By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
At 49 years old, Kevin Garnett isn’t returning to the Minnesota Timberwolves to shake hands, but to restore a lost mentality. In a sit-down regarding his new role as Team Ambassador, KG offered a scathing critique of the modern NBA, arguing that the league has drifted away from the gritty essence of competition.
While The Big Ticket acknowledged the game’s technical progression, he was blunt about the shift from raw athletics to televised entertainment. To Garnett, the ‘sport’ is being buried under the weight of the ‘spectacle’.
“Anthony Edwards has a yesteryear attitude when it comes to competing. I say this with respect to today’s game because today’s game is a lot faster, a lot more technical,” he mentioned. “It’s a bit of a showmanship. It’s a bit of an event. It’s not a sport. Sport when we’re on the ground. Sport, you know what I’m saying? I’m seeing how they present it and what it used to be.”
For Garnett, the distinction between an ‘event’ and a ‘sport’ lies in the invisible work ethic behind the scenes. He expressed deep concern that peak-level preparation is being overshadowed by the curated brand-building of its stars.
“You’ve got to play with an edge, and you’ve got to be in the gym. And if your celebrity is in front of your work, then that’s a problem because a lot of this comes from you putting the work in,” he explained. “I don’t know if everybody’s working at peak level.”
By rejoining the franchise, the Hall of Famer intends to ensure that ‘sport’ remains the priority in Minnesota.