Kevin Garnett Will Not Play in Nets' Preseason Game vs. Boston Celtics
If Kevin Garnett had it his way, he would be suiting up on Tuesday night with the Brooklyn Nets for a preseason game in Boston. But new head coach Jason Kidd has put the brakes on any possibility of Garnett facing his old Celtics teammates, making Garnett unavailable to play in this contest, according to Mike Mazzeo of ESPNNewYork.com.
ESPN's Chris Forsberg also passed along a quote from Garnett on the situation:
Even if he won't step on the floor Tuesday night, Garnett figures to receive a hearty ovation when his name is announced. He and Ray Allen arrived in Boston via trade during the 2007 offseason, and the pair—along with Paul Pierce—were hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy a few months later as NBA champs.
This offseason marked the end of an era in Boston, when Garnett, Pierce and Jason Terry were dealt from Boston to Brooklyn. On Tuesday, Pierce will suit up against the team he spent the first 15 years of his career with.
Just as he was part of a major overhaul then, Garnett is now. Deron Williams might still be the face of the franchise, but Garnett has already taken a noticeable leadership role with the team. Bleacher Report's Howard Beck recently stopped by Nets practice and found Garnett directing traffic with his trademark intensity.
Garnett is 37 now, but he is still expected to be the team's starting power forward when his team tips off the regular season on Oct. 30. Despite his standing as a likely future Hall of Famer, Garnett still has to answer to his new coach, Kidd.
According to USA Today's Adi Joseph, Garnett wasn't pleased when Kidd told him he would try to limit the veteran's minutes and perhaps not use him on back-to-back days.
"It didn't go too well. I understand what he's saying. He just wants to make sure I'm durable. ... I just don't want to be told anything. I think I've earned the right to have an opinion on something that I'm doing. From a chemistry standpoint, I think it's important for me to be out there with everybody.
"
You have to love that fire with Garnett.
Even though he might not have the same playing ability he did when he was traded to Boston in 2007, he still brings quite an edge to the Nets, who already have a talented roster with other former All-Stars like Joe Johnson, Brook Lopez and Andrei Kirilenko.
