Kevin Garnett is known as one of the best NBA players of his generation and was also a feared defender for most of his storied 21-year career. Aside from being a champion with the Boston Celtics and a former MVP with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Garnett was also a nine-time member of the All-Defensive First Team and a three-time selection for the All-Defensive Second Team. 

But one player who didn’t seem to fear The Big Ticket was Dwyane Wade, who is known for his daredevil drives to the basket during his time with the Miami Heat. 

One proof of that came during Game 2 of the 2011 Eastern Conference Semifinals, when Garnett’s Celtics faced Wade and the Heat in one of many thrilling playoff battles between the teams. Late in the second quarter and while in transition, Wade saw Garnett waiting inside the paint and did not hesitate, hitting the Celtics big man with the euro step on his way to the basket plus the foul.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcDf5jLRuJY

The euro step and basket gave Miami a 43-38 lead, to the delight of Wade’s teammates, including LeBron James in his first season in South Beach, along with the crowd at the American Airlines Arena. 

In a recent interview, Wade recalls the memory fondly, calling it one of his favorite euro steps of his career, which included three championships with the Heat. Garnett, naturally, feels otherwise, calling it a “trash ass” euro and playfully answering that he was feeling tired when it happened.

RECOMMENDED (Article Continues Below)
Heat fans accuse Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla of calling a Code Red against heat

Steve Silverman ·

NBA PLayoffs Panic Meter with Jayson Tatum, Damian Lillard, Joel Embiid, Kevin Durant, and Paolo Banchero

Brett Siegel ·

cG9zdDoyODE2NjIx-thumbnail

Matt Guzman ·

Wade and the Heat ended up winning Game 2 against the Celtics, 102-91, and went on to win the series, four games to one, to advance to the NBA Finals, where they would lose to the Dallas Mavericks in six games.

But that play remains one of Wade’s greatest euro steps in a career full of them. Undoubtedly, what made the play even better was that it came against a defender of Garnett’s stature, even if it was a play he’d rather forget.