Despite winning a championship together with the Boston Celtics in 2008, Kendrick Perkins and Kevin Garnett’s relationship was initially far from amicable. In fact, prior to their time in Boston, the two shared such an intense rivalry that they could barely stand each other’s presence. During his appearance on the Knuckleheads Podcast, Big Perk revealed that their animosity had once escalated to the point where they were prepared to engage in a physical altercation.
"I’m just getting in the rotation. Me and Ticket started bumping heads from Day 1. We get to Minnesota, man, Ticket gave me that work. He talking big s**t," Perkins said . "We damn near about to go to blows."
Perkins on when he and Garnett got onto good terms
The 6’10” center had been with the Celtics for four seasons before KG ’s arrival in 2007. So, when The Big Ticket joined the team and immediately began to assert his leadership, Perkins responded with cold and hostile stares for the initial three weeks, when the two didn’t even speak a word with one another.
However, their relationship began to thaw during the Celtics’ first preseason game against the Toronto Raptors in Rome. It was after they saw each other’s dedication and commitment that they started respecting each other.
"The first time we had a real conversation was after our first preseason game in Italy when me and him, we went on the floor and we took it as a regular season game," Perkins added. "It was right there like, 'Sh*t, this my dog.'"
In the game referenced by the ‘Swamp Thang,’ the Celtics secured a hard-fought 89-85 victory, with him contributing eight points and seven rebounds in 24 minutes, while Garnett recorded 19 points and 16 rebounds in 33 minutes. This was when they both realized just how dedicated they were to making the Celtics a championship team.
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Garnett was all business
This isn’t the first time Perkins has discussed how the 2004 MVP was as a player with the Celtics. Previously, during his appearance on Mark Jackson’s podcast, he revealed that from the moment Garnett stepped into the arena, all his teammates knew he was strictly business. The locker room environment was so quiet and tense that no player dared to play music loudly for fear of disturbing KG . If he heard anything that disrupted his concentration, it meant trouble.
It's safe to say that the 15-time All-Star was a tough individual to please. To stay on his good side, teammates had to be willing to adjust their ways. Fortunately, the Celtics players quickly realized this.
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