Who is this year’s Kevin Garnett? Reggie, Marv and Collins weigh in
Kevin Garnett (photo. Gary Land)After Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen joined the Champion’s Club last June, I asked the DimeMag.com readers: “Who do you want to see win a championship now?” For years, KG was the No. 1 guy that fans (and even his colleagues) wanted to see win a ring for the first time. Now that KG is certified, who is the League’s favorite underdog this year? Yesterday I got a chance to ask TNT’s announce crew that same question, and here’s what they said:
Reggie Miller: “For me it’s Jason Kidd. And he’s playing under Rick Carlisle, one of my former coaches who I have great respect for. The Mavs will have a full year with Jason, they have a one-time MVP in Dirk; Josh Howard had a tough summer, but I think he’s turned the corner. I like to see older players like Kidd who have paid their dues, guys like KG, those are the guys I’d love to see get a chance to get another shot.”
Doug Collins: “I’ll go in a different direction. Being a coach — my playing days are a lot farther behind me — I’d love to see Jerry Sloan win a championship. What he’s done in Utah through the years, the way he does his job with class and dignity, I would love to see Sloan win one.”
Marv Albert: “I would agree with Reggie and say Jason Kidd. I know how much it means to Jason from being around him for several years with the Nets. He can walk on the court and it’s a triple-double. He gave everything he had (in New Jersey), probably right up until the last couple of months before the deal when he made it clear he wanted to be traded. However it’ll be very tough for a team like Dallas to go all the way.”
With the season right around the corner, which superstar has the most realistic chance to get their first ‘chip in 2009?
October 24th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Kobeef says:
Brand has to be mentioned.
The guy is a career 20-10 player and always seems like one of the league’s good guys - but has been in losing situations with the bulls and clippers for a long time.
Brand, more than Kidd, has finally moved to a team that can help him. Kidd has been to the playoffs many times before and got close to winning - Brand never really had a chance.
October 24th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
rangerjohn says:
i would liek to see kidd win one, but then i would hate to see howard and dirk win one
October 24th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
gangsta of love says:
Allen Iverson, Allen Iverson, Allen Iverson
October 24th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Mark says:
“…the way he does his job with class and dignity”
Not the Jerry Sloan I’ve seen. I beg to differ.
October 24th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
de says:
AI
October 24th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
kdog says:
AI will never win in Denver, too bad for him…
Kidd will never win in Dallas, too bad for him…
I like Brand but he hasn’t “paid his dues” as long as the others…
My vote goes to Antonio McDeyess. He isn’t even supposed to be playing right now because of his knees, but he gives effort every single night, and was a human highlight reel as a younger player. He’s been close now a couple of times, but not close enough. Maybe this year.
October 24th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
DJ ReMike says:
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October 24th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Jay26th says:
Iverson
October 24th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
QQ says:
J. Kidd. I need a Hall of Famer as a champion, not Tony Longoria, er, Parker.
October 24th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
GEE...I got a bounty on George Karl. says:
Tracy.
October 24th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
A-Slam says:
how the hell has no one mentioned steven nash
October 24th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Sam I Am says:
Steve Nash
October 24th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Sam I Am says:
lol
October 24th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Sam I Am says:
In all fairness it should be
1. Nash (No Finals appearance)
2. Grant Hill (No Finals appearance but was out for a min)
3. Iverson (Finals)
4. Kidd (Finals x 2)
5. Dikembe Mutombo (He’s the man and should win won)
October 24th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Alex "Robocop" Murphy says:
Dikembe Mutumbo
October 24th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Jerrod says:
Wags Finger
October 24th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
karizmatic says:
I don’t care who has the most realistic chance of winning a championship, the guy I want to see win a championship is AI. But since that’s not realistic how about T-Mac on a dream run where he stays healthy and the Rockets don’t stop winning in the playoffs? That sounds good. That’s a feel good story.
October 24th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
ML says:
Tracy
October 24th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Sam I Am says:
Why does AI get an automatic bid for # 1 ?
He lost in the Finals ! !
October 24th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Ian says:
QQ
what is that post supposed to mean?? kidd is garbage
October 24th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
George W Kush Sr says:
Iverson.
October 24th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
nola says:
i agree with jerry sloan. one of the greatest coaches and simply has been unlucky by being in the era of mj.
player however… yao ming.
October 24th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
anfernee hardaway says:
me!
October 24th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
mavs all the way says:
penny hardaway…not. he still has a chance right?i’ve heard he is still in great shape and is looking for that chance. but yeah he’s not in the L now… i’d say jkidd,sloan,deke,ai among others. hmmmm…maybe they can work something out in utah - make a trade for ai,jkidd,deke,dirk(?!),and penny! welcome to neverland…
October 24th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
QuEsT??? says:
u know what my answer is
October 24th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Tbone says:
Iverson will win it in Denver this year
now taking bets
October 24th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Jah says:
Allen Ezel Iverson.
October 24th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
SteveNash says:
me
October 24th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Prof. TX says:
McGrady, he’s carried alot of bad teams through some tough series and always crashes right at the finish line in a sixth or seventh game.
I’m surprised by the combination of “Jerry Sloan” and “class.” He’s not a Phil Jackson or Larry Brown level of conceited ass, but he treats his guys pretty bad.
October 24th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
biggeddy says:
I think Lamar Odom has been a trooper all these years. He got drafted by the Clippers, played in Miami in their terrible years, got traded for shaq, then had to stand around while Kobe scored 81 points. His contract is up this year and he probably won’t be resigned… It would be a shame if he doesn’t win a championship in his rags to riches career.
October 24th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
biggeddy says:
LOL, I just want the Lakers to win another ring, it’s been a few years.
October 25th, 2008 at 12:18 am
Jase says:
JKidd, AI, MickidiMcDyess, Nash and Sloan
October 25th, 2008 at 3:05 am
QQ says:
Ian, it means that I want to see a future HOF like Kidd win a ring so that he gets the love he deserves because I hate seeing overrated cats like Tony Parker (he freaking has Tim Duncan in his team) get the limelight all the time. And yeah, it’s my opinion, but some of ya’ll will agree that Kidd deserves that ring. Top 10 pg all time.
October 25th, 2008 at 9:20 am
hustleharder says:
Camby
October 25th, 2008 at 11:11 am
AB_40 says:
yao ming, the economic and global impulse when he get’s his would be off the charts. jason kidd could get his but didn’t sign with san antonio. philedelphia management F’ed up his chance at getting a title.
And Gilbert Arenas for comedic reasons.
and qq did you see that NP and SA, TP and CP3 went head to head almost every game. his game is a little unorthodox but hey san antonio is a little unorthodox but they get ‘it’.
Man I can’t wait for the season to start:D
October 25th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Amar says:
Sloan may not be a classic ‘player’s coach’ who’ll bet with them after practice (scott), or party harder than them after it. (theus) But he fights for his players when it counts. [eg. probably the most ejections as a coach in nba history]
what does phil jax do beside sit with his legs crossed on the bench and occasionally whistle at his players? this is a tangent, but, his main source of success as a coach has been having at least one of the Top 2 players on his teams for years and occasionally picking out which poem to read on the team plane.
October 26th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
tealish says:
Lol @ yall who said Tracy! Let’s worry about the first round first, mmkay?
October 26th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
tealish says:
Yao Ming as Finals MVP would end the recession.