Flip Saunders got nostalgic this week, reminiscing about his time with Boston forward Kevin Garnett, whom he coached while with the Timberwolves.
He told a funny story about how Garnett ended up with Minnesota in 1995. When the Timberwolves went to scout him as a high school senior, Saunders and other front-office executives agreed that they would come out telling everyone they wanted him.
They hoped that by hyping Garnett, a team in front of them in the draft order would pick him, allowing Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess, Joe Smith or Jerry Stackhouse to fall to Minnesota at No. 5.
"So we went and we watched him work out," Saunders said, "and about five minutes in, I turned to (vice president Kevin) McHale and said, 'We better hope he's still there at No. 5.' "
Saunders also recalled the first time he started Garnett -- in Boston, coincidentally.
"And he was playing a lot," Saunders said. "When I took him out at the end and he walked by me, he said, 'Coach, thanks for playing me so much.' He was just 19 at the time. Things have kind of changed."
Now Garnett is a perennial all-star, a most valuable player candidate and a likely hall of famer.
"He's going to go down as one of the greatest power forwards of all time," Saunders said. "I said it eight years ago when he was 24, he would go down as the most versatile player to ever play the game.
"No one is as versatile as him when you look at a guy who can score, rebound, can defend all five positions, is a great passer, his unselfishness and his passion to play. He's a special player. Fortunately for me, I was lucky to coach him for nine years."
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