Links: Kevin Garnett is Superbad
KG comes clean on leaving Minnesota, finding Boston and how, oddly, Kobe kept him from becoming a Laker…
The truth is, Kevin Garnett didn’t really want to be on this cover of SLAM.
Around the SLAM Dome, we’d been talking about a KG cover for well over a year, kicking around the timing and how we could fit KG in. Because as transcendent a player as he’s been, his story hadn’t really changed the last few years: Great player, terrible situation, again and again and again. And to his credit, KG basically bit his lip for the last decade, never really putting the T-Wolves on blast for surrounding him with sub-par players year after year, and never really giving us a story to write about. Our only hope was that he’d be traded. Because then, finally, we’d have a fresh angle to take.
So back in June, when KG trade rumors started circulating like a Sunday paper, all of us at SLAM had a little extra pep in our step. When the trade actually happened, we made the call a few days later. Hey Kevin, want to be on the cover of our NBA Preview issue?
And the answer came back: Thanks, but no thanks. Nothing personal, he stressed, just…not right now.
Why not? Well, it took some digging, but essentially it came down to this: Kevin was new in town, and he didn’t want to steal the spotlight. It wasn’t his team, it was a t-e-a-m, and he didn’t want to come in and set a weird precedent. So, thanks but no thanks.
Another call was made. We understood where he was coming from, and we like Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, but at the same time, Kevin Garnett is SLAM. He was the first young ‘un of the SLAM era to go straight from high school to the pros, and his rise to prominence in the NBA has neatly mirrored our rise in the basketball journalism game. Counting KICKS issues, he’s been on our cover six times. We didn’t want to do a KG in Boston cover because it would sell or because KG was overdue, we wanted him on the cover because we were excited to see him in some new clothes.
He chewed on it, understood where we were coming from, and agreed.
For whatever reason, the one time I sat and really talked to Kevin, he opened up and said a lot of things he’d never publicly said before, so I got the nod to try and get him to say something interesting again. I dunno, I think he likes my eyes.
Anyway, it was the day after my birthday, the second week of September, when we were told to be ready for Kevin. The SLAM crew arrived at the Celtics practice facility in Waltham, Massachusetts, just outside Boston, to find about five other camera crews already set up. It was sort of an impromptu media day for Boston’s Big Three, as written about here.
KG, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce each put on their green uniforms and then went shoot-to-shoot, from SI to NBA Photos to the Boston Globe magazine, posing as a trio. When they finally finished up, Ray left and Pierce left, and as all the other camera crews broke down their sets, Kevin came over for his SLAM shoot.
We’d been snapping photos for almost two hours, and KG’s wife and his people were wrapping things up and getting ready to leave. We just had one more set-up we wanted to shoot, of KG standing in the practice gym with all the Boston championship hanging banners behind him. He spent most of that time alternately singing along to the new Kanye album and jokingly complaining about how long everything was taking, though every time we came up with some new pose or idea, he was totally into it. We went from the green backdrop to white background to an area outdoors and then into the gym, and while SLAM photog Atiba Jefferson moved a few lights and checked angles, I asked Kevin if we could chat for a minute. He led me over to one of the benches, up against a wall at halfcourt.
I hit record, and KG started unloading. He wasn’t being vindictive, but he was being honest. I’d ask, he’d answer. Some of the things I asked him weren’t the most comfortable things to come from my mouth — you try asking someone if the reason his team was bad all those years was because he was making too much money — but these were things I was curious to know about. And Kevin answered everything I asked.
(How long did this thing go? Well, remember how I mentioned that it was the day after my birthday? My parents had flown to New York to hang out for a few days and be around for my b-day. When this KG thing came up, I had to cancel our plans to hang out that day, but told them I hoped to make it back in time for dinner. So I ended up flying to Boston early that morning, taking the subway from the airport to downtown Boston, taking a rental car with our photo editor Monique out to Waltham, staying there so long for the interview that I completely missed my flight home, making plans to take Amtrak back and then hitching an impromptu ride from Waltham to NYC with my man Ned from NBA Photos, who just happened to be driving a rental van full of equipment back to New York, leaving just as I finished with Kevin. We made record time from Boston to NYC and I was able to have dinner with the parents. Long day, though.)
Here’s a few excerpts from the interview I did with KG that afternoon. There’s much, much, much more with Kevin in the new issue of SLAM, including a lot more about his future in Boston, on newsstands everywhere this week.
SLAM: How did you know it was over in Minnesota?
KG: (T-Wolves owner) Glen Taylor just basically told me that he was going in another direction. Out of all this, man, that was the hardest part. Just like I was telling my friends and my people, the hardest thing in anything is when you put your heart and soul into something and you walk a straight line and you try to do things the right way, and you stay professional and you stay positive, even through thick times. And then someone tells you, “You know what? I’m not feeling this no more.” He let me know that he lost a lot of money last year, and he let me know that he wanted a change. And I had to honor that.
It wasn’t like I went to him and said, “Move me!” I wanted to better the team. Talk to me with some vets, because vets make the game easier if you know how to play; they teach young guys. So when I went to him to voice my opinion, I was pretty much gone at that point. Plus, I think Glen’s loyalty is to Kevin McHale, and I had to swallow that. So that’s what it was. I was kind of hurt by it, but he’s known Kevin long enough, he’s believed in Kevin, so that’s what it is. That’s how I chalked it up. When I looked at leaving, it’s probably one of the hardest things, since moving to Chicago for me, that I’ve done in a long time. When someone’s telling you that they want to go in a different direction or they don’t want you anymore, it’s kind of like…it’s what it is.
SLAM: I’ve never had that happen to me in the sense you had it happen to you, but it almost sounds like getting dumped by a girl.
KG: Basically. It’s like your girl wakes up one morning and says, “You know what? I’m leaving. I’m not feeling this no more.” Part of you hurts, but…you got to get over it, B. Straight up, I ain’t gonna front, it hurt, I ain’t gonna front, man. When he told me that, that’s when I started to think about alternatives and different things. You know, I have a place in L.A., and I started trying to see myself in different scenarios I felt like would work for me. Phoenix was one team I was looking at. I didn’t want to go and play with some team that had a bunch of young guys on it. I wanted to play with some vets, someone to help carry the load or whatever. I looked at Phoenix; Phoenix was one of the teams that I had in mind. And then L.A.
