Alex Rodriguez draws Babe Ruth, Yankees comparison to Kevin Garnett

Minnesota Timberwolves co-owner Alec Rodriguez recently framed Kevin Garnett‘s heritage in an unmistakable historical sensecomparing the importance of the Hall of Fame to the franchise Babe Ruth and its fundamental role with New York Yankees.

Rodriguez made the comparison as he reflected on the years-long effort to make amends connection between Kevin Garnett and the Minnesota Timberwolvesa process recently detailed by The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski. The reconciliation culminated last week, when Garnett agreed to rejoin the franchise as an ambassador and authorized the retirement of his No. 21 jersey.

“In a lot of ways, he’s our Babe Ruth for the Yankees,” Rodriguez said. “That’s why it was important that we start to kind of go down the path of repairing the relationship.”

As noted in The Athletic, the rift between Garnett and the Timberwolves stems from his In 2007, he changed to the Boston Celtics and irreparably expanded upon his retirement in 2016. A fundamental disagreement with former owner Glenn Taylor over Garnett’s desire to eventually join ownership led to a prolonged estrangement. Garnett refused repeated calls to return to Target Center, rebuffed attempts to retire his jersey and distanced himself from the organization entirely.

Alex Rodriguez calls the return of Kevin Garnett a Babe Ruth-Yankee moment for the Timberwolves

For years, the absence of Garnett’s presence — and his jersey — has loomed over the franchise. According to the report, current ownership quickly learned that renewing that relationship was viewed internally as more than a ceremony. It was seen as a necessary step in reconnecting the team’s history with the fan base.

“It was crystal clear that one of the most impactful things we could do as owners was to retire the KG jersey and bring it back to Minnesota,” Mark Lore told The Athletic. “And mend the relationship because he meant so much to the fans, to the whole community.”

Rodriguez, who has experienced his own complicated relationship with fans and franchises during his playing career, said he was stunned by the intensity of the demand. Even outside of Minnesota, Timberwolves supporters repeatedly pressured him when Garnett would return to the fold.

“Everywhere we’ve been, not just Minnesota, but across the country, all the Minnesota Timberwolves fans have wanted to know is when is Kevin coming back to the organization?” Rodriguez said.

Instead of rushing to a solution, Lawre and Rodriguez focused on gaining Garnett’s trust over time. Athletics detailed a thoughtful approach based on personal conversations, shared meals, and a willingness to listen without pressure for immediate results. Those efforts gained momentum after the ownership group secured control of the franchise earlier this year.

The result was a reconciliation centered on respect, partnership and recognition of Garnett’s immense role in Timberwolves history. Like Ruth’s place in Yankee lore, Garnett’s legacy is inextricable from the franchise’s identity — and ownership believed honoring that truth was essential moving forward.

With his jersey ready to rise into the rafters, the Timberwolves are closing a chapter it lasted nearly a decade, renewing a relationship that both the organization and its fans had long considered unfinished.