Congrats, Kevin Garnett, HOFer

ifmanis5

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A legend in a legendary HOF class. Thanks, KG.

https://www.nba.com/hall-of-fame-class-of-2020-revealed
The Class of 2020 includes: 18-time NBA All-Star and five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant, 15-time NBA All-Star and three-time NBA Finals MVP Tim Duncan, 15-time NBA All-Star and nine-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection Kevin Garnett, four-time National Coach of the Year Eddie Sutton, two-time NBA Champion coach Rudy Tomjanovich, 10-time WNBA All-Star and four-time Olympic gold medalist Tamika Catchings, three-time NCAA National Championship Coach of Baylor Kim Mulkey, five-time Division II National Coach of the Year Barbara Stevens and longtime FIBA executive Patrick Baumann.
Imagine another HOF class where he is listed third?
 

Time to Mo Vaughn

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Imagine another HOF class where he is listed third?
This is a fun question.

2009 had Jordan, David Robinson and Jock Stockton. Robinson won 2 titles, an MVP and DPOY and 10 All Defense teams, plus 4 1st team All NBA. Stockton had the assist record, 10 all star teams, 5 all defense teams and steals record.

2008 had Olajuwon and Ewing. Olajuwon had 2 NBA titles (with Finals MVP in each), 2 finals MVPs, 12 all stars, 6 all NBA 1st Teams and the league block record. Ewing had 11 all stars, 1 1st team All NBA, 6 2nd team and 3 DPOY. Garnett is probably ahead of Ewing.

2010 had Karl Malone, Pippen. Malone was 2nd all time in points, 7th in rebounds with 14 all star teams and 2 MVPs. Pippen with 10 all defensive teams. Garnett is probably ahead of Pippen.
 

BaseballJones

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How about you play a game of three-on-three in their primes:

Class of 2009 (Stockton, Jordan, Robinson) vs. class of 2020 (Kobe, Duncan, Garnett). Jordan and Stockton would really struggle in the post against Duncan/Garnett and Kobe. But man, that would be a cool game to see. Give Jordan a game of 3-on-3 where he has all that room to maneuver?
 

HowBoutDemSox

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How about you play a game of three-on-three in their primes:

Class of 2009 (Stockton, Jordan, Robinson) vs. class of 2020 (Kobe, Duncan, Garnett). Jordan and Stockton would really struggle in the post against Duncan/Garnett and Kobe. But man, that would be a cool game to see. Give Jordan a game of 3-on-3 where he has all that room to maneuver?
Kobe would get in his head that he needs to beat MJ single handed and go full Kobe, Duncan and Garnett would never touch the ball on offense.
 

slamminsammya

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Jordan is the best player comparing the 09 class to this one but I would say Duncan and KG are both better than Stockton and Robinson. It is close though.
 

slamminsammya

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We also got the class of 1980 in the mix: Oscar Robertson, Jerry Lucas, Jerry West. Especially if we are allowing West to both play and make trades that is a tough 3 man team to beat.
 

Pablo's TB Lover

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I think they had a graphic during the telecast that this 3-person class had more All-Star appearances than any other with 48(!). Second place was the 2009 class I believe with 10 or more less.
 

E5 Yaz

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I think they had a graphic during the telecast that this 3-person class had more All-Star appearances than any other with 48(!). Second place was the 2009 class I believe with 10 or more less.
Heck, Rudy T even went to 5
 

Pablo's TB Lover

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Southbridge's own Barbara Stevens was elected as a longtime women's coach at Bentley. Between shorter stints at Clark and UMass, has amassed over 1,000 victories.
 

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
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Stockton gets abused on PnRs all game. Getting a clean look against KG and Duncan is almost impossible.
Jordan, Robinson, and Stockton would score plenty. Stockton at his best was a 46% shooter from three. If Kobe guards Jordan, then Stockton can get by either Duncan or Garnett. If Jordan gets to the rim and Robinson's guy helps, it's a dunk for the Admiral. If Stockton's guy helps, then Stockton gets a wide open three, and at 45-46%...holy smokes.

Especially if they play pick-up rules of 2 and 1 instead of 3 and 2. Then Stockton becomes way more valuable.

But...he can't guard ANY of the three guys on the other team in the post. It's basically going to require a ton of double-team or at least shading kind of help, and either Duncan or Garnett is going to get wide open 15-footers.

Would be super interesting.
 

Hoya81

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2010 has an intriguing lineup of Dennis Johnson, Scottie Pippen and Karl Malone. 3 very good to great defenders who were efficient scorers.
 

amarshal2

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Jordan, Robinson, and Stockton would score plenty. Stockton at his best was a 46% shooter from three. If Kobe guards Jordan, then Stockton can get by either Duncan or Garnett. If Jordan gets to the rim and Robinson's guy helps, it's a dunk for the Admiral. If Stockton's guy helps, then Stockton gets a wide open three, and at 45-46%...holy smokes.

Especially if they play pick-up rules of 2 and 1 instead of 3 and 2. Then Stockton becomes way more valuable.

But...he can't guard ANY of the three guys on the other team in the post. It's basically going to require a ton of double-team or at least shading kind of help, and either Duncan or Garnett is going to get wide open 15-footers.

Would be super interesting.
No. KG was incredibly mobile and long. The year before Stockton shot .460 from 3 on 1.5 attempts a game he shot .350. The year after .321.
 
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Kliq

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Not sure what KG's gripe with Taylor (KG was promised some ownership stake by Flip, who wasn't the owner?) is but I do know that Taylor:

1. Gave KG a record contract that was so big, all the other owners were pissed about it because then they had to pay their own guys a fair value, and it was a big contributor to the 98-99 lockout.

2. Paid KG when he was totally washed.
 

The Social Chair

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From the same KG interview

How much gratitude is there for you with your Celtics teammates and former personnel?
Super appreciative of them. Danny Ainge, the ownership there, Wyc (Grousbeck) and Pags (Steve Pagliuca), Doc Rivers. Celtic nation, man. Anybody who understands the Celtics culture, it’s a nurturing culture, it’s a real fraternity, and it supports each other. To be part of it is something special. I’m glad I’m part of it, and I’m glad I was able to experience the better way of the NBA and seeing how winning franchises really do things. That left a huge, huge impression on me that I’ll take to my grave. I’ll be forever appreciative to the city of Boston, the ownership and everything Celtic nation. I’m honored.
 

TripleOT

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This commercial got it perfectly right.

Every game KG played as a Celtic had a chance to be special, and so many were.

If KG did one year in college, would he have dropped to the Celtics at 6, in the spot they drafted Antoine Walker? Getting to watch a young KG every night as a Celtic would have been amazing. The first time I saw him live playing for Minnesota, I couldn't believe how much higher he was rebounding the ball over everyone, and how fiercely he defended the basket. He was my favorite non-Celtic before he came here.