Most Likely to Ignite a Bench Clearing Brawl: Kevin Garnett

With the start of the 2009-10 season looming, NBA FanHouse walks through the Valley of the Most Likely; we shall fear no topic.

Last year we handed out this prestigious award to the Lakers' Sasha Vujacic. He basically won the award for being a pest that other NBA players didn't respect. Plus he had girlie hair. With Sasha now sans girlie hair (per request of Phil Jackson), it's time to crown a new winner. The obvious choice: Kevin Garnett.

Garnett has been one of the league's best players this decade. Part of what makes him so great is his intensity. Early in his career, KG was capable of harnessing that intensity in a positive way. In his later years? Not so much.

KG has become completely obnoxious with his on the court antics over the last couple of seasons (read: since joining the Celtics). The sad thing is that he usually only does it to guys he think he can bully. He typically picks on guards, first- and second-year players and foreign players. That, my friends, is what my good buddy Tim Thomas would call being "Fugazi".

Take a look at this video to get a better idea of what I'm talking about:

With KG missing all of last year's playoffs due to a knee injury, he's probably going to be more intense than ever. But I think players are going to be less tolerant of his antics than before. From watching Celtics games last season, I got the feeling that players around the league have had it with KG's antics. If he tries to do what he did to Jose Calderon or Zaza Pachulia to players this season, he might ignite a brawl.

KG has slipped up and messed with the wrong guys a couple of times (see Peeler, Anthony and McDyess, Antonio). In his haste to show everyone that he's back, I have a feeling that KG might mess with the wrong player (or team) again. Hopefully his teammates and coaches have recognized this issue and talked to him about taking it down a few notches. Doubtful, I know.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

10-23-2009 @ 5:00PM

Matthew said...

Great article and video. KG is a joke. Sure he is a great player, but he has zero class or sportsmanship. And it isn't a case where he is the classic "you'd love him if he was on your team" guy. No I would not trade a rack of balls for this asshole. Let's count how many times he cheap shots Dwight Howard this year. And it seems like his punk ass play is having an effect on teammates .. a la rajon rondo. Rondo had multiple cheap shots against the Bulls in their playoff series. The Brad Miller punch in the face and then pushing Kirk Hinrich into the scorer's table. Solid characters on that Boston team.

10-23-2009 @ 11:51PM

samanthaldavis24 said...

Im sitting hear reading this and all i keep thinking is, this sounds like a description of a player from the 80's. So this is what we've come to, where a guy who's been in the league for about 15years is suddenly considered a bully because he tells new school on the block that he aint gettin squat in the paint tonight. What is K.G. supposed to do? get fat because he's won one already and just steal money? In todays game players are always being accused of selfishness or not leaving it on the court but thats not his style. Garnett has always been a beast since he was tucked away in Minnesota, but up in Boston during his probable last years in the league it means something to him since he's tasted the championship champagne already. A true hall of famer never gives up his edge until he's done.

10-24-2009 @ 2:21AM

Giles said...

Ms. Davis, I think the reasoning here is a bit more than just the sudden fad notion Garnett is a bully wannabe. I think it starts with the feeling violence is always possible, but out west, folks believe the Lakers probably will get back to the championship round. That undercuts the notion there will be frustration, violence, out there. Teams are expected to compete hard, but only withing the rules. Unless Skipper Jackson is traded to a contender in the west other than the Lakers, maybe. But in the east, I think the feeling is 3 teams all feel they can win the east. But few are stupid enough to think they can win a brawl against Shaq. And he has already won his spot in the Hall. Howard has a long way to go to win a spot, but he also has a lot of time. Garnett has neither won a spot yet, nor got a lot of time. He only got out of the first round of the playoffs twice. Once thanks to Oliver Miller and Gary Trent supplying the muscle. Year before last, thanks to Ken Perkins supplying the muscle. He missed last year`s playoffs. It would have been a great chance to have maybe won a back to back, increased his chance of making the Hall. Bryant won. Bullying is not new to Garnett. He was a kid when he entered the Nba. Reportedly he punched Marbury one year, Szczerbiak the next, hating to share the ball. He settled down. Realized he needed good teammates to win. And maybe the press fibbed. Maybe it was only arguements, maybe there were no real punches, but they were reported. The feeling is Garnett is scrawny, desperate to win, and the pressure may get to him if the going gets tough, and it WILL get tough. In the late `50s, early `60s, the heaviest Celtic was 6`5 Jungle Jim Loscutoff. He did the rough, tough, inside work. Anything within the rules. At least. and if someone would explode about being manhandled, Loscy was the man who handled them. He was rugged and expendable. Odds are, if those Celtics competed with these Celtics, Loscy would be the man trying Garnett`s composure. Anything within the rules. At least. I`m sure some press folks are already salivating over what might happen if Bass guards Garnett not Pearce. Or if Artest guards Garnett, not Pearce. Some folks hunger for that sort of misconduct. Dan Ainge, the Celtics GM was often called a cry baby. Not exactly. He was the same height as Loscy, lighter, different era, but similar mentality. If Ainge was on the court, a fight as always possible, and there was a good chance he`d be involved, fighting, not crying. Some hoped that plus his thoughtful intelligence would make him a good coach. Didn`t work. But the thoughtful intelligence seems to be working as GM. But if Garnett follows Ainge`s on court example, he can explode. Whether he gets bullied and responds violently, or bullies others and they respond violently. Some guys in the Nba will back down. But not all. Most of the big guys aren`t used to violence, folks tend to be diplomatic with big guys. But Garnett is only tall, not heavy. He is a complete ball player, but he isn`t built for brawling. Too light, center of balance too high. And he is a fiery competitor. The feeling is he can be distracted from basketball, which he can win at, to brawling, which he can lose at. I hope the playoffs are not marred by violence this season, but they often are, so we`ll see. Cleveland can play Ilguaskas at forward against a slow team, maybe against Bynum, O`Neal maybe on Gasol, but against virutally all teams, they`ll need more speed. And quick athletes can be frustrating to compete against, not just for Garnett. We`ll see what happens.