SLAM: The Lakers?
KG: Yeah. I didn’t even look at the Boston situation, because to me, when I looked at it, it was very similar to Minnesota—not enough vets that I wanted to be around. Even Jersey, playing with JKidd, someone who makes it easy for you. Three teams that I thought about right off the top. Didn’t really get into it, didn’t talk to nobody, didn’t really share, I was just by myself, really trying to think. And then things just started happening, happening real fast.
Anyway, then things started happening. Kobe came out, was having problems with the organization, and I definitely didn’t want to be a part of something that, you know, if he’s having problems with them, you know what I mean? I knew what I was dealing with in Minnesota with the management there, so I didn’t want to repeat that. The Phoenix situation, I don’t think they knew what they wanted to do.
ME: In terms of like…
KG: Just in terms, like, I wanted to play with Stoudemire, but in trying to keep within the league rules, trying to get insight, when they was talking about moving Stoudemire, which was who I wanted to play with…it’s not like I’m against playing with Shawn Marion, but I wanted to play with the big fella. When it got to be a little different from that, I just fell back a little bit, started to really ponder some more and thought about the Jersey thing. They hadn’t dealt with the Vince situation at the time, so they was trying to figure that out. So I just fell back and stayed to myself, and then Boston came out and said they was going to do something, then my agent Andy came out and kind of squashed that right away and said what he said. I just sat there, I ain’t gonna front, I just sat and thought.
And then on draft night when Ray came to Boston, things changed a little bit and I started to look at it a little differently. Obviously, I know Ray and I know Paul. I saw Paul in the gym at UCLA and he didn’t say anything about it. Golden State was another place I was looking at, just trying to see myself playing where I could have some fun and be free, man. BD’s my man. Detroit has Flip, Chauncey…you know what I’m saying? It was my time to be free and just think about a lot of different scenarios. It was hard, man. I couldn’t see myself in nothing else, so I just sat back.
SLAM: I was wondering because we just heard bits and pieces about how this team or that team was supposedly interested…when you were going through that, how much control did you have at the time?
KG: A lot of control…well, as much as you want, because you have stuff in your contact. I’m sure the Timberwolves wanted me to be as cooperative as possible and make the transition kind of easy on both parts. I think too they was trying to get season tickets out of people, and I’m sure they was catching a little backlash off what they was hearing. I stayed in Minnesota the whole time. I didn’t go anywhere. I finally took a vacation, which was very short from what I usually take, and came back. I immediately went to L.A. and started working out.
SLAM: Looking back on it now, can you say it was anybody’s fault it didn’t work out in Minnesota?
KG: Let me tell you man, the transaction that went down, it was at the right time. As hard as it was for me man, I am in a different stage of my life. My visions, what I want in basketball, are probably no different from how they see it in Minnesota. I think they want to rebuild, sore of restructure, redo some things within their organization. They’ve got to figure that out up in the front office, what they’re going to do or whatever. Plus, I don’t know how much McHale wants to do this or if he has the passion, like when I know he had me and Steph, his passion then and how he talked, I don’t think he still has that same drive or whatever. He’s a different person. But I wasn’t ready for a rebuilding stage. I accepted it, but at the same time, Glen told me that when I re-signed that he’d make this team better, and that’s what I believed because he never had had me think anything differently. I would never think that Flip would ever be out of Minnesota, so that was like a shock when that shit first went off. That’s when I knew all hell was going to break loose. Really. Kevin and Flip was best friends, before all this basketball stuff. And when he left, I knew it was getting bad, I knew it was going downhill. Then Sam and Spree depart, they don’t even try to resign those guys. Ervin Johnson, who was big for us, left. So, I mean, the writing was on the wall.
SLAM: You made a lot of money, but did you make too much money in Minnesota?
KG: I’ve said that’s what they’ll lean on every time: “We paid him this and that…”
SLAM: But what about you making so much that the team couldn’t even afford other guys?
KG: When you look at it, my situation, when it comes to being financially set, is very secure. I work hard, man. every player has to go through negotiations to try and get what they want, and I’ve been fortunate to be aggressive in the market and to live up to whatever I’ve been paid. I bust my ass, man. I’m a true professional, I’ve never been like a selfish player, never a selfish person. At the same time, if you didn’t think I was worth it, then you don’t have to pay me what I’m asking. So it’s like double standard. McHale was coming at me from the side a little bit, talking about how his father worked in the mines. And I understood that—I didn’t come from no silver spoon myself. I understand what it is to work, and I think that’s why you gravitate toward my work ethic. If you ever want to see if someone’s a hard worker, give ‘em a boatload of money and see if he still works hard. I’m probably not the best player in this league, but I work really, really hard. I work really hard, and I know this. That’s one thing can’t nobody say about me: that he doesn’t work hard. And I’ll lean my hat on that every day.
SLAM: So you’re loving Boston…I guess we can say you’ve got a new girlfriend and things are working out pretty well for you?
KG: Yeah, my new girl is hot, she got all the curves, she can cook, she’s dynamic. And you know what’s crazy? I got people in other places that’s loving her, when last year she wasn’t really all that. She’s hot, she’s definitely hot.
152 Responses to “Links: Kevin Garnett is Superbad”
Oct.15 at 11:48 am
Andrew says:
first!
Oct.15 at 11:49 am
Andrew says:
it’s frustrating that i can’t even order a delivery of his jersey/tshirt over here..
Oct.15 at 11:56 am
Jared says:
why you guys giving up the content of the mag? getting a new SLAMs like a holiday for me…i don’t wanna blow it cause i’m bored at work
Oct.15 at 11:58 am
peteb80 says:
Is that called the Tyrannosaurus pose in photo talk?
