KG on Dime #30Every day we’re taking one active NBA star with at least arguable Hall of Fame credentials and breaking down his chances of getting into the Springfield, Mass., hoops mecca. We’re looking at not just past accomplishments, but also how a player’s career realistically projects for the future. For a full explanation of the process, click here. Today’s candidate: Kevin Garnett.
KEVIN GARNETT (13th year, Celtics/Timberwolves)
20.5 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.7 bpg, 1.7 spg
Why: KG changed the game. At 6-foot-11 and able to do virtually anything from any position on the court, he helped create a prototype for the 21st century big man — one who can score, handle, pass and defend in the paint and on the perimeter with equal productivity. The statistics alone show the 10-time All-Star’s versatility; his ‘04 MVP and handfuls of All-NBA and All-Defensive Team selections are just icing. In his tenure, only Tim Duncan, Karl Malone and Charles Barkley have been considered better at the power forward spot. Garnett has also led the League in rebounding the last four years running, and from the looks of things this year could cop his first Defensive Player of the Year trophy. He’s also got an All-Star MVP and an Olympic gold medal from 2000. From an intangible standpoint, the overall passion and energy that KG brings to the court every night has allowed him to resonate with fans and become an icon in his time.
Why not: One trip to the conference finals (’04) aside, Garnett’s teams have regularly been bounced in the first round of the playoffs, if they even make it that far. Last summer’s trade to Boston will almost certainly change that, though, as KG is playing on a legit championship contender and still has probably 5-6 good years left in his career.
Our call: IN
The H.O.F. Watch archive
11/26 - Manu Ginobili
11/21 - Amare Stoudemire
11/20 - Rip Hamilton
11/19 - Baron Davis
11/16 - Shaquille O’Neal
11/15 - Steve Francis
11/14 - Ben Wallace
11/13 - Sam Cassell
11/12 - LeBron James
11/9 - Tim Duncan
11/8 - Steve Nash
11/7 - Yao Ming
11/6 - Gilbert Arenas
11/5 - Robert Horry
11/2 - Kobe Bryant
11/1 - Grant Hill
10/31 - Dirk Nowitzki
10/30 - Tony Parker
10/29 - Elton Brand
10/26 - Carmelo Anthony
10/25 - Vince Carter
10/24 - Penny Hardaway
10/23 - Alonzo Mourning
10/22 - Allen Iverson
10/19 - Dwyane Wade
10/18 - Chauncey Billups
10/17 - Stephon Marbury
10/16 - Jason Kidd
10/15 - Shawn Marion
10/12 - Ray Allen
10/11 - Chris Bosh
10/10 - Chris Webber
10/9 - Paul Pierce
10/5 - Jermaine O’Neal
10/4 - Gary Payton
10/3 - Tracy McGrady
November 27th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
svigi says:
Man, no question about it. He was born to be there. Oh and yes : first
November 27th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Duke says:
Why aren’t you guys using KG for Fridays?
November 27th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
Tom Toronto says:
Is it Friday already? In the entire NBA right now, the only bigger lock than KG is probably Shaq, which I would chalk up to rings, movies and media prescence (and Shaq-Fu.) If someone came to me right now, and said KG is the best in the game, I wouldn’t have much evidence to say otherwise.
November 27th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
naphi says:
is it friday already dime? lol
November 27th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
Eric says:
I agree KG will be in, but to play devil’d advocate…his monster contract in 1997 is the one that eventually put the NBA in Lockout-Mode in 1999.
November 27th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
Russ says:
damn, thought it was friday.
November 27th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
Damon says:
LOCK,
TD, Barkley and Karl are only considered better than him because they were/are on winning teams, there’s nothing he can’t do well or they can do better than him.
he could be even better offensively with more shot fakes or drives to the basket, shouldn’t settle for fadeaways
November 27th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
dre in o town says:
Ask after the eastern conference champs are crowned.
November 27th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
Celts Fan says:
you’re an idiot dre. he’s in regardless.
November 27th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
Chaos Rob says:
Damn, did i wake thinkin it was tuesday and its really friday at the dime office? man of course KG is in. He been doin the same thing every year and thats play his ass off night in and night out. what is there that he cant do? he will get far in the playoffs this year if not compete for the chip. ….
is it me or does it not seem like he as been in the league for 13 years. he plays with such intensity and energy (even more so than some 1st, 2nd and 3rd years players) that he seems as fresh now as he was in the 90s…its hard to fathom that he is thirty.
