Steven Adams recounts 3-word interaction with Kevin Garnett that helped him dodge NBA legend's trash talk
Kevin Garnett was into his 19th season in the NBA when the OKC Thunder grabbed Steven Adams in the first round of the 2013 draft. Oklahoma got the “Big Kiwi” to back up Kendrick Perkins and compete with the underperforming Hasheem Thabeet. Adams joined a legitimate title-contending team led by Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
In his first matchup against Garnett, who was traded to Brooklyn from Boston, Adams had a smart plan to counter the legendary trash-talker. Here’s what the former Pittsburgh standout had to say about that memorable encounter with the “Big Ticket” on “The Morning Shift” podcast:
“My confidence wasn’t high, man, so I wasn’t trying to get torn down ‘cause he’s the man with the s**t talking. … Kendrick Perkins and KG [Garnett] played together in Boston. They started mouthing off [each other].
“I was coming in [to relieve Perkins] and [Garnett] was like, ‘Yo, look.’ I was like, ‘No English, bro.’”
Kevin Garnett wasn’t what he used to be on the court but his ability to get into the head of his opponents was better than ever. He would use trash-talking to disrupt other players’ rhythm and force them to react to his comments. Many succumbed to Garnett’s strategy, a big reason Steven Adams refused to tangle with “KG.”
Garnett and Adams first met on January 2, 2014, in a game between the OKC Thunder and the Brooklyn Nets. The Barclays Center hosted the clash between the struggling home team and the surging visitors.
The “Big Ticket” finished that game with four points, seven rebounds, one assist and one steal. Adams allowed his play to do the talking and tallied seven points, two assists, two steals and one rebound in 14 minutes of relief job.
Kevin Garnett was a shadow of his old self in his last matchup against Steven Adams
Kevin Garnett’s last season (2015-16) in the NBA was with the Minnesota Timberwolves, the team that drafted him in 1995. The “Big Ticket” played 38 games and averaged 3.2 rebounds, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists. Despite being a senior citizen, he started in every game.
In his last showdown with Steven Adams, Garnett played 10 minutes and had two points, one rebound, and an assist. He was undeniably on his last legs but his trash-talking was still a force to be reckoned with. The “Big Kiwi,” now Oklahoma’s starting center, ended up with 12 points, four rebounds, one steal and one block.
In the last matchup between Kevin Garnett and Steven Adams, the Hall of Famer must have already known that Adams had him. The former MVP has a podcast now. Basketball fans will be interested to know what Garnett's reaction was when he knew the former OKC Thunder big man had tricked him.