Garnett and Jose Calderon exchange unpleasantries earlier this season. Photo: intentionalfoul.com.
I should preface this by saying I absolutely despise the Boston Celtics and hope the Knicks beat ‘em by 30 tonight (Pardon my bias, but likely won’t happen anyway.) And as I write this, I realize I will likely face the scorn of some of my fellow Bounce aficionados. But I for one am getting sick of Kevin Garnett and the praise he receives for playing with intensity that derives from the streets.
I understand the Big Ticket is all about winning and has a unique passion for basketball that is often absent from the NBA. But there is a difference between playing with street-tough fervor (like what Baron Davis, Devin Harris, Amare Stoudemire and Brandon Roy, among others exhibit) and just being a straight-up jerk and Garnett is the latter when on the hardwood. Below, you can check out six clips of Garnett at his best (or his worst, depending on how you look at it) that I hope help you see it my way.
February 6th, 2009 at 10:29 am
illest says:
its not a big deal. and ive hated the celtics for almost 30 years. but thats just kg.
February 6th, 2009 at 10:30 am
CasUno says:
Bro, you’re still butt hurt over this?
People mistake their hatred of the Celtics for their hatred of Boston, especially fellow East Coasters….
I love everywhere man (pause).
Keep it worldly and understand, even those close to Garnett can attest to his intensity not being an act…Everyone has their thing yo….Now Dennis Rodman, that was fakin jax, son….
Garnett is passionate, pah, his love for the game and desire to play hard is apparant.
Like the kids say “Don’t hate”….
peace.
MA Representative #23….EndCrews….
February 6th, 2009 at 10:54 am
Russ M. says:
Trev:
Big ups for throwing up a post that I’m sure you knew quite a few wouldn’t agree with. I was taught long ago, whether on the court or off it, don’t play scared. Keep up the good work!
February 6th, 2009 at 11:04 am
Elliot Rosado says:
Trev, I agree. Where was all this intensity and toughness when he was in Minnesota. I would be the most intense player in the league to if i had Paul Pierce and Ray Allen to hold me down. I bet he would never get in Alonzo Mourning’s face.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:37 am
Smitty313 says:
I think some of the things KG do is over the top. Just beacuse you get in someones face dose not make you tough.
The quiet, most laid bak guy on the court could be the toughest, the guy who never loses his cool could be the toughest. I think if someone was to slap or punch KG he would back off. He dose not want David cutting in to them big pay checks.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:47 am
illest says:
elliot…he played the same way in minnesota. and dont tell me paul pierce and ray allen are holding him down. now pierce isnt soft but ray allen has always been a soft finesse player. hes not holding anyone down. and why wouldnt he get in alonzos face? alonzo wouldnt do anything just like his great punches at lj.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Elliot Rosado says:
Illest, I”m not saying Paul Pierce & Ray Allen are tough but he can get away with the antics when he has offensive weapons like those two guy’s. And if your going to be tough be tough all the time don’t pick your spots. Notice he only beefs with the European players. He wasn’t so tough last night when Lamar Odoms got in his face. And he did play the same way in Minnesota but he wasn’t up in everybody’s face like he be doing now.
February 6th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
CasUno says:
Wow!
Odom slapped his a*s and all he did was repeatedly ask him if he indeed slapped his a*s…..
B Ball players don’t beef unless their name is Ron Artest, I think we all know this….
There hasn’t been anything remotely close to a “tough” basketball player since the 80s, but I do think Rondo was about to get all up in Kobe’s area right quick…
Either or, who cares….
Everyone gets amped in different ways.
KG is a supreme ball player, tough or not….
Speaking on behalf of Lost Angeles’ finest instigators, intimidaters, and throw ‘em off their game type tactics….That’s straight gahbage….
Keep “hating” the Celtics yo, you’re entitled to your opinion. OPINION.
February 6th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
illest says:
he did get in odoms face and told him not to slap his ass. I dont think its a matter of being tough. He just tries to get under players skin pause. Just like how he will block the shot after the whistle is called so that you dont see the ball go in. How many punches has KG thrown over the years? Probably not many.
CasUno…there were tough players in the 90s as well. I would like to see anyone mess with those Knick teams. And I know Bryant has been chumped by Chris Childs but Rondo wasnt about to do anything.
February 6th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
CasUno says:
None of them will throw down…NBA basketball players throwin blows is like boxers playing basketball….Not gonna happen!!!!
These guys are on TV, don’t buy into anything except skill in the game of ball yall…..
out.
February 6th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Trevor Kapp says:
the other thing i’d like to point out is look who he’s doing this to. jerryd bayless, jose calderon, marco belinelli, zaza pachulia, etc. no disrespect to those guys but they’re not exactly hall of famers from inner-city detroit. i’d like to see kg do this to ron artest or ben wallace and see how that plays out.
February 6th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
illest says:
he did get in duncans face years ago (basically kissed him) and duncan did nothing except beat the wolves that series. and kg has gotten into the face of other black players.
hopefully tru warrier has gotten smart from his past transgressions in the league.
