Kevin Garnett saw a lot during his illustrious NBA career. He came into the league as a teenager in 1995, right at the beginning of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls' second three-peat. The tail end of his career featured a number of battles against LeBron James' loaded teams.
In an interview with Michael Pina for GQ, the Hall of Famer opened up on the big difference between MJ and LeBron. His comments were, as expected, quite colorful:
“It's a different level of respect,” he replies. “Michael Jordan I looked at as fucking God. And I thought he was my version of what basketball looked like. And with LeBron, it was more like the little homie. Here's the little homie growing up, and man, little homie is getting better than everybody! God damn!… I definitely talked some shit to him. I've definitely said some crazy shit to him. He's definitely said some crazy shit back to me.” Garnett also praises LeBron for carrying the NBA as long as he has: “You've gotta have that in you to be able to have those shoulders to carry it. No man is perfect in this shit, and there ain't no telltale book on how to do this shit. He's done a great fucking job. I just felt like it was only right to give him that respect.”
The answer makes perfect sense. Garnett grew up watching Jordan dominate the NBA and aspired to be at that level. They certainly share some of the same competitive traits.
Garnett had already established himself as an NBA superstar when LeBron came into the league, so he saw up close and personal the development of The King into a GOAT-level player. Having those intense playoff battles also helped build respect.
While KG has a “different level of respect” for both NBA legends, that respect is obviously there.
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