Tom Thibodeau and Kevin Garnett seem to have a gene or two in common. The new Minnesota Timberwolves head coach and president shares with his franchise’s most storied player a ceaseless drive for defensive intensity and intangibles, a kinship the two rode to championship-level excellence when Thibodeau was an assistant with Garnett’s Boston Celtics.

With Thibodeau catching Garnett again as his career reaches its twilight, the last thing he’s going to do is rush his spirit animal out the door. The most important part of his message on Garnett’s near future, at this point, seems to be reverie:

#Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau said he's waiting to hear from Kevin Garnett on his status for next season. "The great ones deserve time." — gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) July 14, 2016

Speculation about a potential Garnett retirement is only inevitable with Tim Duncan hanging his sneakers up for good this week, and Kobe Bryant playing his final game this past April. Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki, Paul Pierce, and Vince Carter are all that remain from a generation of superstars drafted in the 1990s.

Garnett has expressed strong interest in being with the Timberwolves beyond his playing years — with the eventual goal of an ownership stake — and may be mulling how to make that transition. One way would be to technically hold a roster spot but really act more as a coach, a la Juwan Howard with the Miami Heat in 2012-13.

We’ll see if that’s what Garnett wants to do, but expect him to be involved the Timberwolves in some capacity this season regardless.