It hit me the other day, writing about how an aging player was said by his coach to be the starter on opening night, and how it was as symbolic as it was practical. A common story, nothing surprising, really.
But it dawned on me.
This is, in all likelihood, Kevin Garnett's last season.
It's something that will either hit you as completely expected ("He's not dead yet?!" the Twitter jokes cry) or as a horrifying sign of your own mortality. Garnett has been a pillar of this league for 19 seasons. After this year, provided he plays it out, he will have played in the NBA for over half of his entire life. He has given most of his life to this sport, in hours in the gym, in locker rooms and buses and planes, in rebounds and blocked shots and this is starting to sound like that song from "Rent" which by the way, is only slightly younger than KG's career.
Garnett has been everything in this league a player can be. A phenom prospect, a green rookie, a game-changing young player, an MVP, a struggling superstar, the redeemed legend for a historic franchise, an NBA champion, an all-world defender, an unstoppable scoring forward, an iconic figure and now, a fading star.
And now, the end comes as he limps toward the finish, having lost friends and teammates, having seen the best and worst this league has to offer, never fraternizing with the media, never allowing shots after the whistle, never giving up an inch he could prevent when on the floor. He's part of a Brooklyn team that won't compete for a le, that watched his partner in crime since 2008, Paul Pierce, walk down the coast to D.C to join a younger, more spry sub-contender. Brooklyn could be good; that fact won't be attached to Garnett. He has his moments, but Mirza Teletovic and Brook Lopez will likely have bigger impacts for the Nets this year. Mirza Teletovic and Brook Lopez, more than the Big Ticket.
It wasn't even clear if Garnett was going to return for this season. He never officially announced it, and as far as the Nets have said, he never actually told them "I'm coming back." He just didn't say anything otherwise, and then started showing up at the facility to work out. In a way, until opening night, he's Schrodinger's Garnett, both retired and under contract. But he's going to return, it's been made clear, under the assumption that he doesn't need to announce he will.
But no matter how unfortunate this end may be for Garnett, as it is for so many legends in their twilight, it doesn't take away from his impact on the game, what he's meant for the sport, its fans, for his teammates. His legacy is unquestionable. He's the greatest power forward of his generation ...
Except for that other guy.
Just 1,800 miles to the southwest, Tim Duncan, the eternal clock of basketball time prepares to trudge unyieldingly toward another run. Duncan's future is in more question than Garnett's. Garnett could sign another contract after this one, but it would seem to stand in the face of how much he's considered walking away the last three years. Duncan, on the other hand, always seems ready to walk away at a moment's notice. Part of you wonders every pregame if he's just going to up and decide before some home contest vs. Milwaukee to call it, just stand up, say "Thanks guys, but I'm out" and head home in his sweatpants, never to be heard from again.
Duncan isn't fighting for anything. He's not Kobe Bryant chasing Michael Jordan's six rings, or trying to prove himself vs. Shaquille O'Neal (though that debate is just about wrapped up). Duncan's here because he can, this is what he does, and because on some level, beneath the media circus, the schedule grind, and the nonsense of fame, he legitimately loves the game. He and Garnett have always stood as counterpoints, two behemoths casting shadows over the league from polar coasts. Garnett, the fierce, screaming, lunatic uber-forward, able to run point guard, dribble the floor, pass, blocks shots, rebound, shut down the pick and roll, and the guy constantly talking, barking intimidating opponents with his maniacal ferocity. Duncan, the robotic clockwork device rotating through turnaround bank shot after turnaround bank shot. Never bothered, never shaken, never ruptured from his gaze toward success. He was never as obsessive as Garnett or Bryant about winning. He was also more consistent in having it.
In many ways, Garnett vs. Duncan is just as LeBron vs. Kobe, Robinson vs. Olajuwon, Wilt vs. Russell. It's the NBA version of the Beatles vs. Elvis from the deleted scenes of Pulp Fiction. You can like one, and you can like the other, but you can't like them both equally. They represent different personalities and approaches. But both will leave the game not to be forgotten by anyone who saw them play.
This could be the last year for both of these legendary forwards. It could be the last year the two face off in what has always been a cold war rivalry. There are urban legends about their feelings and comments toward one another (including a story that if you google their names together will make you audibly 'welp'), but nothing concrete. Garnett hasn't commented on Duncan, nor Duncan on KG in length. They are bitter rivals, who never faced each other on a consistent basis in the playoffs and whose two careers don't stack up on a championship level.
