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Kevin Garnett, a champion with the Boston Celtics, shares his biggest ‘what if' regarding Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.
During the early 2000s, the great Kobe Bryant managed to win three championships with the Lakers alongside Shaquille O'Neal. However, their historic dynamic duo came to an end amid rumors of a feud— ultimately leading Shaq to Miami.
On the other hand, Kevin Garnett was one of the league's best players after winning the MVP award in 2004. Although, despite Garnett's greatness, the Minnesota Timberwolves never surrounded their best player with talent, driving Garnett to search for success elsewhere. What if Garnett never joined Boston? And teamed up with his rival, Kobe Bryant? Would they be considered as the NBA's greatest ‘what if'?
In an interview with GQ, Garnett shares his major ‘what if,' one would expect that a player such as the Big Ticket, with an illustrious career, would only have a few.
Via GQ
“I’ve often wondered what playing with [Kobe] would’ve been like. Beside [Kobe], you know? What would we have been like? If playing with [Paul Pierce] was like this, then playing with [Kobe] would’ve been like what?”
After joining the Celtics, Garnett recalls his first conversation with the Lakers' star, with Kobe saying,
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“‘YO, MAN, YOU WAS TRYING TO GET IN CONTACT WITH ME?’ ‘Man, get the f*ck outta here.' ‘NAH, NAH, I'M SERIOUS, MAN. I GOT THIS SH*T LATE, MAN. DAMN MAN.’ ‘It's all good.’ ‘NAH, IT AIN'T GOOD, YOU IN THAT WRONG COLOR, MAN. WHAT THE F*CK, MAN. HOW YOU GONNA GO TO BOSTON OF ALL PLACES.’ ‘Man, nah, you gotta chill.’”
The pair ended up writing history in the storied rivalry of the Celtics and the Lakers, facing each other in the NBA Finals twice, with Garnett winning in 2008 and Bryant outlasting the Celtics in 2010.
According to GQ, Garnett then sits back, stressing,
“It was all good. I always loved playing against [Kobe]. But yeah, it probably would have been a different level playing with him.”
What if these two played together? Would they have won multiple championships?
I guess we'll never know.