Oct.15 at 12:00 pm
Swizz Beatz says:
1st! And nice cover. cant wait 2 read about kg & especially sjax
Oct.15 at 12:00 pm
alex-magicfreak1 says:
brah KG is starting a new chapter in his life. thanx GOD KG didnt go to LA cuz if he did he would have been averaging almost 8.05 PPG. the reason y is cus of kobe. kobe be ball hoggin, odom or the rest of the team dont even get a flippin chance to c the ball. and dont even get me started bout jermaine o’neal goin to LA.!!!!!!!!!!!!! MAGICFREAK1 IS OUTY…
Oct.15 at 12:00 pm
namik says:
Good f*cking job Kobe. The cover is hot and I like what I see here. “I got other people in other places that’s loving her when last year she wasn’t really all that.” gotta love KG interviews.This drops next week right?
Oct.15 at 12:01 pm
Bryan says:
Kg is awesome man I hope this works out for him.
Oct.15 at 12:01 pm
Madtice says:
it’s frustrating that I don’t have the cash to order a garnett shirt. If someone got a spare and is willing to send it for free, let me know!
Oct.15 at 12:02 pm
Swizz Beatz says:
wtf is a tyranasaurus pose?
Oct.15 at 12:03 pm
Swizz Beatz says:
ur not serious rite madtice?
Oct.15 at 12:03 pm
Berg says:
The cover and the picture in the gym are some of the best you’ve ever done. Looking forward to the issue.
Oct.15 at 12:04 pm
H to the izzo says:
Andrew:You can but the VAT’s a b*tch.
I hope I’m actually able to get this ish,I wasn’t able to get the OJ one
Oct.15 at 12:04 pm
Swizz Beatz says:
btw lang i thought allen iverson was slam not kg
Oct.15 at 12:06 pm
Lang Whitaker says:
It’s not mutually exclusive, Swizz…
Oct.15 at 12:10 pm
Swizz Beatz says:
i like ai better
Oct.15 at 12:12 pm
Andrew says:
@Izzo: I feel your pain.
Oct.15 at 12:13 pm
Cub Buenning says:
Lang, nice. You got any action with Ben/Sam on this game tonight? Must give love to the Rockies….. H, you musta missed out then on the excessive writer photos.
Oct.15 at 12:14 pm
Swizz Beatz says:
Cub: ya boi go rockies
Oct.15 at 12:19 pm
Jake Appleman says:
yeah, but lang, has kg ever had two girls at the same time?
Oct.15 at 12:24 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
KG is one of the best people–not players, people–to interview in all the world. I’m more jealous of this than your damn Kobe trip. Man. I’m going back to bed.
Oct.15 at 12:25 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
I mean Sasha Vujacic trip. Or was it really for Andris Biedrins?
Oct.15 at 12:28 pm
Andrew says:
That’s a lame ass cover Russ…ahahah
Oct.15 at 12:29 pm
Lang Whitaker says:
Vujacic, with a Biedrins sidebar.
Oct.15 at 12:46 pm
FLUD says:
HEY!! to the IZZO. The OJ Slam just hit the Dublin shelves on saturday. If we get it here…surely you can track it down. I wish adidas were super classy and had their logo in white on that jersey. It kinda gacks the whole thing up a bit. nice one on the piece lang.
Oct.15 at 12:52 pm
Gerard Himself says:
Can’t wait for the new issue, this will be another fine issue, people. Good work!
Oct.15 at 12:55 pm
kid Juicey says:
Nice. When does it hit stores ?
Oct.15 at 12:57 pm
dpak says:
Did you ask him why he’s such a bad tipper?
Oct.15 at 12:58 pm
chiqo says:
you guys have got to stop with the exclamation points on the cover. and the article separations.
Oct.15 at 1:00 pm
Darksaber says:
KG, big ticket indeed. Living on the old continent, i travelled to Roma with my lady two weekends ago to witness my very first NBA Game. Been a fan since 1988, but it took Garnett/Allen/Pierce coming to my favorite city for me to watch two legit teams go at it. Everyone knows about the game, but lemme say, i took in the whole experience. Hung out at hotel exedra, intercepted the raptors and celtics on 3 occassions as they left/arrived on site, and took at least 300 Pics. Highlight was posing with all kinds of NBA Stars while my girlfriend waited, and waited for KG, and while snapping me and Delfino, KG walked by and woman shrieked, like some hyena and ran for him. Roma, the Nba, laid back superstars, one of the best weekends of my life.
Oct.15 at 1:02 pm
Darksaber says:
Oh yeah and saying KG is “intense” is like saying humans need water to survive. Dude nearly tore off the rim during warmup from being so hyped. As stated, grrrreat experience.
Oct.15 at 1:17 pm
Lang Whitaker says:
@Darksaber: I’ve never found him intense so much as he is excitable and enthusiastic.
Oct.15 at 1:34 pm
Mad Max says:
The second photo of KG with the banners lined up on the wall is unreal. Shout-out to the photog on that one.
Oct.15 at 1:39 pm
Chris O says:
This might be the most hyped I’ve been for a SLAM issue since I was in high school.
Oct.15 at 1:40 pm
timduncan_rocks100 says:
Is it just me or does this new editor suck. All of the new covers are so different from the vibe Slam has always had. The magazine has completely changed, and not for the better
Oct.15 at 1:46 pm
Lang Whitaker says:
That’s funny coming from someone with that screen name…
Oct.15 at 1:54 pm
Gerard Himself says:
Mad Max is so right.
Oct.15 at 1:57 pm
sussman sez says:
nomorerodbenson.com wants to know when he can schedule his cover shoot…
Oct.15 at 1:59 pm
Myles Brown says:
You guys couldn’t get him to wear the wig?
Oct.15 at 2:01 pm
Paniscus says:
KG’s logic is lacking. He wants to play with vets. Great. His response to whether he took too much money was, “I work hard.” Imagine the reaction of a hypothetical vet, when he’s told that he’ll earn a fraction of what he could elsewhere, but at least the guy taking all of the money is a hard worker. KG might work hard enough to justify his salary, but the natural corollary of his salary is that he’ll be working with scrubs and rookies.
Oct.15 at 2:05 pm
Ryan Jones says:
It’s just you, timduncan_… This issue is dope, just like the last one was, and just like the next one figures to be. And since I’m an ex-Ed., that’s only half-bragging.
