Kevin Garnett says only Russell Westbrook plays with same anger he did
KG says the reigning MVP plays with “vengeance.”
Kevin Garnett was known to be one of the NBA’s most fiery players and personalities during his 20-year career from 1995 to 2016. Now, the sure-fire Hall of Famer identified just one player who attacks the court with the same anger Garnett says he played with back in the day:
As part of a wide-ranging interview with Vice Sports, KG — who is now a studio analyst for TNT with his own segment called “Area 21” — talked about why he started playing with “vengeance.”
“Nobody plays with that anger. I always say this: Westbrook plays angry, and that’s how I thought I played,” he said in an interview with Vice Sports. “I don’t know, man. In my younger days I was having fun and when you start to make a lot of money that starts to take the fun away from it because you have real responsibilities now. People are expecting things versus it being potential. So I started playing angry. So when I watch Westbrook play, he plays with that type of vengeance and that type of [growls], you know? That worked for me. I’m an energetic guy. I played with force. And I wanted to be remembered! I wanted for it to be that when I left this sport, I want you to remember me.”
KG’s not only attracted to fury. He likes the talented big guys, too. And on his list of guys he likes are Joel Embiid, Karl-Anthony Towns, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Thon Maker.
“The skill set of the big now, one-legged fadeaways, off glass, off the spin, like, it feels like the big can do more and is expected to be more versatile these days,” he said. “And it’s impressive. I’m very much impressed.”
Garnett also spoke on his relationship with Timberwolves management, how beatable the Golden State Warriors are (hint: not very), and how he enjoys his new media venture on “Area 21.” You can check out the rest of Vice’s Q & A here.