Playing alongside a vocal leader like Kevin Garnett could be intimidating for others, given his relentless expectation for those around him to perform at the highest level. However, Sam Cassell , who played alongside 'The Big Ticket' for a season in Minnesota as well as Boston, recently expressed admiration for the 6'11" forward's winning mentality.
According to the 6'3" point guard, KG's drive for excellence not only helped him attain his best form but his knack for constantly improving inspired others to raise their standards.
Garnett always wanted more
During his appearance on the 'Come Talk 2 Me' podcast, the three-time NBA Champion reflected on his brotherly relationship with Garnett. Elaborating on the mentality of the 15-time All-Star, Sam recalled a story of how, despite dropping a game-winning 30-point double-double against the Sacramento Kings, the Hall of Fame forward was just not satisfied.
"We played against the Sacramento Kings and he had 38 points and 28 rebounds. And we play the Warriors next night. They gave him the stat sheet and he balls the stat sheet up mad. If I had 38 and 28, I'm calling everybody in the world," Cassell recalled . "He sat there for that hour and a 20-minute ride to San Francisco talking about the rebounds he didn't get, that he didn't get, 'Man I almost got that free throw rebound, Johnson, man you gotta get out the way Johnson, I gotta get that rebound.'"
The game recalled by Cassell dates back to December 5, 2003, which is often remembered as one of the most iconic performances of Garnett's MVP-winning season.
In that contest, the former DPOY played over 50 minutes, posting 30 points and 25 rebounds. While Latrell Sprewell and Sam also combined for 63 points in that particular contest, it was Garnett's dominant two-way performance that left the most lasting impression in a hard-fought win in OT over the Kings.
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Garnett helped Cassell reach his career-best form
Although 'Sam I Am' had the opportunity to share the court with several legendary players such as Hakeem Olajuwon and Steve Nash, he remarked that Garnett stood out as the greatest in terms of mindset and his relentless drive to win at any cost.
"He's the best teammate I've had in that aspect… I never seen a guy that gets goosebumps. He was just shaking, " Cassell added. " He was just so intense."
While it was challenging for some to adjust to KG's confrontational style and vocal presence, Cassell understood that the South Carolina native's sole intention was to elevate the standards within his team. It reflected on Sam's performance, at least, as he recorded his career-best average of 19.8 points per game in the 2003-04 campaign.
Related: Kendrick Perkins talks about KG's intensity: "He is the definition of locked in"
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