Oct.15 at 2:09 pm
mutoni says:
the stuff about mchale talking to kg about his coal miner dad killed me. everybody’s gotta eat, homie!
Oct.15 at 2:10 pm
Darksaber says:
Hmm, rings true to me Mr Whitaker. But diving on the floor for looseballs, at halfcourt, in the preseason? Wow. Only game i wish i saw after that was Cavs/Detroit a few days back. The way Bron “altered” Rasheed’s jumpshot was a thing of beauty. Dare i say rivalry? (of course only if the shoulder heals) So Lang, which one of you Slammers has the scoop on the Jordan Clone maybe going to the windy City? Is it Ryan? or Russ? or even Sam? spread some wisdom
Oct.15 at 2:12 pm
Allenp says:
Yo, I’m feeling KG’s answer about the money situation. Why do players always get the blame when teams give them a bunch of money? Isn’t it management’s JOB to take care of the budget so that they can assemble talent? KG got what the market dictated. The Wolves do the same thing with their ticket prices.
Oct.15 at 2:17 pm
Darksaber says:
On second thought, maybe you are right Lang. MJ slapping guys in training and freezing out his OWN center (then unfreezing after Cartwright gave him the murder speech), and his reaction back in the Knicks brawler days, when 2 of Riley’s thugs go crashing into the staunchion after fouling him, and MJ stands over them shouting lord knows what at them, my favorite NBA Scene ever, THAT’s intense.
Oct.15 at 2:21 pm
Allenp says:
Paniscus, that’s utter idiocy. Teams can spend as much money as they like. The NBA has a soft salary cap, it’s not the NFL. The only reason teams don’t spend more money is because owners want to make more profits. I can’t believe people are still buying this “Players with big salaries hurt the team” crap.
Oct.15 at 2:30 pm
Captain America says:
This is non-sense. I bet KG would not say the past decade was a bummer in Minne. KG grew from “Da Kid” to “The Franchise” but he got plenty of help from McHale. Try comparing McHale’s fade-away from the post with KG’s. They are identical.
Oct.15 at 2:33 pm
Lang Whitaker says:
Sussman with the line of the day…he even posts comments in code…
Oct.15 at 2:34 pm
Captain America says:
More…KG wanted a ring (who doesn’t) but when Glen Taylor offered him a contact extension for $22M each of the next three years, so the T’Wolves could financially build around him, KG refused the offer (obviously, HIS choice).
Oct.15 at 2:35 pm
H to the izzo says:
So McHale’s fadeaway makes up for years of terible GM’ing and crippling mediocrity?
Oct.15 at 2:41 pm
Phila says:
I knew KG would get the next cover.
Oct.15 at 2:44 pm
Captain America says:
McHale entered in the midst of crippling mediocrity, he didn’t create it. But you miss the point. McHale helped make KG what he is today. KG is the subject, not the T’Wolves franchise record.
Oct.15 at 2:48 pm
Captain America says:
Now, if you want to talk about the T’Wolves franchise record, consider the Joe Smith screw up that cost the franchise two consecutive year first round draft choices. Then, consider the issue facing all teams (Lakers, etc.) with a single player taking up much of the salary cap. The Celtics will likely win short term, but between “the 3, version 2.0), there is not much more $$$ to spread around.
Oct.15 at 2:51 pm
H to the izzo says:
I never said he created the mediocrity but he definitely contributed to the mediocrity persisting.
KG would have been what he is with or without McHale.
Oct.15 at 2:57 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Allenp: While the NBA cap may be “soft,” that dollar-per-dollar luxury tax is pretty hard. KG was a special case, though, because I think he signed his initial $125 million extension before there WAS a luxury tax. Am I right on that?
Oct.15 at 2:58 pm
Nora says:
Interesting it is KG’s word against Glen’s unless you were in the same room nobody can be totally sure what happened. Onviously KGfelt things went down differently.
Oct.15 at 3:10 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Anyway, it’s obvious that teams have a salary threshold that they’re generally not willing to cross (Knicks excepted). Say that number is $70 million. Obviously if you have two superstars making $20 million per, you only have $30 million to fill out the rest of your roster. Which means you’re going to have, well, the 2007-08 Boston Celtics. I’m not saying that players are wrong to take what ownership offers–I’ve never read of an NBA owner going broke (at least not WHILE owning a team)–but they also need to understand that it’s HIGHLY unlikely that, after they get their $100 mil, that other All-Star talents will be joining them unless it’s through the Draft or reclamation projects.
Oct.15 at 3:17 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Losing those first-round picks (it was five total, right?) KILLED the Timberwolves. Not that they would have necessarily tabbed the right players, but hey, McHale drafted KG, right? It would be interesting to go through all of those drafts, figure out where Minnesota would have picked, and see who was available.
Oct.15 at 3:27 pm
Daanswer says:
How much you want to bet Iverson is on the NEXT cover…..?
Oct.15 at 3:31 pm
H to the izzo says:
T’Wolves lost picks:
2001:best available:Gilbert Arenas
2002:Best available:Carlos Boozer
2004:Best available:Anderson Vareajoa/Chris Duhon
I could have sworn they lost more picks.
Oct.15 at 3:33 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Funny that both Arenas and Boozer wound up jumping ship from the teams they drafted them anyway. And who knows what’s gonna happen with Varejao?
Oct.15 at 3:35 pm
H to the izzo says:
The next best and more realistic pick in 2001 at the time would have been Zach Randolph and we know how that turned out
Oct.15 at 3:46 pm
PP34 says:
“Paniscus says:
KG’s logic is lacking. He wants to play with vets. Great. His response to whether he took too much money was, “I work hard.” Imagine the reaction of a hypothetical vet, when he’s told that he’ll earn a fraction of what he could elsewhere, but at least the guy taking all of the money is a hard worker. KG might work hard enough to justify his salary, but the natural corollary of his salary is that he’ll be working with scrubs and rookies.” You are right. That much money makes it very difficult to set up a good team around him because of the salary cap and all. The trade in boston was “perfect” because boston was able to sell high his youth/promising young talent and because minnesota needed a change and because, as some people may say, mchale just helped his buddy Danny Ainge… Such a salary is the reason why it is so hard to trade kobe too. Lakers probably will not get equal value and will probably get back 6 or 7 players from the team kobe is going to, causing that that destination will not be that good for kobes wishes. That kind of salary causes that. And KG does not answer the quetion right. He does work harder than anybody els, he is worth the money and the contract was agreed from both sides, but he didn’t recognize what I just said. Anyway, GO BOSTON. Can’t wait for the mag and the season to start.
