by Miguel Mike Medina
Kevin Garnett is one of the most intense basketball players I’ve seen throughout my 25 years of watching basketball. The Big Ticket is also one of the greatest two-way power forwards to ever play this game. His impact on the court on both ends was tremendous. He was liked and disliked by his opponents but they respected his game and the love and passion he had for the game. Yesterday was his 48th birthday. I’ve seen this man play since he was 23 during his time with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Garnett was the first player to be drafted in the NBA out of High School. It should’ve been Felipe Lopez the year before (1994), but Lopez chose to go to college. Kevin Garnett opened the floodgates for High School players like Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, and Lebron James to enter the NBA Draft straight out of High School. Garnett is from South Carolina and from there he was adopted to the city of Chicago. When Kevin came to Minnesota, he changed the organization for the better. It would’ve been even a greater story had Stephon Marbury, who got drafted the following year after Garnett, stayed with Kevin Garnett. Together, they made two straight playoff appearances, but they could’ve done some damage had they stayed together. They were one of those young duos that broke up too soon.
Marbury didn’t like being in Minnesota due to the weather. Therefore, Minnesota traded him to New Jersey. Kevin went through a lot of years struggling to get out of the first round. It all changed in 2004. He won the NBA MVP and led the Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals. Although they lost to the Lakers in six games, it was one of the most impressive seasons in Kevin Garnett’s career. We will never forget his performance against the Sacramento Kings in Game 7 of the semifinals. He put that team on his back and that was on his 28th birthday.
Garnett spent 12 seasons with Minnesota, but his legacy was cemented when he went to Boston to team up with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. They won a championship in their first year together. In the same 2007-08 season, Garnett won Defensive Player of the Year. The Big 3 era, which ran from 2008-2012, was a dangerous team. They were so good together. It’s crazy to look back and think that they won just one championship.
Garnett played 21 seasons in the NBA. He is one of five players to win the NBA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. A player who was versatile and gave you everything on the court.
Like Garnett once said, “Anything is Possible.”