November 27th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
nick says:
no way kg is not in the hall even without a ring at this point.
November 27th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
Steve says:
KG- In, no question.
The world is gonna love watching him Ray Allen and Paul Pierce (3 hall of fame careers finishing 5-7 years from now when all is said an done) all together… theyll especially love watching them 3 great players playing together in the playoffs and the finals.
November 27th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
Mike says:
Damn.. y’all really think KG’s got 5-6 years left??
That dude’s got mileage like no other 32 year-old man alive..
I say he starts slipping next year and Boston ends up where the Heat is now..
They mortgaged the decade for one championship run, and that’s the truth.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
kowtz says:
KG was in even if his career ended t2o years ago…
November 28th, 2007 at 8:18 am
fiyaman says:
is this even a discussion?
November 28th, 2007 at 8:41 am
Ben says:
You know it. No point in making a case here…first sentence says it all: He changed the game.
November 28th, 2007 at 9:20 am
DOC says:
hell yeah
November 28th, 2007 at 10:07 am
Ian says:
tom toronto
have u heard of duncan and iverson
only shaq is a a better lock lol
that man has 5-6 good years left in him puh please
he has the numbers but hes a loser
and to LOCK
the only reason td , barkley and malone are better is because they are on winning teams
sure they make them win
so please stop giving stupid excuses like that
the only reason jordan is better than richmond is because he was on a winning team right???
those three are better than garnett (maybe not malone who i think is overrated) specially duncan whos better at both ends
November 28th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
Myrie in NY says:
“HERE I COME WORLD……HERE I COME”….
November 28th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
2 Easy says:
Did we hit a time warp? Friday isnt here yet, I thought DIme usually saved the lock HOF guys for Friday…unless theres another Lock comin. 2 in one week would be spectacular lol. But seriously KG’s heart alone should be in the Hall. This dude is one of those playes that I honestly look at as a possible political leader simply because of his heart. KG could be a general and tell me to march into an ambush and Id still do it lol
November 28th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
Bron42 says:
Ian time after time people have to prove…you can’t win a game by urself. KG has better career stats than duncan, duncan just has a better supporting cast. KG might not have a ring but hes a leader and a lock. Change the game big time (more than beloved dirk) From both the PF position and the high school to nba draft. One of few high school players to beast straight out of high school. The only real knock on his is the monster contract, but his numbers def account for it.
November 28th, 2007 at 10:53 pm
Ian says:
bron dont give me that
u say k is better fine but me and 95% of everyone else that likes the nba know duncan is better
please bron stats?????? u know better than that
stats dont mean anything
and sorry i really think if u r really good u can do something by yourself
lebron last season took a BAD team to the finals
iverson did to
wade a title and that miami team sucked
so time after time people prove they can win with bad supporting casts
and there is something i bet my car on is that duncan with the same 4 players around him that kg has will always win more games
garnett has better career numbers (gravity numbers me and my friends call it) because when r a good player on a bad team your stats get a little better than what u really r.
but like u said lets wait and see what happens this season even though that if he does something then he will have the knock that he needed two more superstars and a weak conference to advance
something duncan (has never lost in the first round) does in his sleep
highest winning percentage of any sport in the last decade
when his worst and inry season he made second team
all the others 1st team
not garnett
duncan
even the contract thing
look at the paycut duncan took
November 29th, 2007 at 12:02 am
Big10 says:
LOCK. IN.
NEXT!
November 29th, 2007 at 10:47 am
Charles-K says:
Why is this debated? Duncan and Garnett are very different players who play different styles. I would say that Garnett is more versatile but Duncan is perhaps the best piece a team can have to win a championship. I would prefer duncan, but still Garnett is pretty beast.
November 29th, 2007 at 6:46 pm
Ian says:
charles u r right
but the thing the bothers me is that people here only talk about duncan having a great team around him
just because they are haters
didnt jordan magic isiah bird wilt russell have an excellent team to??
but they only use duncan in the debate
never another example
i bet anyone that if u take duncan out they dont make 55 wins and get to the second round like the bulls did without jordan
November 29th, 2007 at 7:59 pm
dave says:
ian
you marked it.
December 4th, 2007 at 3:56 pm
Sacto J says:
KG is in, period