Not Everyone Hates KG

[ejk3489]

So in light of all the "KG is a dirty player" accusations, I thought I'd post an article about young guys/players who still admire KG for who he is and what he plays for.

Pistons center Greg Monroe recalls the first time he took the court against KG:

“It was weird,” said the rookie, who’s averaging 7.4 points and 6.4 rebounds this season. “That’s somebody I idolized growing up. That’s Kevin Garnett. He’s one of the best big men to ever play the game. He’s definitely one of the best to ever play in my lifetime. So you’re walking out on the court now, and pounding fists with him before the game, and he’s doing his routine, and all this stuff that you’ve been watching him do for years, and I actually had to guard him. So you know, it was surreal… but obviously you have to get out of that.”

Once Monroe did “get out of that” he said he was able to then just appreciate all that Garnett does, without getting caught up in the extra curriculars.

“I don’t want to say it’s a tough guy image,” Monroe said, “he’s just a tough player. That’s how it is in this league. People get it mistaken a whole lot. Most of the time he’s not even talking trash. Sometimes he is, but most of the time he’s just talking. That’s why he’s such a good player, that’s why he’s such an anchor on defense. A lot of people take that as him talking trash but he’s not.”

The Nets (for now) rookie Derrick Favors was three years old when Garnett entered the league, but as he grew up and developed into one of the biggest frontcourt prospects in the country, Garnett was always a guy Favors looked up to. That came to a head when he first met KG on the court.

“My first time playing in Boston I was a little nervous, probably the most nervous I’ve ever been playing a basketball game,” Favors said. “I was star struck.”

He also knew that those nerves were something Garnett might try to use to his advantage. He understood why, too. Because it gave his team a better chance to win.

“I knew I had to forget about all that and try to play my game,” Favors said. “He’ll try to get up under your skin, but I’ll never let him do that. It’s tough but you gotta be tough. You gotta have tough skin and that’s what I got.”

“It doesn’t really matter what you think about him,” Gibson said. “At the end of the day he’s a team player, his teammates love him, and they won a ring. He win games. He’s where I want to be.”

http://www.csnne.com/02/18/11/KG-still-has-some-fans-/landing_celtics.html?blockID=413804&feedID=3352

Even Pau Gasol couldn't hate on him. Good video featuring Pau, Duncan, Dirk, and Durant. Really shows how most players respect KG and how he effects our team.

http://www.csnne.com/pages/video?PID=cK_K5oMRTCJpVdnV77S0ig89aelFlWOm

(don't know how to embed the video, but it's worth listening/watching IMO)

[barefacedmonk]

TP for posting this. I'm happy to have KG on our team...all heart, effort and hard work...love him.

[ejk3489]

For those that didn't watch the video:

Pau:

I have nothing negative to say about him. He's a competitive guy, he's going to frustrate you just cause his talent, but not cause his talking or anything else

Dirk:

You know I think the whole trash talking is overrated I mean the minute the game is done you've forgot what was said, there is no hurt feelings in the NBA.

Durant:

That's what I love about him most, he's always consistent with his play, he's a vocal leader and he leads by example for his team. He's just an ultimate teammate and he'll do anything for his guys. So I'm sure he's not a dirty player or whatever they say and I think he's an unbelievable teammate and I admire him.

Duncan:

That's part of what he does, he tries to get into people's head, I don't think he tries to be malicious or try to hurt anyone, he's there to rattle people.

edit: fixed some quotes

[Bahku]

TP - completely agree. I think KG is judged a bit harshly overall, and I'm happy to see more positive stuff thrown in his direction. He's no more physical than anyone else playing this game ... more intense certainly, but I think people see more from particular players because they're looking for it.

[Celtics4ever]

Fine line between playing hard and playing dirty.  You loose your balance on a pivot and your playing dirty and it's as simple as that.

[Mike-Dub]

TP - completely agree. I think KG is judged a bit harshly overall, and I'm happy to see more positive stuff thrown in his direction. He's no more physical than anyone else playing this game ... more intense certainly, but I think people see more from particular players because they're looking for it.

Exactly.  And TP to the orignal poster.

[j804]

TP

That was what they call "real talk" from all those guys. Nice to hear from guys like Timmy and KD, even Pau. Game recognize game.

[housecall]

KG didn't live up to a few fantasies of some of the younger players once they got to the NBA by treating them the way they'd invision him to while on their wall...1.Joakim Noah admitted that he wasn't the guy he wanted him to be while on his wall.I think Joakim was more hurt(disappointed)than hating.Charlie Villanueva's accusation threw gas on an already burning fire.From that point on players,coaches,media piled on.
 Funny thing about him being a dirty player not once have ive ever seen any player bleeding or leaving the game from a illegal hit from KG.On the otherhand i can name several other players who has caused other players some serious pain and maliciously threw elbows illegally.
 Just recently Lamar Odom gave D.Howard a elbow(bleed)that C.Sager asked him a week later what happened.The cheap shot was towards the end of the Magic beatdown of the Lakers.#2.Same player,Lamar Odom made a illegal hit on Blake Griffin towards the end of the Clippers beating them.Those are just a couple instances with Lamar but ive noticed this type of behavior for a few seasons...but i never hear anyone calling him a dirty player.
 There's several other players around the league that could be labeled as dirty players but don't get called out by fans,media,players or coaches.
 Before you call someone a dirty player make sure you know whats the definition of being a dirty player at the NBA level.

