Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers was asked about Kevin Garnett at a recent press conference. Rivers noted that Garnett is a great role model for NBA players, and lauded Garnett’s dedication to serving the team. He called Garnett the greatest superstar role player ever, noting how well he worked for the team despite being a superstar in the NBA.
“Comparison-wise, he’s not a bad guy to compare to. Tenacious, high energy, extremely high basketball IQ. I label him [Garnett] as the best superstar role player ever. Because he was a superstar, but he still always bought into a role and always put the team first. Great guy to buy into and follow.”
Rivers clearly holds Kevin Garnett in high regard after their time together on the Celtics. Rivers was the head coach of the Celtics when the team traded for Kevin Garnett, along with Ray Allen, to form a big three along with Paul Pierce. Rivers helped coach Garnett and the Celtics to an NBA championship that season.
Kevin Garnett was excellent in his first season with the Celtics, averaging 18.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game. Despite his diminished role compared to the Timberwolves, Garnett was sensational and won the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year award.
One could argue that Doc Rivers was able to unleash a different side to Garnett, as prior to the 2007-08 NBA season, Garnett earned more plaudits for his offense than his defense.
Kevin Garnett Thrived Under Doc Rivers
Garnett was the defensive stalwart on the Celtics under Doc Rivers. While center Kendrick Perkins played his role well, his defensive abilities were bolstered by the presence of Kevin Garnett on the team.
KG knew that he didn’t have to be the primary scorer on the team, with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen more than capable of handling that role. But he still did well to contribute on the offensive end while holding down the defensive end for the Celtics. His presence on the Celtics was crucial in their championship win, along with their two NBA Finals and three Eastern Conference Finals appearances.
Under Doc Rivers on the Celtics, Garnett averaged 15.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game. Both their Celtics tenure ended at the same time, as Rivers joined the Clippers as head coach and Garnett went to the Nets with Paul Pierce.
In a recent episode of his podcast with Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett told the story of how the Celtics went to Rome for a preseason game before the 2007-08 NBA season began. In that story, the Celtics adopted a Roman chant that they would use before every game to intimidate opponents before their games.
It worked to great effect, as the Celtics ended the 2007-08 season with the best record in the NBA and an NBA championship. Garnett’s ability to talk trash and desire to intimidate opponents may have played a key role in the Celtics’ championship win, even if it wasn’t as big as the role his incredible defense played.
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