That’s right, it’s been two decades since the Wolves have played in a deciding game 7 of an NBA Playoffs series. And the last time it happened was pretty memorable. And the memories from that historic matchup begin with a locker room conversation between reporters and superstar Kevin Garnett two days before game 7 actually took place.

OTD in Minnesota Timberwolves History (2004): Kevin Garnett gets ready for war vs Sacramento Kings

You’ve heard the sound clip for sure, and you’ve probably seen the video too. It’s one of the greatest athlete + reporter moments in Minnesota sports history. KG, Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell were hosting Chris Webber and the Sacramento Kings for a chance to go to the Western Conference finals vs Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.

When asked what’s at stake, in the Target Center locker room a couple days before the game, Garnett (fresh off being named 2003-04 NBA MVP) gave us a glance into his mindset, at the time. In his head, KG was preparing for war.

Timberwolves gotta have this legendary Kevin Garnett Game 7 clip on replay on the plane home and at the arena until the game starts against the Nuggets

exactly 20 years to the day of their last game 7 in the NBA playoffs

"I'm ready for War" pic.twitter.com/LJKEE4cFVp

— Rob Lopez (@r0bato) May 17, 2024

“This is game 7, man. This is it, it’s for all the marbles. I’m sittin in the house, I’m loading up the pump, I’m loading up the uzi. I got a couple M16s, couple nine’s, I got a couple joints with some silencers on ’em. I’m just loading up clips. Couple grenades, gotta missile launcher with a couple, you know, missiles. I’m ready for war.”

Kevin Garnett before game 7 vs the Sacramento Kings in 2004 NBA Playoffs

The Minnesota Timberwolves would end up defeating the Kings in game 7, two days later and KG had to deal with some repercussions over his now famous locker room back and forth with reporters, criticism that would be 100x worse in 2024 than it was back then.

Related: Jamal Murray Refuses to Give Anthony Edwards His Flowers

Not that KG would have cared. His rant, of course, was a metaphor for how he was preparing for game 7 mentally, which was a war mindset. He was entering that game looking for any way to metaphorically kill his opponents. He was walking into that game 7 with a take-no-prisoners mindset.

And if you remember how crazy that game was, he and the 2003-04 Minnesota Timberwolves needed every drop of it to prevail and move on that night. Garnett finished with a game-high 32 points and 21 rebounds in a 83-80 defensive clinic.

On This Day in 2004

Kevin Garnett delivered his iconic Game 7 performance to lead the Timberwolves to 83-80 win over the Kings to advance to WCF as he dropped 32 pts 21 Rebs 4 stl and 5 blks pic.twitter.com/tCT2f1Rq1r

— Lukas (@KBsLakeShow24) May 19, 2023

Every time Sacramento pulled the game within five points, Minnesota answered with a big shot. A three-pointer from KG that stretched the lead to 77-70 was pretty much the dagger.

So now, on the 20th anniversary of the day that Kevin Garnett sat down with reporters and prepared for war with the Sacramento Kings, it’s time for Anthony Edwards to do the same thing. He might have to dig even deeper. This edition of the Timberwolves won’t have the Target Center crowd cheering it on.

Related: Timberwolves Linked to Potential Trade For All-Star PG

Game 7 on Sunday is in Denver and it isn’t against a young, rising small market team like Sacramento. It’s against the reigning champion Nuggets. Oh, and they have the newly-minted MVP on their team, this time, too. Better get out a couple more uzis and at least one more missile launcher this time around.

Hi everyone, I am sorry for writing to you so late. Something very important has come to light, however, and it needs immediate attention. The Sacramento Kings are on the hunt for a new “top basketball decision-maker” and they have reportedly narrowed their list of candidates down for second interviews. Included in those advancing, is Minnesota Timberwolves’ Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, Sachin Gupta.

ESPN Sources: Minnesota EVP Sachin Gupta, Houston assistant GM Monte McNair and former Atlanta GM Wes Wilcox are among those advancing to a second-round of interviews in Sacramento’s search for new top basketball decision-maker. All three will travel to Sacramento.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 13, 2020

Gupta seems like an obvious choice for any team who is looking for someone to lead a new-age front office that can be flexible in a variety of different ways. Before making such a big decision, however, I wanted to point out four major drawbacks too.

Eric, Gupta invented the ESPN Trade Machine and is known as one of the fastest-rising minds in the NBA!’ I know, I know… but I just feel like the whole story should be told and that’s what I’m all about.

So, here is why the Kings should avoid hiring Sachin Gupta away from the Timberwolves.

#1: Not a West Coast Guy

Sachin Gupta has a graduate degree from MIT (Massachusetts) in Computer Science. He’s worked in Bristol (CT) for ESPN, Philly with the 76ers, Detroit with the Pistons, and even some time with the Rockets in Houston. That was before he landed his job with the Wolves in Minnesota.

With all of that evidence piled up, I think we can safely say that Sachin Gupta hates the west coast. Thus, hiring and moving him there would be ill-advised, to say the least. Sure, he got an MBA from Stanford in 2013… but everyone makes mistakes.