Garnett's in the final year of his contract, Duncan in his. Garnett hasn't made any flat declarations about this being his last, nor has Duncan. (Duncan's teammates have hinted he may play for a few more years, however, and if the Spurs were to repeat for the first time in their history, why would he walk away?) But it's obviously harder and harder for them, and all players reach a point where the fire is out, the body is tired and the travel, media and lifestyle is no longer worth whatever the money and game provide them.
If it's the final year for one or both, fans should cherish it. It's impossible to track in the moment, but each game should be savored. There won't be any farewell tour like it was for Jeter; neither are built that way. But there will not be another Tim Duncan, there will not be another Kevin Garnett. There are always other great players, always other huge personalities and phenomenal games. But what these two have represented in the NBA is worth cherishing, even as the lights begin to dim on the stage after so long in the spotlight.
Full article: http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-...-kevin-garnett
Garnett is done. He was just awful last year. He never developed a big man's game, and now his athleticism is pretty much completely gone.
I'll reserve judgement until later this year, but last year's Timmy looked like he could go another two years. He's still playing at a high level. Losing that weight after the Memphis loss truly extended his career.
Unlike most NBA fans, I'm a big fan of Garnett(despite Duncan being my favorite player), but ya, he's clearly been finished as an impact player for a minute now..
He's going to be even worse next year, I assume..
Harlem, you've gotta decide whether you're going to use American or Canadian spellings.
I REALLY do not want them to retire at the same time, as they are both HOF players and would likely go in the same year, then. Don't want that at all.
I'll make no bones about it. I ing hate Kevin Garnett and have since the 99 playoffs. The game was never enough to motivate him to play well. He had to be angry and start some , usually with a smaller guy. I think the fact that the game wasn't enough is why he was never able to lead a team to a le. Pierce did that in Boston. KG might be the best #2 player in history, or the worst pretend #1.
Kinda forgot he was in the league TBH and forgot how good he once was. But yes he was a great player once. Stat stuffer and Stat hogger. KG averaged 6 and 6 last year, what happened? Just awful. As he disappeared into obscurity last season he won't be missed as much as a player who was good until the end.
I prefer the Duncan/Nowitski comparison as they started in the NBA the same year (I think? or a year apart) and met in the playoffs numerous times and just like Duncan, Nowitski is still a very good player. Not a shadow of his former self like KG. Duncan and Dirk never relied on athleticism which is why they are still relevant ballers.
I agree though it can be sad, strange and weird when someone who has been around for 20 years all of a sudden isn't in the NBA anymore. Even for someone who was once one of my most hated opponents. Shaq has stayed with the NBA in a broadcasting role so he isn't missed much as he is still around. DROB is always courtside. Magic, Barkley and Larry are always around. I don't think any of us will see or hear from KG again once he is gone though.
I agree I do not want them to enter the hall of fame the same year. I ing hate that asshole too after he tried to punk timmy all those years and saying "happy mother's day mother er" when timmy's mom died of breast cancer.
For Duncan, I think it depends on Kawhi's development, his and other guys (on this team and in the future) to compensate for the Big 3 as they age. I think If somehow the Spurs stay can compe ive for say another 3 years both he and Ginobili will continue to play. Obviously there's more to it than basketball as he has his family. But I think if both those guys can pretty much stay where they're at health and skill wise and others continue to step up they'll play for another 3+ years. It's hard to say though. Both those guys have impeccable resumes and nothing left to prove. Makes it easier to retire.
Garnett's situation is different because he's playing for teams and teams now. I can see him retiring after next year, or maybe signing with OKC or some other contender and be a 20-25 minute a game guy. He's got to be in a situation where he can play more of a supportive role rather than a focal one. I think Garnet is done playing after this year. One of the reasons Duncan keeps playing and maintaining himself is because his team is more like a family and he's been playing in one city his entire career. He's the big brother (father now to some of the way younger guys) to everyone on the Spurs and an ambassador of San Antonio. Garnett doesn't have any of that to play for. None of that camaraderie.
Do you think Duncan can put off retirement and be our backup big instead? Pretty sure he would be better than all the other backups we have.
The problem with that is, Tim is and still will be better then any other big we can get or have until he turns 50. So he may aswell keep starting til the very end. I see your point but nah.
Tim wouldn't come off the bench anyways, tbh
Even if he decides to stay another 3 years and can only play 15 MPG in the final year, he'll still be startarting strictly out of principle..the Spurs organization isn't going to ask him to come off the bench
Never understood the assumption that Duncan doesn't care about winning as much as other guys that are full of more bravado.He was never as obsessive as Garnett or Bryant about winning.
