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Peter Cox
Minneapolis

Kevin Garnett ready to play for the Timberwolves Wednesday

Kevin Garnett at press conference Tuesday.
Minnesota Timberwolves star Kevin Garnett as he arrived to be re-introduced by the NBA Timberwolves basketball team, Feb. 24, 2015, in Minneapolis.
Jim Mone | AP

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Updated: 7 a.m. Feb. 25 | Posted: 4:43 p.m. Feb. 24

Kevin Garnett will return to the Timberwolves' starting lineup Wednesday night.

The 15-time all-star began his career with Minnesota in 1995 and left to play for Boston in 2007. Garnett was formally reintroduced as part of the Timberwolves on Tuesday.

During his first Timberwolves stint, he won an MVP award and led the team to eight straight playoff appearances, including the 2004 Western Conference Finals.

He comes to a team that has struggled this season.

The T-wolves have 12 wins and 43 losses and are at the bottom of the Northwest Division.

Garnett left Minnesota after 12 seasons, winning a championship with the Boston Celtics.

The Timberwolves traded forward Thaddeus Young to bring Garnett back from the Brooklyn Nets.

Flip Saunders and Kevin Garnett at practice
Minnesota Timberwolves star Kevin Garnett, right, talked with head coach Flip Saunders after his first practice, Feb. 24, 2015, in Minneapolis.
Jim Mone | AP

"This is the perfect situation, this is full circle right here," he said, calling it a storybook ending to his career.

"A lot of guys want to come back to their origin, (but) don't have the option to. I'm fortunate to have the ability to come here and do just that."

Coach Flip Saunders, who is also president and part owner of the Timberwolves, said Garnett brings starpower to the team.

"There's no question that KG is an icon here. I look at him and I look at Kirby Puckett when he was with the Twins in the same type of light. It's going to be very positive on our business side," he said.

Heidi Schwichtenberg of Elk River is among the fans celebrating Garnett's return.

"I couldn't believe he was coming back home. He's going to retire a Wolf, where it all started," she said. "Full circle as he said in the press conference. I'm totally excited. Just the passion, the loyalty, just the entertainment value he brings."

Meanwhile, Garnett said he sees great potential in the team's young talent, especially rookie Andrew Wiggins and young point guard Ricky Rubio.

"The potential for Wiggins and Rubio is endless," he said.

Garnett said he hopes to provide leadership, as current Timberwolves assistant coach Sam Mitchell did for him when Garnett first came into the league.

He said at some point he'd like to get into team ownership, but stressed he has no interested in coaching.

Minnesota hosts the Washington Wizards Wednesday.