Taylor said Garnett, who was traded to the Boston Celtics in the off-season, took himself out of the lineup, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported Tuesday.

At the time, Garnett, an NBA All-Star forward and former MVP, was said to have had a hamstring injury and the Wolves were out of playoff contention.

"It was more like, I'd say, K.G. tanked it," Taylor told the newspaper.

"I think the other guys still wanted to play, but it sure changed the team and didn't make us as (good)."