There may have been better scorers at power forward, but very few players in NBA history could impact every part of a basketball game like Kevin Garnett.
KG could score, rebound, pass, protect the rim, defend on the perimeter and completely change the energy of a team. Add his relentless intensity, and you had one of the most complete players the NBA has ever seen.
That is why Kevin Garnett begins our list of the five greatest power forwards of all time at number five.
Straight From High School to the NBA
Garnett entered the NBA in 1995 as the fifth overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves, making the jump directly from high school at just 19 years old.
It was a move that helped reopen the door for future high school stars to enter the NBA, and Garnett quickly showed that he belonged.
As his game developed, Minnesota’s young star became one of the most unique players in basketball.
At nearly seven feet tall, Garnett moved differently than most players his size. He could handle the ball, knock down jumpers, find teammates and defend virtually anywhere on the floor.
Before versatility became one of the most valuable traits in modern basketball, KG was already doing everything.
Becoming the MVP
Garnett’s peak in Minnesota came during the 2003-04 season.
He averaged 24.2 points, 13.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.2 blocks and 1.5 steals per game, winning the NBA MVP award while leading Minnesota to 58 wins and the number one seed in the Western Conference.
The Timberwolves reached the Western Conference Finals, the deepest playoff run in franchise history at the time.
That season showed exactly what made Garnett special.
He didn’t have to score 30 points every night to dominate a game. He could control it with rebounding, defense, passing and sheer effort while still being the team’s leading scorer.
KG also led the NBA in rebounding for four consecutive seasons from 2004 through 2007.
One of the Greatest Defenders Ever
Garnett’s defense is a major reason he is remembered among the greatest players at his position.
He wasn’t simply a great defensive power forward. He was one of the greatest defensive players basketball has ever seen.
Garnett could protect the rim like a traditional big man while possessing the mobility to defend much smaller players away from the basket. His communication and basketball IQ made him just as valuable as his physical abilities.
Over his career, Garnett earned 12 All-Defensive selections, including nine First Team selections.
And when he finally arrived in Boston, the rest of the league saw what could happen when an elite organization surrounded him with championship-level talent.
Anything Is Possible
After 12 seasons in Minnesota, Garnett was traded to the Boston Celtics in 2007, joining Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.
The impact was immediate.
Boston went from winning just 24 games the previous season to an incredible 66-16 record.
Garnett won the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year award, anchoring one of the league’s best defenses while giving Boston the identity it needed.
Then came the championship.
The Celtics defeated Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2008 NBA Finals, giving Garnett the one major accomplishment his résumé had been missing.
After years of carrying Minnesota, KG was finally an NBA champion.
His emotional celebration after winning the title remains one of the defining moments of his career.
A Complete Résumé
By the time Garnett retired after 21 NBA seasons, there wasn’t much left for him to prove.
NBA Champion
NBA MVP
Defensive Player of the Year
15-time All-Star
9-time All-NBA selection
12-time All-Defensive selection
4-time rebounding champion
He finished his career with 26,071 points, 14,662 rebounds, 5,445 assists, 2,037 blocks and 1,859 steals.
Those numbers capture what made Garnett different.
This wasn’t simply a scorer who happened to rebound or a defender who could give you some offense.
Kevin Garnett could impact nearly every possession in nearly every way.
At his peak, he was capable of dominating offensively while simultaneously being one of the best defensive players in basketball. His combination of versatility, intensity and two-way excellence made him one of the most complete players the game has ever seen.
From carrying Minnesota to finally reaching the top of the mountain in Boston, Kevin Garnett put together a career worthy of being remembered among the greatest power forwards in NBA history.
Kevin Garnett is our #5 greatest power forward of all time.
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