Kevin Garnett Cherishes In What May Be His Final Game At Boston
Kevin Garnett found the current make-up of his former team weird especially after General Manager Danny Ainge finally let go of the last remnant of the 2008 Championship team in point guard Rajon Rondo by trading him to the Dallas Mavericks. The roster may different but the fan reception for the "Big Ticket" remained the same as Garnett was greeted with a standing ovation during player introductions.
The future Hall of Famer returned to Causeway Street in what might just be the final game in the arena as he is already contemplating retirement after this season. The former Most Valuable Player was all praises for the organization and the fans who showered him with love and respect every time he stepped in the arena dating back to last year.
"At this stage, it's always somewhere lurking in the back (of my mind), whether I admit it or not," Garnett said per NESN. "But being truthful with you, sometimes (I think about it). I saw Paul the other day - he was in town to play the Knicks - and we had a conversation. At this stage, you know things are ... not taken for granted, but appreciated."
While Garnett did not have much of an impact in the Brooklyn Nets' win Friday night with just 6 points and 7 rebounds in 17 minutes, his presence was felt all on and off the floor. Celtics coach Brad Stevens added that the Celtics fans are one of a kind and can truly appreciate the kind of play that Garnett displayed in the six seasons he wore the Celtics green.
The first player to be drafted straight out of high school was reminiscing of his time in the Celtics organization and found it eerily unfamiliar that the team no longer has anybody from the championship team that brought together the original composition of the Big Three in Paul Pierce, Garnett and Ray Allen. The former defensive Player of the Year was in a jovial mood when he was interviewed after the game and added a joke that "he had to change his numbers because he was getting a lot of Rest in Peace text messages."