In 1993, Kevin Garnett’s then-teammates on the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves drafted him as a first-round pick. In 1994, Garnett was on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a rising star. In 1996, he was on the cover of Time as a rising star. In ’97, he was on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a rising star. In ’98, he was on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a rising star. In ’99, Garnett was on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a rising star. In ’00, he was on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a rising star. In ’01, Garnett was on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a rising star. In ’02,
As intense as intense gets, the new “KG:8” documentary tells the story of how Kevin Garnett had to fight through some of the world’s toughest challenges to make it to the NBA. It’s an intense story, but one that’s also filled with laughs. The film was made by the same folks who created the popular “Born to Play” film series, whose popularity is still making waves on YouTube.
When he was younger, Kevin Garnett was so competitive that he once headbutted a hole in his wall because of a reality TV show, “You’ve Got To Fight.”
While almost every NBA player must be fiercely competitive, certain superstars go above and beyond. When it came to championships or Yahtzee, Michael Jordan, for example, refused to lose. Kobe Bryant popularized the Mamba Mentality by putting himself through the wringer in order to be the greatest. Kevin Garnett, on the other hand, was a different story. Basketball aficionados will recall that The Big Ticket pushed things to a new level.
KG was renowned for being a tough competitor on the court, but that didn’t stop once he got home. The huge guy once got so engrossed in a reality TV program that he began screaming at it and ultimately headbutted a hole in the wall.
Kevin Garnett has a reputation in the NBA as a tough competitor.
During the dynasty years of the Montreal Canadiens, Steve Shutt joked that everyone on the team despised head coach Scotty Bowman 364 days a year, with the 365th day being the day they got their championship ring. While Kevin Garnett didn’t have the same degree of long-term success as LeBron James, he undoubtedly created a comparable feeling in the locker room.
KG went straight from high school to the NBA, and he immediately established himself as one of the best big players in the league. He also had a reputation as a fierce competitor, which became stronger as he grew into his own.
Over the years, the Big Ticket has thrown about a lot of trash language and created a pregame ritual that resembled a warrior getting ready for fight. Garnett was notorious for banging his head on the padded stanchion supporting the basket while talking to himself before tip-off, as well as beating his chest and shouting obscenities into the crowd.
Some more specific tales regarding Garnett’s inner fire surfaced during his tenure with the Boston Celtics. Doc Rivers once barred the forward from practice in the hopes of giving him some much-needed rest. KG, on the other hand, came up and did a one-man exercise on the sidelines until the head coach reluctantly dismissed the whole squad. On another occasion, during a huddle, the veteran declined to assist a choking Rajon Rondo, instead reminding the rookie guard about the necessity of obeying instructions.
Because of ‘Making the Band,’ I headbutted a hole in the wall
However, Garnett’s zeal wasn’t confined to basketball. If you ask the Big Ticket’s previous colleagues, they will tell you that he can get worked up over anything.
Some of the Celtics met at Garnett’s home to watch the reality competition program Making the Band, as Tyronn Lue, who spent the early days of his post-playing career in Boston, revealed in a Bleacher Report oral history. KG, on the other hand, was not going to sit quietly on the sofa.
“So one day we were at his home watching Puff Daddy’s program Making the Band, and in one of the scenes, some new men walked in and tried to sing and compete against the people who had previously been there. And KG has gotten so worked up, ‘Motherf—–, you have to stand up for your rights!’ You’ve got to put up a fight! You have to band together, Motherf—–!’ He’s sweating and going insane. And he simply headbutts the wall and punches a hole in his house’s wall.”
While it’s easy to think Garnett was putting on a show — maybe there were some young players there, and he wanted to convey a message — Lue clarified that this wasn’t the case. Whether he was playing basketball or watching TV, The Big Ticket was the same guy.
“A lot of guys do their screaming on the court for attention, but what he does is genuine,” the former guard said.
At the end of the day, Kevin Garnett’s game relied heavily on his edge
Garnett’s competitive edge may have worn thin if he had become a bench warmer. Fortunately for the Big Ticket, this was not the case; he had more than enough skill to justify his actions.
KG immediately established himself as a quality NBA player despite entering the league without having attended college. While his rookie statistics weren’t exactly spectacular, the big man matured, and by his fourth season in the NBA, he was averaging more than 20 points and 10 rebounds each game. He established himself as the franchise player for the Minnesota Timberwolves, winning NBA MVP honors in 2004.
Despite his particular valor, the T-Wolves were unable to overcome the obstacle. While this resulted in an acrimonious divorce, it did bring Garnett to Boston. He appeared to enjoy his role as a locker room leader there, and he eventually won his elusive NBA title. The big guy would subsequently go to Brooklyn before making a last appearance with the Timberwolves in Minnesota.
While it’s difficult to say how things would have turned out if KG had a different mentality, there’s no denying that KG’s competitive edge contributed to his on-court success. The huge guy had a lot of ability, but he also had the mentality to make sure it wasn’t wasted.
Mason Plumlee stated in the Bleacher Report oral history, “He’s still a bit crazy.” “He’s different on the court, too, but in a good way, man.”