Oct.15 at 3:50 pm
Zig says:
Still can’t get over the fact that we could have had KG in Phx paired w/ Nash and Amare had Shawn agreed to go to Boston. Curse you, Matrix!
Oct.15 at 3:53 pm
john says:
is ray allen going to get one
Oct.15 at 4:01 pm
Ben Osborne says:
Daanswer: 1 Trillion Dollars.
Oct.15 at 4:22 pm
Paniscus says:
yeah, thanks Russ and PP34. I’m not saying that KG should’ve turned down the $$$ or anything. All I’m saying is that you can’t have your cake and eat it too. Even if you work really hard.
Oct.15 at 4:23 pm
PP34 says:
Zig, that would have been a huge team but I don’t think people (celtics fans) wanted Marion in Boston.
Oct.15 at 4:26 pm
Bryan says:
Marion couldn’t do jack with Rajon Rondo feeding him the ball..Unless Phx kept him when they drafted him.
Oct.15 at 5:22 pm
celtics786 says:
Andrew, hit me up if you are interested in a Celtics KG jersey shirt…celtics786@gmail.com
Oct.15 at 5:22 pm
albie1kenobi says:
as big a KG fan as i am (or maybe because i am one), i love the interview but am disastified with the answer he gave regarding to his salary hurting the wolves. PP34 and Paniscus already mentioned it so i won’t repeat all the arguments. I’ll give KG the benefit of doubt and just think that he misunderstood the question. oh well, we all gotta move on anyway.
Oct.15 at 5:23 pm
Sam Rubenstein says:
It sounds like KG has been working on this team as a girlfriend analogy for a while.
And Cub, what’s happening in the NL is amazing, not that anyone is watching. Congrats though!
Oct.15 at 5:26 pm
Joel O's says:
Kobe kept KG out of LA??? The irony.
Oct.15 at 5:44 pm
Nadav says:
KG and Amare.
giggty giggty
Oct.15 at 5:58 pm
San Fran says:
LOVE IT! and LOVE KG!
Oct.15 at 5:58 pm
San Fran says:
P.S. - Great job Lang, as usual!
Oct.15 at 6:03 pm
johnny33 says:
KG makes a couple million more than Stephon Marbury. The money KG’s contract ties up is equivalent to a mid-level exception (~5m) and a couple minimum veteran contracts (~1m) more than your average NBA star who makes about 16-18 million. I think the real issue was tossing so much money at: Wally Szczerbiak, Troy Hudson, Marko Jaric, Michael Olowokandi, Trenton Hassell, Mike James. That, combined with losing 3 1st round picks as KG was entering his prime, worth the risk to keep Joe Smith? I think not.
Oct.15 at 6:10 pm
Allenp says:
Actually Taylor offered $15 million, not $22 million. That’s what KG took in Boston.
Oct.15 at 6:12 pm
Allenp says:
Russ, he signed the first big contract before the salary cap. But the second on was after the cap. The thing is, teams can have a big money talent and still re-sign other players. The Lakers did it for years and so have the Spurs. Dallas does it, and the Nuggets, Heat and Cavs are going to have to do it. Michael Jordan earned $30 million a year his last two years in the league.
Oct.15 at 6:16 pm
Allenp says:
Russ, Paniscus, the luxury cap affects profits. It does not prevent teams from signing players. Several teams have paid the salary cap when they needed to, or drafted quality players and signed them to realistic extensions. Come on, look at the Spurs, Mavs, heck, even the Suns to an extent. What about the Nuggets? Smart GMs seem capable of building teams around superstars and smart owners understand teh value of spending money. And it’s not a small market thing either, because small markets can thrive in the NBA.
Oct.15 at 6:18 pm
Allenp says:
And if I had seen Johnny 33’s post before I started commenting again I wouldn’t have needed to write anything. The Wolves gave Hudson like $34 million, spent the whole mid-level on Kandi, gave Hassel about $20 million and spent $45 million on Wally World. Those are your problems right there.
Oct.15 at 7:01 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Oh man, where to start? Jordan, I guess. He got that $60 million over two years on the strength of his FOUR previous championships (and the fact that he was underpaid for his entire career). I look at the Spurs and the Suns as being similar situations, where players are willing to sign for less (or at least equal) money just because they have a shot at playing for a title every year (or at least to play in a run-and-gun system). Dallas has an advantage because of Mark Cuban and all of the perks he provides.
Oct.15 at 7:12 pm
Captain America says:
Could KG have been where he is today without McHale? Who the hell really knows. All I know is that McHale contibuted to what KG is today, that’s history. To think otherwise is purely conjecture.
Oct.15 at 7:21 pm
Captain America says:
Russ, also take into account the lost of Terrell Brandan and Malik Sealy (one of KG’s best friends). McHale started in 1995. In addition to KG, he brought Flip Saunders to coach. Besides losing Joe Smith, Stern took away 3 of the next 5 first round draft choices (my bad)
Oct.15 at 7:24 pm
Eoin says:
Izzo where are you from man?I got the OJ ish in Tower Records on Grafton Street, but the Parker issue was selling in Eason’s on Patrick St in Cork.A little later than elsewhere, but they had a ton of copies.I’m presuming they must be subscribing?
Oct.15 at 7:31 pm
Captain America says:
Allemp, don’t forget the idiotic trade to toss Sam Cassell for Jaric. According to the Boston Globe, Garnett ended up with a three-year extension for $51 million with the Celtics, but he also got an additional $9 million because of the trade kicker on his contract. So the Celtics are set to pay him $105 million over the next five seasons.