February 6th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Donn says:
I understand intensity and i can appreciate that KG tries to bring the same intensity every game but i’m kinda sick of his “getting in your face, trying intimidate act” that he tries to do. The thing is, i don’t think players are scared of him. That’s why i think Lamar was smiling when KG tried to step to him cuz it’s a joke and it ain’t that serious….except for KG…Play hard but stop trying to be a bully…it don’t work for you KG. Now if Charles Oakley stepped to me then that would be a different story.
February 6th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Kevin Couliau says:
KG is a warrior but should be more respectful to his oponents. I’ve heard lots of stories of him insulting his players ( mostly white guys…) during the olympics. You can do trash talk, you can play hard…but respect the game and your oponents.
February 6th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Kevin Couliau says:
KG is a warrior but should be more respectful to his oponents. I’ve heard lots of stories of him insulting some players ( mostly white guys…) during the olympics. You can do trash talk, you can play hard…but respect the game and your oponents.
February 6th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
23edge says:
I have seen the NBA since the late 80’s when I could finally get it in Canada, and on the weekends when it was aired nationally. From what I understand, during the late 70’s to early 80’s the NBA was real nasty with a lot of dirty competition. Then when Jordan-mania was at it’s height it felt amazing to watch him play, and anyone that even tried to play dirty with him would have been ridiculed and ‘villainized.’ That was all fine and good because everyone loved him; although competition was at its finest it also made the game less brutal. Then when Jordan left I found the NBA to be very boring because you essentially had millionaire players more worried about endorsements than about winning games; there was no love and passion. Sure the Lakers and Spurs have had their glories but for me it still seemed as if any dynasty team from the past could beat any present team, simply because they had the toughness and drive to win at any cost (having a sprained ankle was no reason to miss a game). But now with KG it’s almost as if he’s making the NBA to what it used to be; not all players getting along, bringing in intimidation, and the occasional dirty plays. For me it’s becoming more entertaining, and seeing my boy Calderon not taking any shit from KG is worth watching. That aggressiveness is what a lot of teams lack, and is what will make them start winning games if they ever get it themselves.
February 6th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
vancitykat says:
I don’t see too much wrong with most of those clips, maybe the Calderon thing and the getting down on all fours, although I found the latter pretty funny.
February 7th, 2009 at 2:21 am
run says:
Whatever fervor Amare may have stops at half-court…but I get what you mean. Only punks need to punk people all the time.
February 7th, 2009 at 8:55 am
Nhamz says:
Trev, I see how KG could irritate you if you’re playing against him – but on the court, you either just (1) match his intensity showing there are no cream puffs around here or (2) just go to work and beat him with skills (like Tim Duncan did when KG tried that with him). I personally prefer to see players playing with intensity, heart and passion – rather than just punching the clock.
The clips above (especially the one against Zaza and Outlaw) don’t show anything other than him playing ball? Zaza in particular, was trying to start something with him to try and get him kicked out the game.
The reason he won’t try that stuff with a Kobe or Lebron is because it would probably mean they go off for 50+ – and that makes no sense.
And that Bellinelli clip, to me, just demonstrates how soft Bellinelli is. You don’t let a player come down and cheap shot you and do nothing about it. I’m not saying he should have brawled out, but next play down the floor? He’s getting got to know that type of ish is not going to fly.
Overall, I like him. Not big on the Celtics, but KG is good for the game and while he needs to ensure it never spills over to playing dirty, heart, passion and intensity in appropriate does are good for the game.
February 7th, 2009 at 11:48 am
Trevor Kapp says:
did anyone see last night’s knicks celtics game? again, kg got a tech for throwing an elbow at danilo gallinari (what a shock, yet another european player). come on, if you think this is just a coincidence open your eyes.
nhamz- i appreciate your comments, but disagree with you regarding the zaza incident. kg just gave him a forearm to the chest and props to zaza for actually standing up to him.
February 7th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Nhamz says:
Trev, I don’t doubt KG is trying to punk European players, but they also have to shake off that rep for being soft so they are not seen as targets. I doubt he’d try that ish with Dirk Nowitzki, because he’d probably respond by lighting him up for 40+. Its a tactic to try to negate whatever they bring to the game. If they dead the idea that they are ‘targets’ in that way, that type of pseudo-intimidation won’t go too far.
Don’t get me wrong, I hear you loud and clear that the game shouldn’t be about ‘bullying’ – but at the same time, when you step inside the 94, you need to know its a battle out there and often times it is the will of the man, not just the skill of the man that’s going to win through. Warriors of the asphalt and hardwood go after any weakness with a vengence.
The way to dead this is to show that these guys are not to be messed with, and if you throw bows, I can throw bows too. If you want to talk ish, I’ll come down and drop a ‘eye drop’ jumper in your tear duct. Nothing looks more stupid than a guy talking ish or trying to intimidate someone who is dropping numbers on him. Either his coach or his team mates will tell him quick to shut the hell up.
Nice debate though.
Keep up the good work Trev.
Peace
Nhamz