life Foundation was honored to produce the 1974-75 World Champion Golden State Warrior Day. It’s a shame that our first Bay Area World Championship team’s unique accolades had been lost in the pre social media era and the cultural revolution of the 1970s.
City of Oakland Celebrates 1975 NBA World Championship Team
By Donald Lacy
Special to The Post
As part of Love Life Week, the Love Life Foundation was honored to produce the 1974-75 World Champion Golden State Warrior Day.
It’s a shame that our first Bay Area World Championship team’s unique accolades had been lost in the pre social media era and the cultural revolution of the 1970s.
The 1975 NBA World Championship team were invited back to the City of Oakland last Friday, to be properly celebrated for their ground-breaking performance in 1975.
The heartwarming ceremony highlighted the recent passing of the legendary coach of that team, Al Attlles, and his former players Clifford Ray and Charles Dudley were on hand to represent the “Cardiac Kids” as they were called back then for their ability to make great comeback victories during their run for the title.
Warriors great Chris Mullin and former spiritual advisor Gary Reeves gave heartfelt testimonies of their experiences under Attles’ leadership and their relationship with the inspiration they received from the NBA 1975 World Champion Golden State Warriors.
The City of Oakland provided proclamations to all parties with speeches made by city leadership including Mayor Sheng Thao and Deputy Mayor Dr. Kimberly Mayfield and activity host Love Life non-profit founder and Executive Director Donald E. Lacy Jr..
There will be a celebration of life event Nov. 9 honoring Attles’ legacy at Alameda College.
California Black Media
Several Black Californians Are Playing Key Roles in LA 28 Olympics Planning
From politicians and businesspeople to athletes and community leaders, a number of Black Californians are contributing to the thought leadership that is shaping the planning of LA28, the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. At the forefront is Los Angeles’ first Black woman mayor, Karen Bass, who has, in many ways, become the face of the Games in the City of Angels.
By Lila Brown, California Black Media
From politicians and businesspeople to athletes and community leaders, a number of Black Californians are contributing to the thought leadership that is shaping the planning of LA28, the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
At the forefront is Los Angeles’ first Black woman mayor, Karen Bass, who has, in many ways, become the face of the Games in the City of Angels.
“The 2028 Games present an incredible opportunity to unite our city and lift up every corner of Los Angeles,” said Bass during a historic event at Los Angeles City Hall on Sept. 13, when the Olympic and Paralympic flags were unveiled and installed.
The event marked the return of the Olympic flag to L.A. since 1984, when the city hosted the Olympics for the second time. It was the first time the Paralympic flag was raised in California’s largest city.
“From creating jobs to supporting small businesses, we are committed to ensuring that these Games benefit all Angelenos — not just for the summer of 2028, but for decades to come,” Bass added.
Nearly two months after the Olympic flag handover from Paris to Los Angeles, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach visited Los Angeles.
Bach toured several of the city’s newest world-class sporting venues, including the SoFi Stadium and the recently opened Intuit Dome, both located in Inglewood. At the stadiums, he was joined by two other Los Angeles County Black mayors, whose cities will be key to hosting LA28 events: Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts and Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson.
SoFi Stadium, known as the home of NFL teams the LA Rams and LA Chargers, will host swimming competitions during the LA28 Games, with a temporary pool set to make it the largest swimming venue in Olympic history, boasting 38,000 seats. Intuit Dome, Inglewood’s newest state-of-the-art venue and home to the LA Clippers, will host the Olympic basketball tournament in the 18,000-seat arena.
In an interview with California Black Media ( CBM), Butts highlighted Inglewood’s central role in the upcoming Games, stating, “Inglewood will host the Opening and Closing ceremonies, basketball, and swimming competitions of the 2028 Olympic Games. This will be our second hosting of Olympic Basketball, the first in 1984.”
Marqueece Harris-Dawson, President of the Los Angeles City Council, also attended the tour.
Harris-Dawson is one of the leading backers of PlayLA, a parks development program that promises to provide sports programming to “young Angelenos of all abilities.” The initiative is funded by a $160 million investment from the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the International Olympic Committee.
Black Californians serving on the LA28 Board include Businesswoman Mellody Hobson; decorated Paralympian Lex Gillette; former Netflix Executive Dana Smith; President of the LA County Federation of Labor AFL-CIO Yvonne Wheeler; and television host, retired sprinter and four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson.
Rosalyn Brant Clark, a 1976 Olympic silver medalist and mother of three-time Paralympian Breanna Clark, said while the “Games for All” theme is promising, she is looking for more concrete action that impacts the lives of ordinary people, including Black Californians.
“They are going to need to show me more on that one before it gets my stamp of approval,” she added, challenging organizers to ensure genuine inclusivity.