Oct.15 at 7:45 pm
andrew says:
fellas..dont playahate.
Oct.15 at 8:03 pm
BHS_Basketball says:
When you get a certain amount of money, (and i believe KG has earned that amount) you have to make sacrifices like CHarles Barkley did when he sign for the veterans minimum of a million with HOuston so that they could sign Scottie Pippen. Know what I mean?
Oct.15 at 8:45 pm
Électric says:
nice work
Oct.15 at 9:02 pm
Swizz Beatz says:
So…gilbert arenas is nxt rite?
Oct.15 at 9:06 pm
mcnugget says:
he sacrificed loot on his 3 year extension for boston I got my Ray Allen Jersey, my KG jersey, and OF COURSE the Pierce jersey I always had. Team is gonna be amazing, straight up. Big man changed everything, opens up everything from inside, anchor on both ends of the floor…… TRIPLETHREAT- PIERCE ALLEN AND GARNETT Team is gonna be amazing.
Oct.15 at 9:18 pm
Captain America says:
Triple-threat with no bench, sucking $$$ (KG=$105M over 5 years alone) long after their prime. Injuries?
Oct.15 at 9:31 pm
franz says:
first of all k.g. is my favorite player and is an underrated superstar but only because minnesota didnt get it right!the money excuse from managment is to cover there blunders if they would have made one solid move the team would have been successful period im from minnesota and live there so this gives a lil insite on the t’wolves the team that ive rooted for when we had K.G.I like the interview im going to get the issue.
Oct.15 at 9:38 pm
T-pup5 says:
OK a little history lesson KG actually took a pay cut so Glen Taylor could re-sign Spree and Sam, but he didn’t, instead he used the money to sign Marco…and you want to blame KG for taking the money…when not a sigle person in this chat room would turn that type of loot down
Oct.15 at 10:32 pm
Robbi says:
On a different note, I think it’s a crime that SLAM has no fantasy league. I’m thinking of starting one, and I would like to invite all of you. What do you think? You guys interested?
Oct.15 at 10:54 pm
muazam says:
last whoooo ok cover should have had ray allen and paul pierce next to him good job any way
Oct.15 at 11:10 pm
mcnugget says:
CHAMPIONSHIP
Oct.15 at 11:11 pm
mcnugget says:
Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett= Championship. Triplethreat core of a very special team for the next 4 years. Believe that.
Oct.15 at 11:22 pm
mcnugget says:
Honestly if you dont think the celtics team is gonna dominate you are either lying to yourself or know NOTHING about basketball. I hate Boston but they would be an elite team out west up there among phx and utah and them, theyre gonna be a POWER in the east. You severely underrate their depth and their defense. Not to mention Rondo and Perkins that are legit 1 and 5’s and are much better than you make them out to be and a perfect fit in their lineup around the core 3 superstars. They got the defensive coach as their assistant that guy thibodeau that organized the old knicks defense and more recently the rockets defense of the past 3 seasons. Not only that but on their depth the great teams in this league are 8-10 men deep in their rotation, the Celtics HAVE that. They have proven veteran roleplayers like James Posey, Eddie House, Scalabrine, Dante Jones and Pollard, and also have very good young guys like Tony Allen, Leon Powe, Rondo and Kendrick Perkins. You say injuries but look at any team even the spurs would be killed by an injured star player when it comes to title hopes. The suns have been a 7 man rotation for 3 years and theyve been a powerhouse. The heat in the first year with shaq had MUCH WORSE DEPTH and had the equivalent to eddie house as their STARTING pointguard in Damon Jones, they had holes in 3/5th’s of their lineup and no good bench guys(unless you consider michael doleac and rasual butler good bench guys) and they won 59 games and were 1 win from the finals (and a wade injury away from winning the title in my opinon). The celtics are SET for a rotation which seemed impossible after the late garnett trade, but its the truth, they are loaded with one of the best starting 5s in the nba (and best trio)and do have depth for a very good rotation overall. KG opens up everything, they got his role to dominate inside, and he needs to be doubled down in the post because he is unstoppable when they dont double, and when they do he can get it to Ray or Pierce or Rondo/House for an open shot or a slash to the rim or to perk for an open dunk…. KG opens up everything from the inside and him and the other kid lock down the paint when theyre on defense. Its PAUL PIERCE AND RAY ALLEN too. Think about that. The depth around them is very good for a 9 man rotation too. Their overall team on paper is better than our team was in 04 that won the division and got the topseed in the west on the way to the west conference finals, and their trio with garnett is much better. They should CRUSH teams. Their GM did a very good job of filling out the roster with proven veteran roleplayers and some good young talent around the core 3 A+ all-nba guys in limited time for a great run with a possible title if things go right. But more importantly he made all the right moves and didnt make any panic/stupid moves which set himself up perfect to fill out the roster in his first full summer next offseason to LOAD UP for a SERIOIUS title run. I hate boston, but I am happy for Ray Allen and especially KG and even Pierce. And this celtic team is the nearly sole reason that I have purchased league pass for the first time EVER in 35 years of diehard NBA fandom. Theyre gonna be a POWERHOUSE this year and a special team for the next 4 years and could win the whole thing not just the east. (you meaning- people, critics)
Oct.15 at 11:29 pm
whitechocolate says:
yea what he said
Oct.15 at 11:32 pm
boobie gibson says:
god mcnugget just shut up
Oct.15 at 11:41 pm
Z says:
I never quite understood the money argument with KG… How can the Wolves blame him for making so much money and hindering the franchise’s development when they’re the ones that gave him the money in the first place?
Oct.16 at 12:23 am
kobe says:
wens this out in stores??
Oct.16 at 1:06 am
Ravi says:
KG+Amare+Nash….wow…what could have been.
Oct.16 at 1:26 am
bootlace says:
I think I’ll love the interview with KG, but not feeling the cover so much. He’s just standing there uninspired..”KG is superbad”..What does that mean?? Hmm,maybe Im over reacting its just a season preview issue afterall. THx for the preview though.
