In the summer of 2007, the Boston Celtics after an abysmal season where they went 24-58 made two blockbuster trades that brought what would be two Hall of Famers to team up with their best player in hopes of getting them back in the conversation as a title contender. Through hard work and commitment from a talented roster led by what would end up being one of the best trios in NBA history captured title number 17 in franchise history. Two weeks ago, the Celtics rose the jersey of the emotional leader of their Hall of Fame trio to the rafters of TD Garden.
On Mar. 13 following the Celtics (45-28)
95-92 loss versus the Minnesota Timberwolves (42-31) on ABC, they retired the
No. 5 jersey of Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett, who became the 24th
member of the NBA’s Most storied franchise to have his number retired, which now
stands alongside the 2008 title banner that he helped win after his arrival in
Boston, MA 14 years ago.
When the Celtics acquired Garnett from the
Minnesota Timberwolves 15 summers back, along with Ray Allen from the then
Seattle Supersonics in another deal that same summer, they Celtics brought
together one of the most dynamic trios in NBA history.
What made this trio work is that Garnett
from the first day of training camp in 2008, he said in one of their first
meetings that the Celtics offense was going to run through Paul Pierce and
Allen and he would be the third option. That he would lead the charge at the
defensive end, and KG used his combination of intensity, hard work, and sense
of humor
That selfless act by 15-time All-Star,
2004 Kia MVP, and 2007-08 Kia Defensive Player of the Year set the wheels in
motion for the Celtics on their road that led them to their first Finals
appearance since 1986 and took down the arch-rival Los Angeles Lakers in 2008
Finals 4-2 ending their 22-year title drought, behind intensity, hard work, and
sense of humor of Garnett.
“Before he got here, we had one of our worst seasons. He was just the injection in the heart that we needed,” Pierce, who had his No. 34 jersey retired four years ago said at the postgame retirement ceremony. “You brought a sense of culture to this team that was desperately needed. You brought Boston pride-Celtics pride-back.”
Dawning a dark suit and a black
turtleneck, with a Ukranian flag ribbon on the lapel of his jacket and a pocket
square in the colors of green and white of the Celtics, Garnett walked on the
court with his 14-year-old daughter Kapri and nine-year-old daughter Kavalli
and was greeted by many teammates that he played in his six seasons with the
Celtics like Pierce who brought out the Larry O’Brien trophy from that 2007-08
season; Ray Allen; Eddie House; James Posey; Kendrick Perkins; Glen “Big Baby”
Davis; and former Celtics GM Danny Ainge, who now works in the front office of
the Utah Jazz; and Brian Scalabrine, the Celtics television color analyst, who
co-hosted Garnett’s jersey retirement ceremony along with Celtics television play-by-play
man Mike Gorman. Some of the current Celtics in Al Horford, Jayson Tatum,
Jaylen Brown, Robert Williams III, and Marcus Smart also watched the
festivities.
Mr. Gorman Celtics television play-by-play
man for the last four decades said at the start of the ceremony said that he
remembers being very anxious to see Garnett play for the first time for a team
that the season prior had lost 18 consecutive games and as Mr. Gorman put it,
“We needed help.”
“I didn’t even want to broadcast a game. I
just wanted to sit around and watch this guy and see if he could possibly be as
good as he was,” Gorman added about wanting to see Garnett play for the first
time in a preseason game at a World War II Armory that is the home court for an
Italian basketball squad in Rome, Italy.
Gorman said that at the half of that first
game he saw Garnett play, he wanted to find Ainge and hug him.
Gorman said at the ceremony that Garnett
was “crazy good” because of his ability to guard all five positions on the
hardwood and would “destroy” anybody that attempted to get the rim. That he
grabbed every rebound he could get his hands on. Registered about half a dozen
assists, a couple of blocks, close to two-three steals, and had even more
energy to scream down his opponents; coached his teammates and stared down the
referees.
What impressed Gorman the most about how
Garnett played is that he played that game halfway across the globe with most
of the people back in the U.S. asleep like he it would be the final time he
would play a game on the hardwood as he did that entire championship season and
his entire six seasons in “Beantown.”
One player who was a part of some of those
miserable years prior to Garnett’s arrival was Pierce, who when spoke said that
Garnett was the “injection in the arm,” that the Celtics.
“What better way to revive a franchise
then to bring the energy that Kevin brought every night,” Pierce said. “His
spirit. His passion. His play.”
Pierce also said that while fans had a
chance to see him on the hardwood, he had a chance to see his fellow Hall of
Famer back as a teenager away from the hardwood and said he was the “nicest”
person who can tell the best stories, which he would tell the young players on
the Celtics each of his six seasons and how that story would always be
different.
