When Kevin Garnett reached the milestone of 1,000 NBA career games, he became the youngest player to achieve this feat at that time. That achievement filled 'The Big Ticket' with awe, pride, gratitude, and a touch of nostalgia—sentiments evident in his post-game statement after the Celtics ' win against the Bulls on October 31, 2008.
"Feels crazy, to be honest. Some players come in here, Paul [Pierce] and I, along with other teammates, and sit on the back of the bus and talk about Nike camps, people we grew up with, playing against and playing with, and how unfortunately they're not in the league," reflected Garnett, per nba.com.
Nearly a decade and a half in the making
It took the legendary KG about 13 and a half years to reach this significant milestone, from entering the league straight out of high school in 1995. To make the moment even sweeter, the NBA superstar notched a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds against Chicago. Afterward, 'The Big Ticket,' always known for his expressive language and unique metaphors, gave an uncharacteristically straightforward explanation when discussing the feat.
"To sit here and have a plateau with 1,000 games says a lot not only about my conditioning but, through knocking on wood countless times, taking care of my body, and trying to be the best player that I can be," remarked the 2004 MVP.
When it comes to conditioning, KG truly went the extra mile. As reported by Muscle Prodigy , the numerous All-Star kicked off his workout routine with a 3-mile beach run every morning. Furthermore, the 6'11" forward was dedicated to daily weightlifting to keep his blood flowing and maintained a healthy diet, aided by a private chef. 'The Big Ticket' also made a point to avoid alcohol during the season, except for the occasional glass of wine.
The race for 1,000 games
It's safe to say that Garnett's commitment to peak physical condition paid off. He broke the highlighted record against the Bulls and became the first player in NBA history to average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists per game for six consecutive seasons , from 1999 to 2005. Talk about longevity!
32 years and 165 days—that was KG's precise age when he reached the milestone of 1,000 NBA games played. In doing so, he surpassed Shawn Kemp, who had achieved it at 33 years and 24 days in December 2002. However, Garnett (born in May 1976) held the top spot only briefly.
L.A. Lakers icon Kobe Bryant (born in August 1978) eventually surpassed his fellow Hall of Famer's mark on February 23, 2010 . After scoring 32 points against the Grizzlies, 'The Black Mamba' secured the record in style with a clutch bucket and now holds the Guinness World Record as the youngest player to reach 1,000 games in an NBA career.
Related: "Take you to the park, push you in a swing. That's not me" - Why Kevin Garnett refused to recruit stars to Minnesota
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