Oct.16 at 4:58 am
anf says:
KG eyeing the banners, now that’s a great photo.
Oct.16 at 7:35 am
Froggiestyle says:
Well at any rate, KG needs a new nickname since he’s on a new team. From day one I always called him the Praying Mantis due both his physique and contemplative nature. It could be time. Used to be “Da Kid” now “Da Mantis” ? Besdies Kobe looks nothing like a Mamba - that’s played out. Lang, your thoughts on a new KG handle?
Oct.16 at 7:55 am
Ben Osborne says:
Issue out in NY this week, rest of the country by the weekend, Ireland hopefully by November. There are a LOT more KG quotes and a LOT more KG pics, not to mention all the other stories.
Oct.16 at 8:28 am
Rick says:
Im a jealous hater, Boston . It should have been LALA land & KOBE for you.@!#*&^ !!!!
Oct.16 at 8:36 am
Adrian says:
Nah Froggiestyle, Tayshaun Prince is Praying Mantis.
Oct.16 at 11:12 am
FLUD says:
Call him Zorak…(Paul Pierce can be Space Ghost)
Oct.16 at 11:42 am
Young Chris #3 says:
It was a reference to the funniest movie of the year, bootlace… And I really hope these Celtics do it since Miami obviously isn’t trading for Artest or anything else that will keep tem in contention. After Shaq being my favorite player, The Celtics are my favorite team (hometown team, so when Diesel was a Laker, I couldn’t roll with him, though he’s always been my dude)… I just don’t know if I trust Rajan Rondo when it counts. Can he outplay or stop Tony Parker or Steve Nash?
Oct.16 at 1:14 pm
Dave says:
Kobe’s negativity clearly hurt the Lakers chances if getting KG. Ok you were upset that you were not a contender the last 3 years. Well you had a chance to be one with the potential acquisition of KG and you ruined it with your negativity.
Oct.16 at 3:48 pm
The Crack Staff @ Perkisabeast.com says:
Garnett maybe SuperBad, but don’t be sleeping on Perk cause He’s a BEAST!!! Perk is a Beast! Ask Mutoni, he knows. He knows what happens when you mess with the beast. He knows you get the horns!
Oct.16 at 4:26 pm
Mike says:
Anybody hatin on Garnett is messed up,
and yo madtice, nobody gonna send you no free KG jersey, are you crazy?
Oct.16 at 5:00 pm
SLAM ONLINE | » Links: Odds and Ends… says:
[…] • I assume you saw yesterday’s post with the new SLAM cover and the KG notes. That was such a fun interview that I’ve been biting my tongue the last month not to spill the beans about it. Linkstigator and SLAM contributor Chris O’Leary asked if we could get him a big version of one of those KG pictures that he could use as a desktop pattern, and that reminded me of when we used to do desktop patterns from each issue. […]
Oct.16 at 5:21 pm
Captain America says:
No one is suggesting that KG shouldn’t get all the $$$ he can get. The question is whether or not he can get all the $$$ and still have his team win a ring. You will discover that, as a person, KG is a very private person. Nothing wrong with that, but it is far different than his PR image. As for being grateful, KG should be thanking Glen Taylor and Kevin McHale rather than talking about being jolted by a childhood lover–needs to mature a bit.
Oct.16 at 5:26 pm
Captain America says:
Injuries? They do happen you know, even to the “Big 3.1″ Back-up?
Oct.16 at 6:38 pm
Spurs DYNASTY!! says:
cant wait till my mag comes in the mail. Its goina be f*ckin awesome!
Oct.16 at 6:53 pm
The Crack Staff @ Perkisabeast.com says:
Captain America, Think. Somebody goes down, Perk is just gonna beast harder. Still rock two superstars and two players under twenty four with a veteran bench that can fill those necessary holes. The beastin we will do, the beastin we will do…
Oct.16 at 10:19 pm
bigmike407 says:
On paper this team looks decent. But with the situation in the East, and with Rondo at the one, I still think the C’s are gonna have some growing pains. Coach under pressure, 3 superstars, no point guard, and a conference that, outside of Cleveland and Detroit, is wide open, means that they’ll have to go extremely hard to keep up. I hope they don’t flop because I think Doc will be the first victim. Too much doe invested in these players to consider moving any one of them, so Doc will have to be the scapegoat. Barring injury, the C’s should be playoff bound.
Oct.16 at 10:47 pm
Voice of Reason in 'Sota says:
First of all, let me say I LOVE KG’s game. He brought it every night for my favorite squad for 12 wonderful years. I was sorry to see him go, and hope he does well in Boston. BUT… He seems to be rewriting some history here. Some of the “Vets” he was clamoring for just didn’t pan out. For instance, after the WCF loss to the Lakers in his post game press bit he was BEGGING for Troy Hudson to be resigned. How did that work out for the Wolves? He has spent the last 3 years stealing money as he worked on his super great rap album. (That’s sarcasm right there). Spree WAS offered a 3 year 21 million dollar extention that he turned down. Remember the “I’ve got family to feed” comment? Cassell was a complete bitch in his second year with the team. He didn’t come to training camp, he played only when he wanted too, and according to former Wolves announcer Chad Hartman was going to opponents locker rooms and asking them to trade for him. Ervin Johnson was like 100 when the team didn’t resign him. Yes Taylor and McHale have their faults and a lot of the blame for the futility in Minnesota has to fall on their shoulders, but KG isn’t as blameless as some of you make him out to be, and as blameless as HE represents himself in this article.
Oct.16 at 11:09 pm
Mark Z says:
Hey, everyone is going to want to watch the C’s which is something people haven’t felt in a long, long time.
Thanks KG.
Oct.18 at 3:10 am
TayTay says:
i love the cover. Im subscibed and i love getting my new issue but i always know what its gonna’ be…because i cant help myself goin on the site and looking lol.
Oct.18 at 9:29 am
Jang BEK says:
am a big fan of KG and has always loved him in the timberwolves jersey, but i fill his going fit more better in the celtics jersey. And i know that he will bring back the days of larry to the teaqm THANKS.