Bay Area
Ohemaa Nyanin Named GM of Valkyries WNBA Team
The Bay Area is filled with excitement, and much of the conversation is about the Bay Area’s newest WNBA team — the VALKYRIES! The Golden State Warriors were awarded the 13th team in the WNBA last October, and just four months ago, the team’s General Manager was announced — Ohemaa Nyanin.
By Y’Anad Burrell
The Bay Area is filled with excitement, and much of the conversation is about the Bay Area’s newest WNBA team — the VALKYRIES! The Golden State Warriors were awarded the 13th team in the WNBA last October, and just four months ago, the team’s General Manager was announced — Ohemaa Nyanin.
Nyanin’s parents are from Ghana, and she was born in Maryland. Nyanin’s experience in this industry precedes her both as a former college player and on the business side. Nyanin is an American University alumna who played on the Eagles’ women’s basketball team. In 2019, Nyanain joined the WNBA team, The New York Liberty, initially serving as the director of basketball operations before she became assistant general manager.
“No excuses,” Nyanin said. “We are here, first and foremost, as humans, and secondly to win basketball games. So how do we do that, and how do we do that in the most inclusive way?”
From viewing interviews that Nyanin has done since her arrival in the Bay Area, a constant theme in her conversations is talking about taking a “people first” approach. Nyanin talks about how she will be focused on the players, staff, and fans as she navigates and executes her role as general manager. Health, both mentally and physically, is important to Nyanin, as I’ve seen in her many interviews.
Just days ago, The Golden State Warriors announced the head coach for the Valkyries — Natalie Nakase.
Nakase has been the assistant coach for the Las Vegas Aces for the past three seasons, where she was a part of the Aces’ back-to-back championship run in 2022 and 2023. Before joining the Aces’ coaching staff, Nakase spent ten seasons with her hometown team, the Los Angeles Clippers, and their G League.
The Valkyries will practice at downtown Oakland’s Golden State Warrior space and play games at Chase Center in San Francisco. This is an excellent opportunity to experience both sides of the water.
The Valkyries WNBA season opens May 2025 at Chase Center in San Francisco, and the Valkyries website shows over 18,000 season-ticket deposits. For clarity, if someone is ‘interested’ in purchasing season tickets, a $25 deposit is required. The Chase Center’s capacity is a little over 18,000, so you can imagine how electrifying the stadium will be during all home games.
Ohemaa, welcome to the Bay and The Town!
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Sports
Kevin Garnett Returns to Minnesota in Deadline Deal
In this March 18, 2007, file photo, Minnesota Timberwolves’ Kevin Garnett (21) goes to the hoop in the second quarter of their NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles. Garnett is coming back to the place it all began. A person with knowledge of the deal says the Minnesota Timberwolves are sending forward Thaddeus Young to the Brooklyn Nets for Garnett. The person spoke Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015, on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been officially announced. (AP Photo/Gus Ruelas, File)
JON KRAWCZYNSKI, AP Basketball Writer
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — For 12 years in Minnesota, Kevin Garnett gave the Timberwolves something they didn’t have before he arrived and haven’t had since he left — an identity.
Now the Old Wolf who put the franchise on the map is coming back to the place it all began. And it won’t be for just one final victory lap.
The Timberwolves sent forward Thaddeus Young to the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday for Garnett, the beloved icon who will be tasked with tutoring a young and impressionable nucleus in hopes of ending a playoff drought that will reach 11 straight years this season.
“Kevin doesn’t like change,” said Wolves president and coach Flip Saunders, who coached Garnett for 10 years in his first stint in Minnesota. “That’s how he’s always been. But I think when he looks back, he doesn’t think moving from Brooklyn to here as a big change. I think he looks at it from moving back and being home.”
As the deal started to take shape, some envisioned the 38-year-old Garnett coming back for a final two-month swan song before retiring this summer. But the Wolves hope to sign him to a new two-year deal when his contract expires, according a person with knowledge of the team’s thinking. The person requested anonymity because both sides have yet to discuss the parameters of a deal, and won’t until he becomes a free agent July 1.
That ensures the Wolves will have him on the court as a veteran mentor for a young roster that includes point guard Ricky Rubio, No. 1 overall draft pick Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine, Shabazz Muhammad and Gorgui Dieng.
“I’m going to be here with my notebook and see whatever he does,” Rubio said. “I remember watching him with the Timberwolves and the Boston Celtics winning a championship, playing against him was something special. You could see players were afraid of him. That means he was tough, but he was a winner. No matter what a team needs to do, he did it.”
The Timberwolves and Nets had been discussing the possibility of bringing Garnett back to Minnesota for some time leading up to the trade deadline on Thursday, but he didn’t inform the two teams that he would waive his no-trade clause until about 30 minutes before the trade deadline.