#2: Only 1,300 Followers on Twitter

This should be a major warning sign to Sacramento Kings ownership. How can you hire someone for a job, as important as President of Basketball Operations (or something close to it), who has less Twitter followers than your neighbor kid who plays too many video games?

With all of the stock California puts into twitter opinions and clout, I’m not sure how the Kings would explain this hire to their fanbase.

#3: He’s Too Smart

As noted above, Gupta is an MIT graduate who got his degree in computer science, before turning that around and creating the ESPN Trade Machine, fresh out of school. Since then, he’s had a meteoric rise to stardom (not on Twitter though) among NBA circles.

If you’re the owner of the Sacramento Kings, are you sure you want someone this competent, this brilliant, working directly underneath you? Think about it… When you work with Sachin Gupta, you always know there is someone in the room who is smarter than you. Are you sure that’s something you want?

#4: Unfinished Business in Minnesota

Sachin Gupta was brought to Minnesota to help head one of the most progressive and new-age front offices in the history of the NBA.

He’s already helped make the impossible, possible, by helping to facilitate Andrew Wiggins to Golden State, for D’Angelo Russell. The process is far from over, though. The Timberwolves have made it clear, they want to trade the #1 overall pick in the 2020 draft, for a third and final piece to their future KAT + DLO puzzle.

Another Timberwolves trade of that magnitude could change the course of life as we know it for KAT, Russell and Wolves fans, alike. You don’t want to pull someone away from an unfinished project that big. It’s not fair to anyone involved.

No. Absolutely not. We‘re trying to land Devin Booker and change lives. Does Sachin Gupta not want to change lives? https://t.co/e1KCstOh18

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) September 13, 2020

At the end of the day, I can’t control what the Sacramento Kings do with their franchise and I would never tell Sachin Gupta not to advance his blossoming career. Nonetheless, I hope Kings’ ownership reads this before they make any rash decisions that could have such a negative effect on so many lives.

Do the right thing.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Early Wednesday, after months of speculation, the disgruntled superstar, that is Kawhi Leonard, was officially shipped out of San Antonio.

Naturally, the vast majority of the day’s NBA discussions centered around that blockbuster agreement.

Raptors and Spurs reached an agreement:

Kawhi Leonard ➡️Raptors
Danny Green ➡️ Raptors

DeMar DeRozan ➡️ Spurs
Jakob Poeltl ➡️ Spurs
2019 first round pick (protected) ➡️ Spurshttps://t.co/7DgojXXqBz

— Sportando (@Sportando) July 18, 2018

On the opposite end of the spectrum, lost in the shuffle of Gregg Popovich & Co. literally sending Leonard to another country, was this surprising development regarding a familiar ex-Timberwolf’s unanticipated return to the country:

After backing out of a verbal agreement with the Sixers, Nemanja Bjelica and the Kings are discussing a potential deal, per @shamscharania pic.twitter.com/NItfFFB4sd

— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) July 18, 2018

That’s right, ladies and gentlemen. Approximately 24 hours after initial reports surfaced that Bjelica would be returning to Europe, in lieu of a handshake agreement with the 76ers; current indications now strongly suggest there is a good chance he’ll spend the upcoming season back on an NBA roster.

As you can imagine, the Bjelly’s switcheroo didn’t bode well with the all-too-familiar Philadelphia sports fans.

Sixers front office… pic.twitter.com/F3M9dSYXpq

— Gary Langlais (@garylanglais) July 18, 2018

Bjelica did my Sixers dirty

— RMacs (@PhillyHotspur) July 18, 2018

But, before anyone jumps down the Serbian’s throat, let his recent interview with the Athletic’s Jon Krawcyznski shed further light on the situation. During their discussion, which was prior to these Sacramento developments, the 30 year-old said “family and some kind of stability” was why he passed on the opportunity to join the up-and-coming 76ers.

He also stated that his decision was “not about the Philly organization. Brett Brown, he’s a great guy and a great coach.”

Nemanja Bjelica was hoping for a longer-term deal to move his family to a new city. The market just wasn’t conducive to that. More he thought about it, the more he second-guessed his decision.

— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) July 17, 2018

Fast forward to the now:

While news has released today, that the Celtics and Marcus Smart have agreed to a 4 year-$52 million deal, there is no signed and sealed agreement between the former Euro-star and the Kings (or the Sixers I guess) .

Confirmed with Bjelica that the Kings contacted him. There has been no offer, just convo w/Vlade and Peja telling him he’s too good to go back to Europe. Other teams have expressed the same.

— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) July 18, 2018

When it’s all said and done, from what I’ve read on the situation, if Sacramento or any other organization is willing to give Bjelica his expressed desire for a longer-term contract, I’d fully expect him to continue his basketball career via the NBA. In regards to the Philly faithful’s wounds, they’ll heal up just fine. When it comes to losing out on the potential to secure a former European Timberwolf, this isn’t the fan base’s first rodeo.

Andrei Kirilenko was suspended by 76ers for not reporting after trade from Nets on Jan. 9, 2015. Was waived Feb. 21.

— Chris Vivlamore (@CVivlamoreAJC) January 9, 2017

Johnny Minnesota (@TheJohnnyMN)
MinnesotaSportsFan.com