Kevin Garnett On How He Improved His Skills After Moving To The Suburbs: 'They Weren't Really Hood Guys, They Were Cleaner Guys'

Kevin Garnett is widely regarded as one of the best power forwards to ever play in the NBA. When considering his tremendous defensive ability, offensive versatility, and mental toughness, Garnett was in a league of his own. However, cultivating such talent requires dedication. In this regard, the forward credits his development to the time he spent in Mauldin, a suburb of Greenville, South Carolina. 

When speaking about his move to Mauldin on a recent episode of the "Hear District" podcast, he said:

"These guys were a little more preppy; they weren't so aggressive. They was more basketball. They didn't want to get dirty. They wasn't really hood guys, they was more cleaner guys, which I could appreciate." 

"But once we started playing, I started to grow a desire to be better than everybody that I was around. I learned the game and enjoyed going to the park and playing different characters there every day, having different experiences at the park every day, and growing my skills."

The challenge of the new environment lit a fire within Garnett, inspiring him to work on the fundamental aspects of his game. He mentioned looking up to former NBA players Derrick Coleman and Kenny Anderson, whom he used to study obsessively.

"Derrick Coleman used to be my favorite player. Him and Kenny Anderson. It was more because they were left-handers. I don't know. For some reason, I gravitated to those two, so everything I did was like Derrick Coleman and Kenny Anderson."

Garnett's goal was to be a tall player with skills to pair with his physical tools. When examining his playing style, it is evident that he succeeded in this pursuit.

The forward's focus on improving his skills saw him emerge as a star in Mauldin. Although he transferred to Farragut Career Academy in Chicago for his senior year, it was clear that Garnett was bound to go pro.

Success came a lot sooner for Garnett, as he opted to enter the NBA Draft fresh out of high school. He was eventually selected with the fifth-overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1995.

Garnett established himself as the Wolves' cornerstone. With incredible stamina and intensity, the young forward emerged as a talented two-way player and earned himself an All-Star nod in his sophomore season. 

Garnett spent 12 seasons with the Wolves before moving to the Boston Celtics. During his tenure with them, he became the franchise leader in points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals. 

He even led the Wolves to a Western Conference Finals appearance in 2004. For all his contributions, he cemented his place as a franchise legend in Minnesota. 

Although he couldn't bring a title to the Wolves, he managed to secure a ring with the Boston Celtics in 2008. After a six-year stint with the Celtics, Garnett had a brief stint in Brooklyn before returning to Minnesota. He eventually retired at the end of the 2015-16 season with an impressive resume. 

With 15 All-Star appearances, nine All-NBA selections, four rebounding titles, one DPOY, and one MVP award, he also earned himself on the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team. In addition to this, Garnett saw his No. 5 jersey retired by the Celtics in 2022.