When Kevin Garnett declared himself eligible for the 1995 National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft, most experts said he had made a big mistake. A senior in high school, most people felt he was too young to succeed in professional basketball. After becoming an All-Star in only his second season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Garnett has proved the critics wrong. Only the fourth American-born player to go directly from high school to the NBA, Garnett has taken his place as the foundation on which the Timberwolves hope to build a championship team.

Growing up

Hoop dreams

Kevin Garnett was born May 19, 1976. His father left the family when Garnett was only a small child and his mother, Shirley Irby, remarried when her son was only five years old. Irby worked as a hair stylist to help support her family.

Garnett never got along very well with his stepfather, and he missed...