Garnett was drafted straight out of high school in 1995 and spent his first 12 seasons in Minnesota. He guided the Timberwolves to the only eight playoff appearances in franchise history and won the MVP award while leading them to the Western Conference finals in 2004.
The Wolves traded Garnett to Boston in 2007 and the Celtics won a championship in his first season there. Garnett remained with Boston until he was dealt along with Celtics mainstay Paul Pierce to Brooklyn on the night of the 2013 draft.
Now he’s back, though Saunders said he will not make his debut until Wednesday night at home against Washington.
“When you think of the Timberwolves, you think of Kevin Garnett,” Wiggins said. “That’s the first thing that comes up.”
In Minnesota, he will be reunited with Saunders and assistant coach Sam Mitchell, one of Garnett’s favorite former teammates.
Pierce spent just a year in Brooklyn and now Garnett is gone too, with the Nets getting a solid replacement in Young, who has played much better as the season went on. Young is only 26 and in the prime of his career, which made the Wolves initially reluctant to part with him. But he has a player option on his contract for almost $10 million next season and was routinely undersized at power forward, so he likely did not figure into Minnesota’s long-term plans.
“Thanks @MNTimberwolves organization and fans for welcoming my family and I. We really appreciate you all,” Young tweeted. “Hello @BrooklynNets, can’t wait for the new opportunity ….. my family and I are very excited and ready.”
Garnett is no longer a force on offense, and has often sat out the second night of back-to-back games. But he remains a solid rebounder and defender, plus a highly regarded locker room leader who should make an impact on a young Timberwolves team. He is averaging just 6.8 points and 20.3 minutes per game for the Nets, who are languishing on the fringes of playoff contention in the lackluster Eastern Conference.
The Timberwolves have never made the postseason without Garnett prowling the paint. He may not be the player he was when he left in 2007, but the Wolves hope that when they return to the playoffs, Garnett will still have a major influence.
“Whatever he says, we’re going to do it,” Rubio said. “He’s going to have the voice in the locker room. We’re going to learn a lot from him. It’s great. Not just because he did great things over here. He’s been one of the greatest ever in this sport and I’m happy to be his teammate.”
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Bay Area
Love Life Organization Shows Love
As part of Love Life Week, the Love Life Foundation was honored to produce the 1974-75 World Champion Golden State Warrior Day. It’s a shame that our first Bay Area World Championship team’s unique accolades had been lost in the pre social media era and the cultural revolution of the 1970s.
City of Oakland Celebrates 1975 NBA World Championship Team
By Donald Lacy
Special to The Post
As part of Love Life Week, the Love Life Foundation was honored to produce the 1974-75 World Champion Golden State Warrior Day.
It’s a shame that our first Bay Area World Championship team’s unique accolades had been lost in the pre social media era and the cultural revolution of the 1970s.
The 1975 NBA World Championship team were invited back to the City of Oakland last Friday, to be properly celebrated for their ground-breaking performance in 1975.
The heartwarming ceremony highlighted the recent passing of the legendary coach of that team, Al Attlles, and his former players Clifford Ray and Charles Dudley were on hand to represent the “Cardiac Kids” as they were called back then for their ability to make great comeback victories during their run for the title.
Warriors great Chris Mullin and former spiritual advisor Gary Reeves gave heartfelt testimonies of their experiences under Attles’ leadership and their relationship with the inspiration they received from the NBA 1975 World Champion Golden State Warriors.
The City of Oakland provided proclamations to all parties with speeches made by city leadership including Mayor Sheng Thao and Deputy Mayor Dr. Kimberly Mayfield and activity host Love Life non-profit founder and Executive Director Donald E. Lacy Jr..
There will be a celebration of life event Nov. 9 honoring Attles’ legacy at Alameda College.
California Black Media
Several Black Californians Are Playing Key Roles in LA 28 Olympics Planning
From politicians and businesspeople to athletes and community leaders, a number of Black Californians are contributing to the thought leadership that is shaping the planning of LA28, the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. At the forefront is Los Angeles’ first Black woman mayor, Karen Bass, who has, in many ways, become the face of the Games in the City of Angels.
By Lila Brown, California Black Media
From politicians and businesspeople to athletes and community leaders, a number of Black Californians are contributing to the thought leadership that is shaping the planning of LA28, the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
At the forefront is Los Angeles’ first Black woman mayor, Karen Bass, who has, in many ways, become the face of the Games in the City of Angels.
“The 2028 Games present an incredible opportunity to unite our city and lift up every corner of Los Angeles,” said Bass during a historic event at Los Angeles City Hall on Sept. 13, when the Olympic and Paralympic flags were unveiled and installed.
