It’s indisputable that Boston Celtics legend Kevin Garnett is the greatest player to ever wear the #5 on his jersey in the history of the NBA.
Garnett is being enshrined into the NBA Hall of Fame this weekend, and the Boston Celtics official Twitter account shared his perfect HOF fit on Friday night.
In response, Jayson Tatum quoted the tweet in a response calling him the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time for those not in the know) alongside his number five.
Via Tatum’s verified Twitter:
— Jayson Tatum (@jaytatum0) May 15, 2021
When it comes to franchise-changing acquisitions, no fortunes changed sooner for any franchise–even LeBron James joining the Miami Heat and rejoining the Cleveland Cavaliers in his prime–than Garnett making his way to Boston in 2007.
Long defining the Minnesota Timberwolves franchise, Garnett was shouldering too much of a burden in The Gopher State.
Garnett is no gopher. He’s a G.O.A.T.
Wearing green and white allowed the basketball world to see that, as he thrived leading the defense while focusing on finishing in the offense as opposed to having to facilitate as well. In Minnesota, his assist totals were always above four per game for any given season, while he averaged 2.7 APG for his entire Celtics career.
Having Paul Pierce and Ray Allen easing the scoring load and allowed Garnett to have his most efficient five-year stretch of averaging 50% or better from the field in his first five seasons with the Boston Celtics.
This afternoon, the proverbial “Garnett bowl” takes place, with the Cs visiting the Target Center in Minneapolis to take on the Timberwolves. How fitting it is that the two teams he is most synonymous with are duking it out as a precursor to his Hall of Fame induction on ESPN at 5:30 pm ET.
With Brad Stevens sitting the starters, perhaps Payton Pritchard, Aaron Nesmith and the underperforming 2019 Boston Celtics draft class could prove that anything is possible in honor of the HOF induction of the great Kevin Garnett.