Tyronn Lue: Cleveland Cavaliers' attempt to lure Kevin Garnett out of retirement failed

Kevin Garnett rebuffed Tyronn Lue when the current coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers attempted to lure "KG" out of retirement for the playoffs.

Lue spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics (2011-13) during Garnett's tenure with that franchise and thought he could entice his close friend to return.

Garnett, an analyst for TNT and NBA TV who was working as a consultant with the Milwaukee Bucks, turned down Lue's offer to join the Cavaliers and come off the bench. Lue's pitch came on the heels of a season-ending injury to Andrew Bogut.

"I was like, 'Man, you should come back and play for me.' He was like, 'Man, you all have a lot going on over there,'" Lue said. "That was before we hit our stride like we're playing well now. He was like, 'If you and [James] Posey were still playing, I would come.' But he said, 'But y'all are coaching and y'all are going through what you're going through.' He said, 'Ah, I'm going to sit this one out.' I said, 'OK. We'll call you next year.'"

Garnett turns 41 on May 19. He spent 21 seasons in the NBA with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets, entering the league out of high school in 1995.

He was a 15-time All-Star and league MVP in 2004.