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He’s undoubtedly one of the fiercest competitors’ and most colorful personalities the NBA has ever witnessed. He will forever be remembered primarily as a member of the Boston Celtics despite building his career for 10 plus seasons as the Minnesota Timberwolves franchise player. But above all, Kevin Garnett will be remembered as a great teammate and a player with unbelievable NBA longevity.
Although the drop-off is there as it is with any 36 year old big man, his game stays relevant and timeless. Kevin Garnett returned to the Celtics this year on what would probably be seen as a very generous deal and perhaps even a ‘thank you’ bonus from GM Danny Ainge. The 36 year old signed a three year deal worth nearly $35 million with a no trade clause and he continues to give the franchise everything he has as a starting player, teammate, mentor, and heartbeat of the franchise.
Sure, some nights The Big Ticket looks a step slow, winded, or lacking in his former explosiveness, but one thing Garnett never appears is disinterested. His game is still unbelievably consistent for his age and what he brings to the floor every night hasn’t changed a bit. His intensity is unmatched and he even manages to put up some vintage games in terms of numbers and shows beautiful glimpses and flashbacks of his old self as he throws down his trademark tomahawk slam still every now and then.
It’s of the common belief that Garnett will indeed decide to retire either before or when his contract is expired, but one has to believe that any team would still take him even at nearly 40 years old for what he brings to the floor.
Although he will probably never let it get to that point due to his own pumping pride and the fact that he has now spent nearly half his life playing professional basketball, any contender would most likely love to have him as a key reserve piece of their team. It’s not that hard to imagine Garnett at 45 years old still doing what he does now just to a slightly lesser degree. Playing 10-15 minutes per game, working in the post, barking out communication on defense and still hitting that famous turnaround jumper is easy to picture if one closes their eyes. He’s a rare breed, and regardless of what choice he does choose to make in the next two years, he will surely be missed by the league, his team, the fans, and his lovers and haters alike.
