KG's career and legacy..

[raynman]

I've been a Kevin Garnett fan since his legendary days in Minnesota and seeing him win the championship with the Celtics was one of the happiest moments in my life.. I've followed KG thru the good and bad times and that achievement was more than vindication for all his hardships and efforts.. Now, after 17 seasons and a couple of injuries, it's evident that he's on the twilight of his career.. Although still averaging good numbers, he's not the same player who won MVP and DPOY.. But he's still the same person - intense, dedicated, charismatic, tough and loyal .. That's why before he retires, I think he deserves a couple more rings - yes, TWO CHAMPIONSHIPS! He should win another one this year with the Celtics to prove that this team is not washed up and that Banner #17 was not a fluke.. Then next year, as a free agent, unless Dwight Howard comes to Boston , I want KG to come back to his beloved 'Sota.. With a talented , young group of players and a very good coach, I think the Timberwolves are ripe enough next year and a veteran like KG will help guide them to the top.. Winning a historic Banner #18 then coming full circle with his first NBA team will be the perfect script to end the career of one of the greatest players to ever play the game! 

[Humble G]

TP, couldn't agree with you more. I have also been a KG fan since he entered the NBA after not being able to attend college bc of test scores. He is a great player and the definition of passion and intensity. It would great to get one more banner with Boston if not 2(if he is resigned) but if he were to play with another team, the T-wolves would be the most legit place for him to end his career. Great Post!

[Junkyard Dawg]

i would rather that 2nd championship (or 3rd) come in a boston uniform.  

in all honesty, my deepest hope for the C's (other than a good draft and signing a big name free agent or two) is that they are able to sign KG and Ray Ray to reasonable deals next year and possibly beyond, with the idea that KG slowly transitions to a kind of player-coach like Bill Russell did, or even a consultant or something.  after seeing what the big 3 has done, not just in terms of winning but in terms of defense-first, team basketball, ubuntu, hard work Celtic pride basketball, I don't want it to end.  if we can get DH or Kevin Durant in a few years or whoever, GREAT, but  whoever comes in I want to see them play basketball the Celtic way.  nobody understands that better than KG.  just get him around the young'uns, get guys who want to commit to playing the way KG and the big 3 do, who are willing to come here and learn.

[Junkyard Dawg]

btw I don't mean head coach, i mean he'd be there as an assistant or something on the bench with Doc.. oh well, one can hope.

[raynman]

TP, couldn't agree with you more. I have also been a KG fan since he entered the NBA after not being able to attend college bc of test scores. He is a great player and the definition of passion and intensity. It would great to get one more banner with Boston if not 2(if he is resigned) but if he were to play with another team, the T-wolves would be the most legit place for him to end his career. Great Post!

Thanks.. Whether in Boston or Minnesota, I just want KG to end his career with a bang and be remembered as a champion.. because he deserves it!

[17wasEZ]

I've been a Kevin Garnett fan since his legendary days in Minnesota and seeing him win the championship with the Celtics was one of the happiest moments in my life.. I've followed KG thru the good and bad times and that achievement was more than vindication for all his hardships and efforts.. Now, after 17 seasons and a couple of injuries, it's evident that he's on the twilight of his career.. Although still averaging good numbers, he's not the same player who won MVP and DPOY.. But he's still the same person - intense, dedicated, charismatic, tough and loyal .. That's why before he retires, I think he deserves a couple more rings - yes, TWO CHAMPIONSHIPS! He should win another one this year with the Celtics to prove that this team is not washed up and that Banner #17 was not a fluke.. Then next year, as a free agent, unless Dwight Howard comes to Boston , I want KG to come back to his beloved 'Sota.. With a talented , young group of players and a very good coach, I think the Timberwolves are ripe enough next year and a veteran like KG will help guide them to the top.. Winning a historic Banner #18 then coming full circle with his first NBA team will be the perfect script to end the career of one of the greatest players to ever play the game! 

Kind of lost on how winning another title would prove Banner #17 was not a fluke.  If anything, the emphatic butt-kicking they laid on the Lakers that season, the 60+ wins with an injured KG the next season, and 2010's run to game 7 of the Finals proved all that needed to be proved.  It was supposed to be about a 3 year window and that's what it was.

I do wish he would get another title though.  I just doubt it will be while he's wearing green.

[raynman]

Kind of lost on how winning another title would prove Banner #17 was not a fluke.  If anything, the emphatic butt-kicking they laid on the Lakers that season, the 60+ wins with an injured KG the next season, and 2010's run to game 7 of the Finals proved all that needed to be proved.  It was supposed to be about a 3 year window and that's what it was.

I do wish he would get another title though.  I just doubt it will be while he's wearing green.

It's because most (if not all) Celtics dynasties won more than one championships.. And the big three themselves said that one would not be enough in keeping with the Celtics tradition.. If DA gets crafty (and lucky), he wouldn't have to break up the core to get another run this year..

[get_banners]

It's because most (if not all) Celtics dynasties won more than one championships.. And the big three themselves said that one would not be enough in keeping with the Celtics tradition.. If DA gets crafty (and lucky), he wouldn't have to break up the core to get another run this year..