10-24-2009 @ 4:42PM

What i meant about Garnett being a beast had absolutely nothing to do about him handling himself in a fist fight. He's no Bill Laimbeer, but the point is he will try to dog anyone he's up against during the game in the sense of defense or whatever the situation calls for. Iv'e never heard of any players throughout his career expressing concerns about dirty tactics or anything else in that nature, so im surprised that someone took the time to compile a video of all the silly little squirmishes he's had during his long career. Kobe wanted him in L.A when he was a free agent and so did just about every other team that felt that they were a player away from contention. there was no concerns over his style of play then or now and some people should just understand the game has always had a trash talking element to it and K.G. relishes in it along with the fact that he can play at a high level. also in most of the video it shows K.G. playing the innocent because he's trying to get in the head of his opponents. The legends Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan were notorius for the samething and they were'nt fighters either.

10-29-2009 @ 10:48AM

one4badtwo4good said...

Obviously you're a wanna be columnist. Too bad you have nothing of any value to say!

10-24-2009 @ 12:05PM

tim said...

I would love to see him try that crap with Ron Ron.

10-24-2009 @ 2:18PM

bok said...

That's the funny thing about this thug, He bullies those players that are classy enough to ignore him but look at Anthony Peeler, Pachulia, McDyess, he tried it at them but they retaliated and he moved away with his tail between his legs. How about trying his antics on Artest, STephen Jackson and let see what happens.

10-24-2009 @ 11:58PM

Child of God said...

Garnett has always been a punk with an alligator mouth and a pencil body. He's into the whole 'tough guy' thing as a Celtic and it's pathetic. Doesn't work for him and the article is absolutely correct: Garnett, like all punks, only picks on people he thinks he can intimidate. Look forward to him trying to 'punk' Spurs rookie DeJuan Blair this year. He'll give it a try, and like Thabeet will wind up on his backside. Blair's been terrorizing guys in summer league and in pre-season. Legit NBA players have been 'testing' him and Ginobili laughed his only concern was that Blair might rip somebody's arm off going for a rebound. Kids the real deal, so by all means, KG, try to pull that 'rookie punk' stuff with DeJuan. Love to see that. With McDyess and Blair together on the Spurs team, going to love Boston vs. SA. Garnett will get ticked off in the game, look around to see who he can pick on, only candidate will be Parker...but he'll see the Big Fundamental, McDyess, Blair or Ratliff on the floor and will yap and jaw and then stand 20 feet away and throw basketballs at Parker if he gets upset. What a punk. Sooner or later, some big boy is going to take the 10 game suspension and pop KG for pulling this stuff on smaller guys. Hey, KG...when you play the Spurs and Blair is on the floor, I really hope you try that 'intimidation' act with him. Pleaaaaaaase. Your act is way old and someone has to put you on your backside before you retire.

10-25-2009 @ 2:28PM

bozallan said...

Great comments on that loud foul mouth school bully. Would loved for Wilt to put this punk in his place.

10-25-2009 @ 8:33PM

Glenn20 said...

You could come up with a video like this for just about anyone who has racked up 13 years of highlights. It was rather bush-league and unprofessional for Mr. Nate Jones to pull this off of YouTube -- and it shows his bias, which lessens his credibility.

If someone really wanted to waste their time, they could put together highlights (or lowlights) like this for Kobe Bryant or almost anyone else who's been around a while.

10-25-2009 @ 9:46PM

Glenn12yearold, obviously you haven't followed the thug for his entire career. Could it be you are Bostonian. I bet you are.

10-27-2009 @ 2:44AM

lopjackie21 said...

Lets see if Paul Pierce and Celtics can deliver!
Hahahaha!

10-29-2009 @ 10:44AM

You are a moron- stupid comment as always, lop. When you have something intelligent to say, let me know.

10-27-2009 @ 2:45AM

satchks said...

Players can be mouthy all they want, just perform...what ....do all the players need sensitivity training now... because of what they say...when your on the wood, or in the paint just play for pay...and win ..

10-28-2009 @ 4:11AM

Nora said...

Bozalian you clearly aren't showing your bias, you a Laker fan then right? LOL

Anyways everything you said just points to clueless

10-29-2009 @ 10:21AM

hulk411 said...

this is halarious, look at lebrons antics and the cavs dancing taking photos and being dumb asses. when your up by 30 points and your doing this what you call that. what about dwight howard acting like a fool after he dunks thinking hes superman and showing off. kg is intense but hes no more of a bully then these other guys. post 1 the only joke or ass is you.