During the 1995 NBA Draft, Kevin Garnett was a popular prospect, but there were some worried scouts because he was coming straight out of high school. KG was a high-risk and high-reward youngster, so four teams opted to pick other players, dropping him to the fifth overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves .
A big proponent in the selection was Kevin McHale , who was in the front office at the time. With his background as a three-time champion with the Boston Celtics, McHale had a keen eye for talent. Observing Garnett, especially during practices leading up to the 1995/96 season, was particularly rewarding for the retired forward as he witnessed the young player's undeniable flashes of potential.
“He did the same exact thing that night – Laying on the ground after that practice. He did the same thing the next morning, and the next night while we had two-a-days. He leaves it on the floor like that as a rookie in training camp – That impressed me,” McHale said to SLAM.
“ He literally had nothing left at the end of practice every single day. The energy that that guy had to put into basketball – I’ve seen guys work really hard, I’ve never seen anybody work harder than KG."
Garnett kept the same energy throughout his career
KG was fully committed to succeeding in the NBA as he kept working hard, even if he was always tired. He always played with such a strong intensity that opponents disliked going up against him. Garnett did not have any trouble bringing that relentless energy to the NBA as the rising star for the Timberwolves.
While he did not have the best rookie season, when he averaged only 10.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, the Big Ticket kept working hard and gradually became the star player for the franchise. It was a risky bet that paid off for Minnesota because Garnett became a superstar.
He won the regular season MVP award in 2004, alongside many All-Star Game appearances and All-NBA Team nods. His intensity never disappeared because he always conducted himself by playing with energy and passion for the game.
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McHale was always impressed with KG
Garnett grew into his own as a superstar for the Timberwolves. However, he had no support to make the team a title contender. McHale did his best when he moved into the head coach position in the mid-2000s, but he could not get the team over the hump. KG was traded to the Boston Celtics in 2007 in a monumental deal, refusing the Lakers’ proposed package .
Minnesota received a boatload of assets from the trade, but they let go of their greatest-ever player. It was bittersweet for everyone, especially McHale, who was a Celtics legend from his playing years, but he had to stick with the Timberwolves as a coach and front office executive.
Garnett secured his legacy as an all-time great with the 2008 championship in Boston. He finally met his destiny and the high potential in his career that McHale saw in a young prospect.
Related: Kendrick Perkins talks about KG's intensity: "He is the definition of locked in"
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