Fewer teams in the league during previous Celtics' championships. Its harder to repeat these days, just by probability alone. Also, I don't see any of the great NBA champions winning a title without their key player. If KG didn't get hurt in 2009, I feel fairly confident we repeat. KG's knee was not right the following year (truthfully, he's never been the same player - not just age, but that injury took some spring out of his step for good). If KG never got hurt, even with Perk out in Game 7, I see no chance we lose the following year. Granted, you can play this game for so many teams in so many situations, but that is just to say that these Big Three teams are comparable to other great Celtics teams. No chance we win without Bird in the 80s, Hondo in the 70's, or Russell in the 60's. Same goes for the Lakers without Magic (or Kareem), or West. Ditto Bulls sans Jordan, etc.

[LarBrd33]

KG in his prime was a top 3 player in the league.  Dominant.  Boston never had that version of KG.  He was still a defensive stud, but even in 08 he wasn't what he was in Sota. 

He isn't going to win another title in Boston.  His legacy will be that of a dominant player who didn't have help in his prime... and finally won a title in his later years.

Revisionist history will not be as kind, though.  KG will be known as a player who happened to play in the Kobe era.  Kobe having won 3 titles with Shaq was attempting to prove he could do it "on his own"... in 08 a Bully Celtic team lead by KG knocked him down. Kobe reached the top the next year... and in 2010 beat the Celtics in the rematch.  We'll be footnotes in Kobe Bryant career retrospectives... and beyond that will just be remembered a lot like the flukey Pistons champion.  You'll remember Duncan and the Spurs.  You'll remember Shaq.  You'll remember Kobe.  KG will be known as a 2nd tier star from that era (outside of Boston and Sota, that is).

[ianboyextreme]

KG in his prime was a top 3 player in the league.  Dominant.  Boston never had that version of KG.  He was still a defensive stud, but even in 08 he wasn't what he was in Sota. 

He isn't going to win another title in Boston.  His legacy will be that of a dominant player who didn't have help in his prime... and finally won a title in his later years.

Revisionist history will not be as kind, though.  KG will be known as a player who happened to play in the Kobe era.  Kobe having won 3 titles with Shaq was attempting to prove he could do it "on his own"... in 08 a Bully Celtic team lead by KG knocked him down. Kobe reached the top the next year... and in 2010 beat the Celtics in the rematch.  We'll be footnotes in Kobe Bryant career retrospectives... and beyond that will just be remembered a lot like the flukey Pistons champion.  You'll remember Duncan and the Spurs.  You'll remember Shaq.  You'll remember Kobe.  KG will be known as a 2nd tier star from that era (outside of Boston and Sota, that is).

Wow, where is this crystal ball that lets you see this stuff. Sounds like a pretty bleek future. Comeon dude this is so presumptous and heavy handed its rediculous. KG wasnt like Gary Payton going along for the ride. He was a huge part of a team that won a title almost won another and could possibly win another.

[Celtics4ever]

His production alone merits him for consideration as a top five power forward.  He will be remembered as one of three who resurrected Boston's Championship and competativeness for a few years.

[greenpride32]

His production alone merits him for consideration as a top five power forward.  He will be remembered as one of three who resurrected Boston's Championship and competativeness for a few years.

It looks like he's only going to have one ring (unless he decides to sign with MIA next year) so I think that's going to hurt his legacy.  I never really agreed with rating players based on championships in team sports.  Obviously you can't win without a good supporting cast, but I realize that's just how the media works. 

Nobody remembers second place (or below) so he'll be remembered for being part of the big three that made sacrifices to win together the first year and that's it (and not the part about making BOS competitive for a few years).

[RyNye]

Revisionist history will not be as kind, though.  KG will be known as a player who happened to play in the Kobe era.  Kobe having won 3 titles with Shaq was attempting to prove he could do it "on his own"... in 08 a Bully Celtic team lead by KG knocked him down. Kobe reached the top the next year... and in 2010 beat the Celtics in the rematch.  We'll be footnotes in Kobe Bryant career retrospectives... and beyond that will just be remembered a lot like the flukey Pistons champion.  You'll remember Duncan and the Spurs.  You'll remember Shaq.  You'll remember Kobe.  KG will be known as a 2nd tier star from that era (outside of Boston and Sota, that is).

Edit: No calling out other posters like that - Fafnir

Nobody remembers second place (or below) so he'll be remembered for being part of the big three that made sacrifices to win together the first year and that's it (and not the part about making BOS competitive for a few years).

That's not true. Wilt Chamberlain would be remembered even if he hadn't won his rings in the twilight of his career. He was a legendary player, but in his prime he was beat by Bill Russell. He was number 2. We would still talk about him if not for 1967 and 1972. There are DOZENS of Hall of Famers without rings that will be remembered ... Barkley, Ewing, the Malones, Kemp, Payton, Stockton, Wilkins, Gervin, Baylor. Hell, if Lebron never wins a ring he will be remembered (not likely, but possible). KG would have been remembered even if he hadn't come to Boston and got a ring.

[LB3533]

KG's elite defense and versatility makes him arguably the top PF of all time.

Throw in his excellent rebounding and 20 points scoring...its just icing on the cake.

Throughout his career, KG's never had the benefit of playing with a top notch head coach, nor an all-star type PG.

[Fafnir]

KG will be known as a 2nd tier star from that era (outside of Boston and Sota, that is).

Agreed, he'll be remembered along the lines of David Robinson and Charles Barkley.

Which is a shame, he's been of Tim Duncan's caliber once he hit his prime but on crappy teams for the first 12 years in Minnesota. But you could say the same about Barkley as well.