“That was Kevin,” Pierce said of Garnett’s
ability to bring the Celtics group together. “I mean, he would give you his
last and we appreciated it. We appreciated you man. You brought a sense of
culture to this city that was desperately, desperately needed. And you brought
Boston pride-Celtic pride-back.”
“So, I want to thank as a teammate. As a
friend. As a brother, and speaking for everybody in this city, the crowd,
ownership group, every player that had an opportunity to play with you, we love
you, man. Thank you.”
Former Celtics’ teammate and current
assistant coach with Philadelphia 76ers Sam Cassell said in a video message
that being on that 2007-08 Celtics was “unbelievable.”
“Your leadership. Your professionalism,
man. I’m glad that your jersey’s being retired.”
In another video message, former teammate
with the Celtics and Brooklyn Nets Jason Terry said of Garnett, “You were the
fiercest competitor I’ve ever played with. But other than that, you were the
greatest teammate I ever played with.”
Former teammate with the Timberwolves at
the start of Garnett’s career in current NBATV studio analyst Sam Mitchell in a
video message said, “Your jersey is going to hand in a place that is hollow
ground. The Boston Celtics. So, congratulations. You earned it. You deserve
it.”
The starting point guard during Garnett’s
six seasons in “Beantown” in current Cleveland Cavaliers’ guard All-Star guard
Rajon Rondo, who was the floor general on that 200708 title squad said in his
video message, “Definitely an honor to be one of the greats going up into the
rafters here as a Boston Celtic…”
The guy who first met Garnett at gym in
Chicago, IL back in 1995 and drafted Garnett No. 5 overall to the Timberwolves
ironically enough No. 5 overall on June 28, 1995 out of Farragut Academy in
Chicago, IL and mentored him at the start of his NBA journey in Minnesota in
fellow Celtics legend Kevin McHale said in a video message that he had “come a
long way big fella.”
“I couldn’t be happier or more proud of
you for your career and everything you’ve done. And so, congratulations. Number
going up in the rafters is fantastic.”
The head coach of that Celtics title team
in current 76ers head coach Glenn “Doc” Rivers said of this moment for Garnett
that, “This is about you, my friend. Congratulations.”
The legend and standard of the Celtics in 11-time NBA champion Bill Russell said in his video message that he is happy that Garnett is a “member of this elite club.” How he always “enjoyed” watching Garnett play that now Mr. Russell’s No. 6 jersey and Garnett’s No. 5 jersey hangs in the rafters.
The Celtics front office presented Garnett
a replica of the retired number banner on which his No. 5 jersey will live
permanently will reside in the rafters of TD Garden rafters. He was also gifted
an original work of art by esteemed artist from the Boston area. A piece of the
original Boston Garden parquet and an NFT gift basket including five original
collectibles.
In his moment to speak during Garnett’s
jersey retirement, Celtics Governor, Managing Partner, and Chief Executive
Officer Wyc Grousbeck used the words “heart, commitment, loyalty, leadership,
championship” to describe what Garnett meant to the Celtics and the city of
Boston, MA.
He added how not just in Boston, but the
entire world “knows” what Garnett did when he came to “Beantown” in 2007. From
the first practice that he brought his trademark energy, passion, and
determination changed “everything.” How he played the kind of defense that had
not been seen since Bill Russell.
“You brought Celtic pride back to
everybody around the world. You carried us forward, and we put that banner in
the ceiling,” Grousbeck said. “I am here to say, I think we’re all here to say
thank you. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”
In a tribute video that played after
Grousbeck spoke, narrated by actor, musician and Boston native Donnie Wahlberg.
In that video showed the parallels between KG and Celtics. How Garnett found a
new home in the NBA in Minneapolis, MN and how through long winters went from a
kid to the “Big Ticket” and eventually the face of the Timberwolves. He became
the best player in the NBA winning Kia MVP in 2003-04 and the best defensive
player of his generation. However, he would only get to the doorstep of the NBA
Finals in the same season he won league MVP.
In 1995, the Celtics also moved into a new
home from the old Boston Garden to the then Fleet Center, where they would also
endure long winters and their runs to championship No. 17 would fall short only
reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in 2001-02.
In 2007, the most selfless superstar and
the star-crossed franchise found each other as the C’s traded for Garnett and
in another deal traded for Ray Allen.
“But when you speak on basketball. When
you speak on fans and how they feel about their sports here, I mean, it’s a no
brainer,” Garnett said at his introductory presser flanked by Allen and Pierce
in summer of 2007. “I thought that this is probably my best opportunity at
winning a ring and here we are, wearing No. 5.”
“Anything less than a championship than a
championship is a failure. It’s what it is. There’s only one winner.”