Oct.18 at 11:07 am
Allenp says:
Troy Hudson had recurring ankle problems, how is that stealing money. Captain America really has what I’ve found to be a fairly common Minnesota view of the Garnett tenure. They think he was a great player, not that great in the clutch and that his contract precluded the Wolves from being contenders. This is the view typically pushed by Minnesota media. I know this because I lived there for a time. However, the truth is, large contracts are standard for every superstar in the league, and the reason the Wolves have not gotten better is because of piss poor drafting, secret deals and horrible free agent decisions. They have thrown way to much money and sub par players and have not drafted an immediate, consistent impact player in years. Those are facts. Like I said earlier, the money argument is BS. The reason why owners don’t spend more money is because they don’t want to pay the luxury tax. That’s a BUSINESS decision, yet millions of people think it makes sense for players to take less money so teams can have more profits. It’s really ridiculous logic. If the teams are concerned with maximizing their profits, why should the players do the same. Nobody seems able to explain this.
Oct.18 at 1:26 pm
jay says:
Issue looks dope..weird seeing KG in Celtic green though!! cant wait for issue.
Oct.18 at 6:23 pm
kobe says:
wens this issue hits newstands?
Oct.18 at 10:17 pm
mitchdaballa says:
telfair is gonna b sikkkkk this season
Oct.19 at 8:43 am
Bigcuz 54 says:
i WASN’T A BOSTON FAN NEVER I LIKE PAUL BUT NOT THE CELTICS. BUT I MUST ADMIT I LOVE KG AND NOW BOSTON YOU HAVE A TRUE FAN IN MICHIGAN. THE BIG 3 WILL DO IT BIG.
Oct.20 at 9:29 am
bobby says:
CELTICS ARE OVER RATED WHEN IS THE LAST TIME 2 STARS MADE IT WORK. NOW U THINK 3 STARS WILL MAKE IT WORK. YEA RIGHT
Oct.21 at 11:33 am
PLEASE says:
give dwill a cover!!!
Oct.21 at 8:54 pm
adam says:
I knew this cover was coming. It looks way sicker then I could ever imagine!
Oct.21 at 8:57 pm
adam says:
Hey Bigcuz 54 way to jump on the bandwagon. “I dont like the celtics, but now that they have a true shot at the chip and are the hottest thing in the NBA Im gonna support them. Good Job now here’s a true sports fan folks.
Oct.22 at 3:21 am
Ben says:
Great, so all KG had to do to score a cover amongst the repetitive Lebron-Kobe cycle was get traded. Hey, no need to reward him for his play, just for getting shipped out. Nice work guys!
Oct.22 at 10:32 am
keenon says:
when is the new slam magazine coming out
Oct.22 at 10:56 am
keenon says:
im is kevin garnnet fan
Oct.23 at 12:16 pm
Julie Blank says:
Hey there, just wanted to let people know that they will have a chance to speak with PAUL PIERCE himself on this live radio show called HOOPSTALK on nikebasketball.com. You can submit questions at to the HOOPSTALK page, send a text to 36453, or email them to nikebasketball@nike.com. Include your name, email address and mobile number so that they can contact you if you are selected to ask your question on the live show. You can listen to the live show by calling in to (800) 603-6817 @ 7:45pm ET on October 31st but you must submit questions prior to the show in order to speak with Paul. Spread the word this show is gonna be off the hook.
Oct.25 at 11:05 am
ATLI says:
Sickest cover ever. All i got to say is THANK YOU. This is the most deserved cover ever. Finaly he’s gona show that he’s the best player in the leauge
Oct.26 at 7:21 pm
Steven says:
Anyone know if theres the picture of “You Want To Be Better Than Me” - LeBron James on the internet? It’s the first page once you flip the cover page.
Oct.26 at 11:16 pm
rashaan says:
great issue, hopefully we can get a full transcript in the near future.
Oct.29 at 12:23 pm
The Notorious King says:
The KG ish was so dope. im so happy that a great player like him finally gets a chance to win a ring like AI a year ago.
Oct.30 at 10:26 am
Dayo Olufade says:
I have the mag it is the bomb, Gil is CRAZY! ! !! I dont like that you guys picked San Antonio to win, you guys have not been good luck for anyone in the last ten years, in the last ten years you have not picked the winner and then you pick my pick? I have to change my choice this year, i will change my pick to Phoenix to win it this year. Love you all, in thirteen years there is no other mag like yours. Keep up the good work and tell Scoop to get a hair cut
Oct.30 at 6:54 pm
lakers4lyf says:
what happen to the issue
i havent gotten it yet
Oct.31 at 9:08 pm
Seth Mees says:
Sick cover and story about pick 5. KGs damn proud of you boys, Great job Fellas.
KG5MVP
Nov.1 at 11:26 am
SLAM ONLINE | » Rookies Most Likely To… says:
[…] Who do we like (besides Kevin Durant)? Hopefully you all (save for you non-US readers who have made your unhappiness with the time it takes SLAM to reach you very clear) have gotten this issue by now. […]
Nov.2 at 2:54 pm
mike says:
he looks kinda like dave chapelle
Nov.2 at 7:51 pm
lakers4lyf says:
i like javaris crinnten
his pretty good
Nov.5 at 8:07 pm
lakers4lyf says:
i still dont have the issue
Nov.23 at 1:13 am
SLAM ONLINE | » Links: Kobe Against The World says:
[…] Still, when it came time to do this cover of SLAM featuring Kobe Bryant, I was content to sit this one out. I’d done plenty of stories the last few months, and I’d just done the NBA Preview and the Kevin Garnett cover story in the previous issue. I was ready to take a break and focus on The Links for a minute. […]
Mar.8 at 1:35 pm
gabby says:
kevin I want to have your autograph so much
love the celtics passion for basketball like you
Mar.18 at 5:50 pm
SLAM ONLINE | » Did KG Tank It In Minnesota? says:
[…] I didn’t ask Kevin about this when I interviewed him for our season preview, but he did say something that kinda stuck out to me about the T-Wolves front office possibly being disingenuous toward the fans. I asked him how much control he had over being traded from the T-Wolves, how much he could dictate where he was going. […]