Playing defense in the NBA is a thankless job that most players struggle with. Trying to stay in front of players with explosive speed and agility while anticipating their moves and defending against their shots can be daunting. And if you're someone like Sam Cassell , who was never defensively inclined to begin with, that task becomes near-impossible.
However, according to the man known as "Sam I Am," playing with the fiery big man Kevin Garnett made him believe he could play solid defense in the NBA. Despite Cassell's lack of defensive prowess, KG boosted his confidence and convinced him he could hold his own against some of the league's toughest defenders.
The best teammate
In the summer of 2003, the Minnesota Timberwolves made several moves that gave Garnett his best chance of winning a title, acquiring All-Star guards Cassell and Latrell Sprewell in separate transactions. It was a high-risk, high-reward move by Minny's front office, given Spree's combustibility and Sam's reputation as an offense-first, defense-last player.
Fortunately for the T-Wolves, the gamble paid off massively as the three veterans clicked on and off the court, resulting in Minnesota finishing with the best record in the Western Conference. The key to their success was KG, who, according to Cassell, was willing to do everything in his power to help his teammates become more successful.
"He's by far my best teammate I've ever played with. He really cares about his teammates and wants you to be successful. He'll do everything in his power to help you succeed," Sam revealed on the "Knuckleheads Podcast."
Cassell, who was already 34 when he joined Minnesota, was never known to care much about the defensive end of the floor. However, a few words of encouragement from KG were enough to change his mentality and make him a better defender.
"I was never a great defensive player—solid, but not great. He always said, 'Homeboy, fight over the screen. I'll be here to protect you. Trust me, I'm here.' That gave me more confidence to fight over the screens," Cassell shared.
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A defensive menace
As terrific as "The Big Ticket" was on offense, he was just as proficient on the other end, capable of guarding any player on the floor, including guards. Cassell disclosed that head coach Flip Saunders often tasked KG to take on the opposing team's best player in crunchtime, whether that player was Allen Iverson or Tim Duncan.
"He was a bad boy. He could guard every possession. I remember playing Philly once; we were up three points with 12 seconds left in the game. Flip said, 'K, you got Allen.' Kevin got Chuck on an island, and even though Chuck was a threat, Kevin stopped him. In any last possession of the game, Kevin Garnett was going to guard the best player, no matter who it was," Sam added.
Minnesota finished that season with a 58-24 record, which remains the best record in franchise history. Cassell earned an All-Star berth, while KG was deemed the Most Valuable Player. The Timberwolves also made a deep playoff run but fell to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, 4-2.
Related: “Motherf****r look at me and say, ‘Where you going on vacation at?’” – Sam Cassell on what Michael Jordan told him before tip-off of Game 3 of their first-round series
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