Garnett from the moment he made his
teammates better. He made the Boston fans even crazier and made the roar from
those fans at TD Garden louder. And he made the Celtics winners again with
every basket, every defensive play, and every word, and action he displayed.
The Celtics in 2007-08 with Garnett
leading the way went from 24 wins the season before to an NBA-best 66 games, the
second-most in a single-season in franchise history. In the 2008 NBA Playoffs,
the Celtics took down the No. 8 Seeded Atlanta Hawks in the First-Round seven games.
They defeated the LeBron James led Cleveland Cavaliers in the East Semifinals
in seven games. Then took down the arch-rival Detroit Pistons in the Eastern
Conference Finals in six games. In the 2008 NBA Finals, the Celtics took down
the arch-rival Lakers in The Finals in six games, winning Game 6 in dominant
fashion at TD Garden 131-92 to capture title No. 17.
In his postgame interview with then ABC
sideline reporter, now sideline reporter for NBC’s Sunday Night Football
Michelle Tafoya, who is a native of Minneapolis MN, displayed that trademark
fire saying, “Anything’s possible!!!”
In talking Scalabrine during the ceremony,
Garnett shouted out former Celtics All-Star Antoine Walker, who he had a
conversation with prior to being dealt to the Boston where Garnett said he
received some “great words of wisdom,” which he took into the previously
mentioned introductory presser. After that presser, Garnett said he came into
TD Garden and looked into the rafters and manifested that one day he would see
a championship banner as well as his number immortalized alongside some of the
greats to ever where the “Green and White” of the C’s.
“So, it’s safe to say that I manifested
this,” Garnett said.
The seeds of Garnett becoming a Celtic he
said during the ceremony were the result of many short conversations with
Pierce during the many times they played at the NBA’s unofficial mid-season
celebration, NBA All-Star weekend.
Those conversations many times were about
both playing one day with the Celtics. There was one particular time when
Garnett when the Timberwolves played at the Celtics and he had what he said was
a “decent night,” Pierce conversed with Grousbeck about seeing if he could pull
of a deal to acquire Garnett.
“We kind of had a laugh about it,” Garnett
said about that conversation. “And then when it started to become real life, we
actually got serious and the infamous Danny Ainge came and saw me and it was
history. Shout out to Danny Ainge in here.”
When Scalabrine asked Garnett about his
trademark intensity, he said that his former
coach at Farragut Academy provided him with the tools and the knowledge
to get out of his own way and not to fear having his own style. A style that
was all “energetic.”
“I’m a passionate person and he [Coach
Wolf] kind of gave me the know how to go out there and actually be who you
are,” Garnett said. “Let that passionate. Let people see who you really are on
the court and I’ve just been able to be like that since I left Wolf actually.”
Garnett also said that the passion we saw
him play with on the hardwood came from seeing that same high level of work
ethic from his mother, who he saw work hard each and every day.
He also said that he had to learn to
properly channel that energy he played with on the hardwood. To properly
channel that emotion, especially after a loss on the hardwood or being up at
night watching film on his next opponent and not being able to turn that tape
off because he wanted to be as prepared as the person or team that his Celtics
squad would play against. That is why Garnett said he turned to Yoga to be able
to center himself so he could go out on the floor and used that intensity,
focus and determination to lead his team to victory.
“If were being honest, I’m a perfectionist,
I’m a perfectionist you know,” Garnett said. “I can’t even front, man. At
night, it would drive me crazy. I know we’re up here having fun, but there’s
been some nights where I haven’t had much sleep and I watch 30 tapes on a guy,
and I’m watching and I can’t turn off, you know. It sounds like a good thing
now. But at times it really haunted me. But I got it under control and it
worked for me.”
What also worked with Garnett in his time
with the Celtics was his ability to have a better working dialogue with their
management and front office as well as with the coaching staff of the Celtics,
led by Coach Rivers as well as his teammates.
Garnett said that his time with the
Timberwolves “predicated” and “molded” to when he was dealt to the Celtics, he
was able to be on the same page with Grousbeck and the Celtics management
group; Coach Rivers and with his teammates, which Garnett said was “easy.”
That ease came from the fact said that the
likes Posey, Davis, House, and Leon Powe made him better because when they
played pick up in the lead up to training camp, the games were played at a very
high intensity.
During those thank video presentations,
Garnett heard how during his time in “Beantown” how he made his teammates,
coaches, management, and the entire city better, he said the reality was that
his teammates, Coach Rivers, and his coaching staff as well as management made
him better, and he feels like the collective group made each other better.