The event marked the return of the Olympic flag to L.A. since 1984, when the city hosted the Olympics for the second time. It was the first time the Paralympic flag was raised in California’s largest city.
“From creating jobs to supporting small businesses, we are committed to ensuring that these Games benefit all Angelenos — not just for the summer of 2028, but for decades to come,” Bass added.
Nearly two months after the Olympic flag handover from Paris to Los Angeles, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach visited Los Angeles.
Bach toured several of the city’s newest world-class sporting venues, including the SoFi Stadium and the recently opened Intuit Dome, both located in Inglewood. At the stadiums, he was joined by two other Los Angeles County Black mayors, whose cities will be key to hosting LA28 events: Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts and Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson.
SoFi Stadium, known as the home of NFL teams the LA Rams and LA Chargers, will host swimming competitions during the LA28 Games, with a temporary pool set to make it the largest swimming venue in Olympic history, boasting 38,000 seats. Intuit Dome, Inglewood’s newest state-of-the-art venue and home to the LA Clippers, will host the Olympic basketball tournament in the 18,000-seat arena.
In an interview with California Black Media ( CBM), Butts highlighted Inglewood’s central role in the upcoming Games, stating, “Inglewood will host the Opening and Closing ceremonies, basketball, and swimming competitions of the 2028 Olympic Games. This will be our second hosting of Olympic Basketball, the first in 1984.”
Marqueece Harris-Dawson, President of the Los Angeles City Council, also attended the tour.
Harris-Dawson is one of the leading backers of PlayLA, a parks development program that promises to provide sports programming to “young Angelenos of all abilities.” The initiative is funded by a $160 million investment from the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the International Olympic Committee.
Black Californians serving on the LA28 Board include Businesswoman Mellody Hobson; decorated Paralympian Lex Gillette; former Netflix Executive Dana Smith; President of the LA County Federation of Labor AFL-CIO Yvonne Wheeler; and television host, retired sprinter and four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson.
Rosalyn Brant Clark, a 1976 Olympic silver medalist and mother of three-time Paralympian Breanna Clark, said while the “Games for All” theme is promising, she is looking for more concrete action that impacts the lives of ordinary people, including Black Californians.
“They are going to need to show me more on that one before it gets my stamp of approval,” she added, challenging organizers to ensure genuine inclusivity.
Bay Area
Ohemaa Nyanin Named GM of Valkyries WNBA Team
The Bay Area is filled with excitement, and much of the conversation is about the Bay Area’s newest WNBA team — the VALKYRIES! The Golden State Warriors were awarded the 13th team in the WNBA last October, and just four months ago, the team’s General Manager was announced — Ohemaa Nyanin.
By Y’Anad Burrell
The Bay Area is filled with excitement, and much of the conversation is about the Bay Area’s newest WNBA team — the VALKYRIES! The Golden State Warriors were awarded the 13th team in the WNBA last October, and just four months ago, the team’s General Manager was announced — Ohemaa Nyanin.
Nyanin’s parents are from Ghana, and she was born in Maryland. Nyanin’s experience in this industry precedes her both as a former college player and on the business side. Nyanin is an American University alumna who played on the Eagles’ women’s basketball team. In 2019, Nyanain joined the WNBA team, The New York Liberty, initially serving as the director of basketball operations before she became assistant general manager.
“No excuses,” Nyanin said. “We are here, first and foremost, as humans, and secondly to win basketball games. So how do we do that, and how do we do that in the most inclusive way?”
From viewing interviews that Nyanin has done since her arrival in the Bay Area, a constant theme in her conversations is talking about taking a “people first” approach. Nyanin talks about how she will be focused on the players, staff, and fans as she navigates and executes her role as general manager. Health, both mentally and physically, is important to Nyanin, as I’ve seen in her many interviews.
Just days ago, The Golden State Warriors announced the head coach for the Valkyries — Natalie Nakase.
Nakase has been the assistant coach for the Las Vegas Aces for the past three seasons, where she was a part of the Aces’ back-to-back championship run in 2022 and 2023. Before joining the Aces’ coaching staff, Nakase spent ten seasons with her hometown team, the Los Angeles Clippers, and their G League.
The Valkyries will practice at downtown Oakland’s Golden State Warrior space and play games at Chase Center in San Francisco. This is an excellent opportunity to experience both sides of the water.
The Valkyries WNBA season opens May 2025 at Chase Center in San Francisco, and the Valkyries website shows over 18,000 season-ticket deposits. For clarity, if someone is ‘interested’ in purchasing season tickets, a $25 deposit is required. The Chase Center’s capacity is a little over 18,000, so you can imagine how electrifying the stadium will be during all home games.
Ohemaa, welcome to the Bay and The Town!
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