[nba is the worst]

KG didn't live up to a few fantasies of some of the younger players once they got to the NBA by treating them the way they'd invision him to while on their wall...1.Joakim Noah admitted that he wasn't the guy he wanted him to be while on his wall.I think Joakim was more hurt(disappointed)than hating.Charlie Villanueva's accusation throw gas on a already burning fire.From that point on players,coaches,media people piled on.
 Funny thing about him being a dirty player not once have ive ever seen any player bleeding or leaving the game from a illegal hit from KG.On the otherhand i can name several other players who has caused other players some serious pain and maliciously threw elbows illegally.
 Just recently Lamar Odom gave D.Howard a elbow(bleed)that C.Sager asked him a week later what happened.The cheap shot was towards the end of the Magic beatdown of the Lakers.#2.Same player,Lamar Odom made a illegal hit on Blake Griffin towards the end of the Clippers beating them.Those are just a couple instances with Lamar but ive noticed this type of behavior for a few seasons...but i never hear anyone calling him a dirty player.
 There's several other players around the league that could be labeled as dirty players but don't get called out by fans,media,players or coaches.
 Before you call someone a dirty player make sure you know whats the definition of being a dirty player at the NBA level.Remember they are not playing YMCA basketball where people go drinking after the game together.

IMO it's not realistic or fair to term inadvertent contact as a "cheap shot".

And you seem to be ignoring KG's elbow to Q Richardson last season, which came off the court, and was clearly an "illegal hit"...

[KGs Knee]

As always, I'm WAY late to the discussion Love this post.

KG is the epitome of a what all basketball players should strive to be. Team first. Team last. Team always.

As far as KG being a jerk? Pffft!

Being a jerk or not being a jerk, is not even part of the equation. It is simply about giving maximum effort. Sports are not for the faint of heart.

As far as all of the players/coaches complaining about KG, they are just weak. Should not even be in the league. It is not a coincidence the players/coaches bad mouthing KG are of little to no significance in this league. Ever heard Kobe, LeBron, Phil, Pop, etc… say anything about KG’s supposed “antics”? Nope. Real competitors won’t. They deal with them, overcome them, or just plain ignore them.

This whole arguement is just silly, and it makes me laugh.

by KG's Knee on Feb 10, 2011 8:58 AM EST reply   1 recs

As I have stated befor, I agree with the OP here 100%.

The real competitors of this league will not be bothered by KG.  He's not even the only one who plays the way he does, just maybe the most emphatic.  In addition to the players quoted in one of the above posts, Kobe was also recently qouted as saying basically the same thing.  To be an elite player you must posses a certain mental toughness.  If you don't have the mental capacity to either ignore KG, or, use his "style" as fuel for your own game, too bad for you.  Just about every player who has criticzed KG has been a nobody in this league.  Coincidence, I think not.

[housecall]

KG didn't live up to a few fantasies of some of the younger players once they got to the NBA by treating them the way they'd invision him to while on their wall...1.Joakim Noah admitted that he wasn't the guy he wanted him to be while on his wall.I think Joakim was more hurt(disappointed)than hating.Charlie Villanueva's accusation threw gas on a already burning fire.From that point on players,coaches,media people piled on.
 Funny thing about him being a dirty player not once have ive ever seen any player bleeding or leaving the game from a illegal hit from KG.On the otherhand i can name several other players who has caused other players some serious pain and maliciously threw elbows illegally.
 Just recently Lamar Odom gave D.Howard a elbow(bleed)that C.Sager asked him a week later what happened.The cheap shot was towards the end of the Magic beatdown of the Lakers.#2.Same player,Lamar Odom made a illegal hit on Blake Griffin towards the end of the Clippers beating them.Those are just a couple instances with Lamar but ive noticed this type of behavior for a few seasons...but i never hear anyone calling him a dirty player.
 There's several other players around the league that could be labeled as dirty players but don't get called out by fans,media,players or coaches.
 Before you call someone a dirty player make sure you know whats the definition of being a dirty player at the NBA level.Remember they are not playing YMCA basketball where people go drinking after the game together.

IMO it's not realistic or fair to term inadvertent contact as a "cheap shot".

And you seem to be ignoring KG's elbow to Q Richardson last season, which came off the court, and was clearly an "illegal hit"...

If you are refering to Odom's elbows to be inadvertent i don't agree...after seeing him do it over and over in different games especially when they are on the losing end it becomes a pattern of behavior.

KG's elbow to Q was not between the lines...wasn't that on the sideline while the game was not in play?Lets keep it real here,between the lines are where the dirty player name is being assessed.

[Onslaught]

Nice to see some people he plays against say that. And really good ones too.

I'm not as big a fan of KG as most Celtics people are. I never really have been.
But I in no way think he's "dirty."  Anyone who thinks that has never seen a
dirty basketball player.

[KobeShesNotConsenting!]

I honestly cannot comprehend how any celtics fans could not love KG. The fire he brings, all of that intensity, all he wants to do is win and you can tell. He has flaws but nobody's perfect. at least he's not out there raping hotel clerks right? Speaking of which kobe's also come to his defense. It's great to hear the people who REALLY matter in this league, are vouching for him. It really felt good to see that, it's like finally some validation from the REAL competitors. I was starting to wonder if everyone really did hate him, good to see that it's just the untalented ones who arent good enough to keep up with him.

[KobeShesNotConsenting!]

You wanna see a 'dirty' player? Look up Bruce Bowen, now THAT'S a dirty player. He literally made a career out of KG's game against Channing Frye.

[KobeShesNotConsenting!]

One last thing, I guarantee that these clips will not be shown on any of ESPN's shows, but if those guys had all been saying negative things, it for sure would be on first take and around the horn or whatever. They just love painting him in a negative light.