Kevin Garnett. Fast becoming the most hated man in basketball.
Yes, I know we've tread this path before, and many will think that this is an absolutely ridiculous assertion to make, but with the vanilla-rization of one Kobe Bryant... well... who else is there?
Certainly not Stephon Marbury. He's more a punchline than despised.
Carmelo "Backpedal" Anthony? Nuh-uh. Post that incident he hasn't really given us much to work with.
Maybe... Allen Iverson - undoubtedly there'll be a few Pistons fans who now rue the decision to trade Chauncey Billups... but hate?
You could proffer up Ron Artest... but he's gone very team-oriented on us.
You only have to enter any basketball chatboard or forum... or (of all places) online poker, and the guy people are beginning to hate isn't one of the above, nor does he wear purple 'n' gold (one such forum thread had KG as deserving theAward for man most deserving of a punch in the nuts).
No, the guy who currently holds the title is Kevin Garnett. KG. The Big Ticket.
The Big Punk.
Kevin Maurice Garnett has long had a reputation for 'intensity'. And it's his obvious love for the game that have won him many fans over the years - especially the years he spent as a Minnesota Timberwolf.
When he joined Boston, it was deemed somewhat mercenary. But so what? Who, if not Kevin Garnett, deserved a shot at a ring?
Then, how he actually ended up joining the Celtics deserves consideration as well. It was only after Ray Allen joined that Garnett deigned to allow his presence in Boston. Before then - when offered - Garnett gave them a resounding "No thanks". Nice.
Allen joins and all of a sudden KG's falling over himself to be one of the good ol' boys in green.
But... whatever. KG deserved a shot at a ring.
Boston, 2007/08. Kevin Garnett acquits himself well, and leads Boston to a title. Yes, it was Paul Pierce who was the Finals MVP, but Boston of that season was KG's team. That season he was KG. He was angry. Intense. Sometimes to the detriment of his own game. But he was KG.
The first inkling of some of the changes that had taken place occurred in his fracas with Luis Scola - who he figured for a soft European. Didn't work out that way and Scola held his ground - KG took it no further.
Then in the way he celebrated the victory over the Lakers when they took the title. Whilst I wouldn't go as far as some and state that it was "classless", it did lack... well... any semblance of elegance.
Fast forward to the current season and we've already had the Calderon Taunt, the Bogut Slap (which yes, we've explored)... and now ripping into his own team-mates (Big Baby Glenn Davis - who responded... well... appropriately to his nom de plume)
Then in the same game, crawling like a dog on all fours to defend Jerryd Bayliss. I kid you not. Despite some claims from Celtics fans that he "does it all the time", I've never seen it, and that's exactly what the commentators stated.
"I've never seen anything like that before in my life."
Me neither. Nor did I expect to see anything like that from The Big Ticket. Pretty huge on a level of disrespect.
The thing I find most alarming, most despicable, is who the targets of his 'intimidation' (can it even be termed that?) are. Yet to see him try any of this on - or even against - any of the bigger, more physically intimidating opponents. No, just a rookie, and a point guard... and his own bench-dwelling team-mate.
It would be interesting to see him try that on Shaq. Or want someone a bit smaller? How do you think his "dog-defense", or the jawing he did against Calderon would go against Ron Artest?
Well, we're not likely to see that. All of his histrionics are a real pity, because KG is an amazing player, a hall-of-famer, and his play alone is intimidation enough. He doesn't need to sink to these levels. All he's doing now is putting his name on another ballot.
Most despised. Most hated. Not ever. Certainly not that... but 'now', that's for sure.
And that's a pity.
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