<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">After the Timberwolves drafted Kevin Garnett in 1995, the team assembled a group of Twin Cities leaders to welcome him. That was the first time Garnett met Kirby Puckett. Garnett said he was nervous meeting the Twins' star center fielder. But Puckett's charm and friendliness put Garnett at ease. "He just talked to me briefly, and I could tell right away that we were going to get along," Garnett recalled Tuesday of his friendship with Puckett, who died Monday at a Phoenix hospital at age 45 after suffering a brain aneurysm. Over the next decade, Puckett became a mentor, confidant and, in Garnett's words, a big brother to the Wolves' all-star forward. Garnett said Puckett will always be with him. "He was one of the very few people that I enjoyed being around, to tell you the truth, because he was just himself," said Garnett, who wrote KP 34 in honor of Puckett on his sneakers for Tuesday night's game, a 93-87 loss to the Houston Rockets at Target Center. "I had a lot of private conversations about being who we are, being people, not being afraid of making mistakes." "He was one of the very few people that I enjoyed being around, to tell you the truth, because he was just himself," said Garnett, who wrote KP 34 in honor of Puckett on his sneakers for Tuesday night's game against the Houston Rockets at Target Center. "I had a lot of private conversations about being who we are, being people, not being afraid of making mistakes." Garnett said he sometimes confided in Puckett when he had problems. "I could never forget ? we did a McDonald's commercial," Garnett said. "That's probably when we really started to really bond a little bit to the point to where I could call him a friend... . The things Kirb taught me, I'll probably use for the rest of my life." Puckett, a baseball hall of famer, was a longtime Wolves season-ticket holder and perhaps the most popular athlete in Minnesota history. He encouraged Garnett to support other pro athletes in the city. "He... was a part of the Timberwolves," Garnett said. "That was the first time I'd heard that even though we're different players in different sports, we're still sports figures in the city, and we have a responsibility to support one another." Puckett took Garnett to Twins games and Vikings games as well. Acting on Puckett's advice, Garnett once bought a suite at the Metrodome for Vikings games for the Wolves. Garnett said he and Wally Szczerbiak formed a stronger relationship by attending Vikings games. "He taught me to keep the guys together," Garnett said. "The way you win championships is the chemistry you form with them off the field." Puckett attended the Wolves' road victory over the Phoenix Suns on Feb. 6. Puckett talked with many of the players and visited with Garnett. The Wolves held a moment of silence and showed a highlight video in memory of Puckett before Tuesday night's game against the Houston Rockets</div> Source