A player that develops his game to such an elite level, plays on both ends consistently, adjusts to completely different systems, improves his FT shooting at age 34/35, hands over the offensive reigns to other players when he could still have scored 20ppg and plays through injuries like Tim Duncan is pretty ing obsessed with winning, tbh.
There's a very strong argument to be made that Duncan has adjusted/altered his style of play and body more than any other star player in the history of the league..along with the adjustments you already mentioned:
- Lost a bunch of weight
- Went from being a post big to a face-up big
- Huge improvements on his jump shot(until this past season, where it broke
but Garnett runs his mouth all game and screams a lot, he wants to win so much!!
I'll have to disagree on that one. I mean, i do agree with what you said, but I do think that if Tim feels like he's still good enough to help the team but not good enough anymore to start or that he has to preserve what he has left in the tank, then he'd be the first one to breach the idea to pop. Other than that, I agree with you.Tim wouldn't come off the bench anyways, tbh
Even if he decides to stay another 3 years and can only play 15 MPG in the final year, he'll still be startarting strictly out of principle..the Spurs organization isn't going to ask him to come off the bench
KG should have retired last year.
Buh bye Garnett don't let the door hit you on the way out.
Garnett. One of the biggest pieces of in the NBA. The league will be a better place when he is gone. There will never be another Duncan when he is gone. Dang i get sad just thinking bout no 21 on the floor for the spurs.
It's funny. The piece is trying to say that the Duncan v. Garnett comparison is a close call, but in reading it, I was reminded that the only way that's true is if you just completely dismiss Duncan's defensive prowess (particularly as a team defender), attach great significance to emotional outbursts, and completely ignore the results. That's not to say that Garnett isn't a great player; I think it just goes to show how great Duncan actually is.
That's true even with basic statistics, just in regular season games. Duncan's per game averages are better in points, rebounds, and blocks and he's close in assists and steals (on a per game basis). When you stretch that out to Per 36 numbers or Per 100 possessions numbers, the case for Garnett just gets harder and harder to make, statistically. And even in the advanced metrics, which many would think would tilt in KG's favor, actually favor Duncan.
When you put in the bother of playoff performances, the gap just grows. The two statistical categories in which Garnett is perceived to be a better player than Duncan in the common narrative are steals and assists; but in playoff games, Garnett averages 3.3 assists to Duncan's 3.1 and Garnett averages 1.2 steals to Duncan's 0.7. Be that as it may, Tim (playing in nearly 100 more playoff games than Garnett) scores about 3 points per playoff game more than Garnett, gets 1 more rebound per game, blocks one more shot, and shoots at least a few points better from the field (Tim is almost exactly at 50% from the floor in playoff games; Garnett is under 48%).
And all of that is without taking winning into account at all.
To me, trying to compare Kevin Garnett to Tim Duncan is like trying to compare George Gervin to Michael Jordan. In each case, both players are great, but in each case, one of the two was or is a substantially better player in ways that matter most to winning les.
TL;DR version: Kevin Garnett might be on an NBA roster, but his last season was a couple of years ago. Yet another on the myriad reasons these two should not be mentioned in the same sentence other than to say there's no comparison between them.
Garnett retired for good 2 years ago but nobody told him...
Why is Garnett considered an automatic HOFer?
This might sounds harsh, and I'm sure there are even less deserving players already in the HOF, but was exactly are his crowning achievements?
He won a ring and before that media got Bill Russell to interview him talking all day about how he will get his ring (or how the nba helped him hyping that ) and because of that BAM! he is an instant HOFer, same with Gay Ray I dont get why he is an instant HOFer, why? God he is a ing 3 point shooter and thats it.
Must be his all star appearances but then why the is Fatmelo getting so many votes to play ASG? Too much going on.
Last edited by Mikeanaro; 09-19-2014 at 04:23 PM.
NBA champion
NBA Most Valuable Player
15× NBA All-Star
NBA All-Star Game MVP
4× All-NBA First Team
3× All-NBA Second Team
2× All-NBA Third Team
NBA Defensive Player of the Year
9× NBA All-Defensive First Team
3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team
NBA All-Rookie Second Team
Olympic Gold Meadal
If this isn't enough for being automatic in the HOF then nothing is.
It's where an idea like Bill Simmons' pyramid makes it clear that not all Hall of Famers are equal.
Garnett is clearly a hall of famer. He's not the elite of the elite of the elite, but he's one of the 40 or 50 greatest players ever at this point in history.
Duncan is in another league compared to Garnett
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