Nostalgia is a powerful emotion. It reminds us of where we came from, the cherished people around us, and where we are hoping to go. One of the greatest power forwards of all time, Kevin Garnett showed off one such heartfelt memory on social media recently. The 15x NBA All-Star posted a picture with his mother from the year he was drafted into the league.

In 1995, Garnett was drafted 5th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was the first player to skip college and go straight into the NBA since 1975. This was a trailblazing achievement that opened the “prep-to-pro” door for legends such as LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. But what did life look like for the Big Ticket back then?

Stepping Back In Time

Garnett was born in 1976 to O’Lewis McCullough and Shirley Garnett. The former Boston Celtics star has always credited his mother for making him into the man he is today. So the 47-year-old decided to give a shoutout to his mom on Instagram with a throwback picture.

Garnett posted a photo of himself with his mother circa 1995, to his Instagram stories. The picture shows a young Kevin leaning towards his mother, and they seem casually poised at a small gathering. He also wrote, “95ish. MOMS (love emoji),” along with the picture. Funnily enough, KG’s mother didn’t want him too involved with basketball.

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Garnett hadn’t even told his mother that he played basketball for his high school team until his senior year, when he had transferred to Farragut Career Academy, living with his sister in Chicago. And for good reason: when his mother eventually did find out that he had joined the varsity team, her reaction was anger. She wanted him to lay down his dreams and get a college education.

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But history was on Garnett’s side- he was named National High School Player of the Year by USA Today, and Mr. Basketball for the state of Illinois, propelling his talents into the public eye. Also, he did not score well on the ACT to qualify for the NCAA requirement for freshman eligibility, so he declared himself for the NBA draft instead.

Kevin Garnett’s Respect For His Mother

Recalling the way she found out about his basketball exploits, the former Timberwolves player once expressed his desire for her approval despite his fear of his mother’s reaction. She had found out by accident from one of his classmates, and showed up to a game unannounced, giving him the shock of his young life.

Regardless, he was able to prove himself worthy of the risk he was taking by not seeking higher education. Garnett led the Timberwolves to eight playoff appearances, and in 2004, to their only Western Conference Finals, nabbing himself the NBA MVP Award as well.

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Whether he followed his mother’s plans for his life or not, he has certainly made her proud.