“I’d like to think that these players made
me better, man” Garnett said of how his teammate made it easy from him play at
the level he played with as Celtics for half a dozen seasons. “I’m a very
focused individual. I take my craft really serious. I work really hard. A lot
of players say they in the gym. But I’m really in the gym, you know. Like I’m
really working on mine. And I’d like to think that ‘Big Baby,’ ‘Big Perk,’ Leon
everybody on our squad made me better. Thank you all for that.”
One particular former teammate that
Garnett, shouted out was fellow Hall of Famer Ray Allen, which brought a
serious roar from those in attendance.
Towards the end of the partnership of “Big Three,” Allen exited as a free agent and signed with the Miami Heat after the 2011-12 season, which caused a rift between him, Garnett, Pierce, and Rondo that lasted for nearly a decade.
Even at the celebration for the players
who made the NBA’s Top 75 and were celebrated at the All-Star Game in
Cleveland, OH in the middle of February, when Allen was introduced and took his
place at the circular stage at center court, Pierce and Garnett did not even
look at Allen as he came on the stage.
That rift seemed to be put to a conclusion
when Garnett said “it was good to see Ray Allen” at his jersey retirement. That
was followed by Garnett, Allen, and Pierce sharing a hug at center court, which
led to a standing ovation from the audience in the stands.
“You’re next,” Garnett. Ray next,” Garnett
said about Allen having his No. 20 jersey retired by the Celtics.
In talking about that moment on the Mar.
14 edition of ESPN’s “NBA Today” that he had a “whole other respect” for Allen showing
up for Garnett’s jersey retirement because of the fact that he, Garnett, Pierce,
and the Celtics organization had not been on the best of terms and for him to
show up for his former teammate receiving such an honor and hopefully put to
rest any bad feelings on all sides.
Perkins also concurred with Garnett on the
Celtics retiring Allen’s No. 20 saying, “It’s time for the Celtics to do their
part…It’s time for them to stop being petty because Ray deserves to have his jersey
hung in those rafters as well.”
“It’s time to retire No. 20 because we wouldn’t
had won that championship or none of those [playoff] runs without Ray Allen.”
NBATV analyst and former player with the
Orlando Magic, Dallas Mavericks, and Phoenix Suns Dennis Scott said on the Mar.
14 edition of NBATV’s called the moment
shared between Garnett, Pierce, and Allen “beautiful” for not just fraternity of
NBA, college, or high school basketball, but all of basketball. Not even for
AAU basketball.
Scott said that we saw three greats
Garnett, Pierce, and Allen to put their egos on the backburner and whatever
they went through, the now Hall of Famers can share in a special moment and
enjoy the many memories they created together in a building where they etched
their own legacies both individually and collectively for one of the aforementioned
most storied franchises in “The Association.”
Fifteen years ago, Kevin Garnett and the
Boston Celtics were at a crossroads. The Celtics were coming off a disappointing
season where they won just 24 games, a long ways from being two wins away from
being in the NBA Finals five seasons prior. Garnett had missed out on the
playoffs for three straight seasons with the Timberwolves after helping to lead
them to the Western Conference Finals where they lost to the Shaquille O’Neal,
the late Kobe Bryant led Lakers in six games.
When Garnett was dealt to the Celtics in the summer of 2007, the chemistry and connection between the two was instant and it led to him adding the one thing missing from his career resume, an NBA title and it got the Celtics back to the top of the NBA mountain as champions of the basketball world.
On March 13, Kevin Garnett, through six
seasons of blood, sweat and tears had his jersey raised to the rafters in TD
Garden alongside some of the greatest players in not just the history of the
Boston Celtics but some of the greatest players in NBA history. An honor that
was well deserved not just for his play on the court but the connection he made
with the city of Boston, MA and the fanbase of the Celtics. To the long-lasting
connections he made with his teammates, coaches, and front office with the
Celtics.
Individually, Garnett was sensational in
his time in “Beantown” earning five of his 15 All-Star selections; winning as
mentioned 2007-08 Kia Defensive Player of the Year; four of his 12 All-Defensive
Team selections and his one of nine All-NBA selections. But what he did most
was get the Celtics back to The Finals twice winning it in 2008 and while the
Celtics fell in seven games to the Lakers in 2010, he along with Paul Pierce
and Ray Allen got them in position to compete for the Larry O’ Brien trophy twice
in those six seasons.
Kevin Garnett made a great first
impression when he arrived in Boston and had his number immortalized forever
alongside some of the very best to ever play for the Celtics and he made sure
to let the fans he entertained for those six seasons how he felt about playing
for the “Green and White” and being able to have this moment with those fans
that saw him be great on the hardwood.
“I want to thank you all, man,” Garnett
said at the close of the ceremony to the fans in attendance. “It’s been real,
man. I would’ve never thought you loved me like this. I love you Boston. I love
you Northeast. I love y’all.”
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