Kevin Garnett: The Biggest Ticket
The Suns 17 game winning streak is over and one man’s 44 and 11 had something to do with that.
KG was masterful against the so-called unbeatable Suns last night. In honor of his performance, here is an exclusive look at what he told SLAM’s intern Konate Primus for this month’s Backboard.
As he prepares for his 10th(!) All-Star Game, young-at-heart veteran Kevin Garnett reflects on the NBA’s signature weekend.
I just found out it looks like I’ll be starting the All-Star Game for the West. That’s a real honor since it’s the people’s choice. I love All-Star Weekend. My 10th All-Star Game should be special, but I don’t know if it will compare to my very first All-Star Weekend in San Antonio when I played in the Rookie Game. I had met Michael Jordan probably only one time before that weekend, and when he got off the elevator, you would’ve thought a bomb went off the way all hell broke loose. Shaquille got off first, five minutes later Magic got off and then 10 minutes later Jordan got off, and it was crazy! We were sitting in the lobby and it was like a bomb went off!
There are so many moments I can sit and tell y’all about but here are a couple of my favorite ones…
Madison Square Garden in ’98 was crazy when I threw Kobe the lob from God and he went up and got it. Just bananas!
Fast-forward to Atlanta in ’03, which was Mike’s last All-Star Game. Pretty close to home for me and pretty close to home for him. It was crazy because I found myself not sitting in the lobby but a couple of levels up and first Worthy got off the elevator, five minutes later Magic got off, and—no bullshitting—10 minutes later Jordan got off! You would think the same bomb went off! That was the All Star Game when I got MVP. It was incredible. It felt like one of those moments where time stood still, when you’re in the groove, guys are looking for you, you’re feeling the energy in the building. I felt like I was at home, knowing I was just an hour away and it was a good feeling. I never thought about anything; I took all the shots that were there, I was aggressive and we went into double OT. That was Jordan’s last All-Star Game, and a part of me wanted to show my respects since he made it a show with that shot over Marion to go to OT. He definitely made it worth the price of admission!
Then there’s practice! Ah, yes, practice on that Saturday morning is something I look forward to. That’s when they take us out so we can see the new gadgets like the new iPods, PS3s or whatever. It’s the stuff that won’t be out ’til probably 2010. They break ’em out and let us play with ’em for a li’l bit. The practice in itself is pretty serious, but the gadget meeting is the best! We don’t get to keep that stuff, but if you got a li’l hustle in your talk then you could probably work something out. But you can’t let too many people know for promotional and technology reasons. Besides, if you get it now, the games aren’t even out so it’s just like, “Ha ha, I got one,” but you can’t play it.
For more on Kevin Garnett, pick up SLAM 106.
23 Responses to “Kevin Garnett: The Biggest Ticket”
Jan.30 at 1:13 pm
Chris says:
first
Jan.30 at 1:35 pm
Bryan says:
Kevin Garnett is a beast and deserves more credit and also the t wolves need to step thier game up and get a better supporting cast
Jan.30 at 1:44 pm
peteb80 says:
Oh my god, did someone say BOMB?
Jan.30 at 1:49 pm
a.d.i.r.a.b says:
i just read that article it was awesome ! P.s K.G is the 2nd best power foward in the league. Tim Duncan is the 1st only cus he has rings. K.G’s day will come and if not he can always get a job @TNT with Sir Charles
Jan.30 at 2:00 pm
Aaron says:
KG was a beast last night. Nice jab at the Suns, “against the so-called unbeatable Suns”. 17 games in a row and 5 games in 7 nights will get to anyone kid.
Jan.30 at 3:16 pm
allenp says:
That gadget anecdote was crazy. I’ve never seen that reported anywhere.
Jan.30 at 3:32 pm
Vitor says:
Sam was “Sam the Intern” before he was “Sam Rubenstein”. Why doesn’t Konate get a nickname like that?
Jan.30 at 3:33 pm
Darksaber says:
All on deeeep fadeaways baby.. damn the guy can shoot.
Jan.30 at 3:41 pm
Ryan Jones says:
When your actual given name is Konate Primus, I don’t think you need a nickname. Besides, my man is a fencer, so if you try to give him a wack nickname, he will stab your sh*t up.
Jan.30 at 4:10 pm
Vitor says:
Great point, Ryan. And here in Brazil we always go for wack nicknames. Or do you like stuff like Pelé, Nenê and Guga?
Jan.30 at 4:42 pm
Ryu says:
It’s good to see that KG is still the KID. Don’t know is there anybody in the League who, still loves and respects the game like him, and can talk about it with such a enthusiastic way after that much year. You gotta love this guy. Anyway, that Jordan fade away over Marion is a classic.
Jan.30 at 4:48 pm
SwingMan says:
A jab is right, Aaron. One Suns loss and everyone’s dancing in the streets. Whoever wrote this (who, BTW, doesn’t even have the balls to post his/her name), way to hate on a winner, jagoff…..
Jan.30 at 4:59 pm
Sam Rubenstein says:
Uh… I put the Suns line in there to pump up how big KG’s performance was. But I guess you really can’t please everybody.
Jan.30 at 5:13 pm
SwingMan says:
Couldn’t be any clearer now.
That said, it took 59% team shooting and career numbers for KG to beat the Suns. Gotta make any Suns fan feel pretty damn good that crap like that ain’t gonna happen again anytime soon.
Ah, it’s penned by you, Sam. I see. But, seeing as how Kurt Thomas is/has been out for the Suns, the Wolves’ win yesterday is surely “tainted” though, right Sam?
Jan.30 at 5:28 pm
J-Bird says:
Just goes to show how good your whole team has to play to even have a chance against Phoenix.
Jan.30 at 7:18 pm
Frodo says:
Goes to show that KG deserved better than #10 during the summer. He should be considered among the best of all time, but I guess team success regulates individual’s level.
Jan.30 at 7:31 pm
DP says:
No one will do what Kevin Garnett has done to the l. I don’t think there will be another of his talent at his position to come into the l. But if I had a guess Kevin Garnett= Kevin Durant. play wit it.
Jan.31 at 3:03 pm
a.d.i.r.a.b says:
DP what about Chris bosh? he’s very similar to KG and KonatePrimus is a f*& kin AWESOME name !
Feb.1 at 12:59 pm
twinkieman says:
for his size at about 7′o tall hes the most athletic of all the people in th leauge in that size.
Feb.2 at 2:02 am
ekam says:
KGS THE BEST PLAYER ON CERTAIN NIGHTS hes THE BIG TICKET
Feb.2 at 5:18 pm
BIGG TYM says:
KG is one of da best in da L hands down. He needs to get a trade to dat ring. LA’s waitin for ya Kev
Mar.23 at 11:24 am
Darryl hodoh says:
even though this is kind of old, kg is one of the best in the league. he needs to team up with lebron so they cna really get that ring. you feel me?
May.4 at 7:47 pm
Michael Jr. says:
That is one of the biggest MVP All-Star Game Trophy I have ever seen…..why isn’t it like that now????
Maybe KG had broke it the next day when he was getting ready to take on the Mavs so Dirk wont have the same trophy as his!!