Thon Maker Credits Improved Play to Kevin Garnett Instagram Video

Milwaukee Bucks center Thon Maker has been on a different level the past two games against the Boston Celtics, and he apparently owes it all to a former Celtic. 

The 21-year-old Buck revealed on Tuesday that he has drawn inspiration from a Kevin Garnett video.

"He posted it on his Instagram and somebody showed it to me," Maker said, via ESPN's Nick Friedell. "And then I watched it and I sent it back to him and told him how motivational it was and said I liked it. So then we started talking."

Here's the video from KG Area 21 that inspired Maker:

Entering the postseason, the second-year pro was averaged 4.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 0.7 blocks per game. He logged just one minute of game action during the first two games of the series, both losses.

However, Milwaukee is 2-0 since giving Maker an increased role. The 7'1", 223-pound center has averaged 11.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 5.0 blocks in 27.5 minutes per game over the last two contests.

Apparently, all he needed was a pep talk from a former champion.

"The biggest thing is having that attack mindset on both ends of the floor," Maker said. "With him, he doesn't care who you are in front of him if you're playing against him. On the defensive end, throwing your shot and protecting your teammates. The biggest thing when it comes to your teammates, him dealing with his teammates, was always touching a guy, telling him, 'Stay up'—keeping the guys positive.

"And then on the offensive end, just getting everybody involved, but also looking to attack because his man would be back. That's what he was telling me: 'If your man is back, shoot it. And tell them, How dare you back off?'"

Since retiring in 2016, Garnett has made sure to stay close to the game even with his playing days behind him. He has spent time at Bucks practices working with the likes of Maker and Giannis Antetokounmpo. The former NBA MVP believes it's only a matter of time before he welcomes Maker into an exclusive club. 

"Thon is going to be the MVP of the league one day. Mark it down," Garnett told Bleacher Report's Jonathan Abrams last November. "He has the bones. He has the appetite to be able to chase something like that."

While he still has work to do on his game, Maker is showing the world what Garnett was talking about. And it's at the expense of one of the Big Ticket's former teams, one in which he helped raise a banner.