Garnett: I'm far from dirty

k-money · Feb 18, 2011

LOS ANGELES – There was an elephant in the room Friday during the NBA All-Stars’ media availability session. And Kevin Garnett punched it in the groin.

That is to say, Garnett took exception to and shot down criticism of his tactics and his sportsmanship that has flared up in recent weeks. Long known to play an edgier, more intense and even manic game than many NBA stars – physically and verbally jousting with opponents, up to and beyond the limits of good taste and form – the Boston Celtics’ power forward has been lambasted lately for going too far.

Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry said he lost respect for Garnett after he appeared to hit Suns forward Channing Frye in the groin, while simultaneously sticking a foot under Frye as the Suns player came down from a jump shot. Frye didn’t much care for the maneuvers either. Filmmaker and devoted Knicks fan Spike Lee got upset when Garnett allegedly cursed him out at Madison Square Garden.

There was Garnett’s trash-talk-gone-Twitter comment to Detroit’s Charlie Villanueva earlier this season in which the Celtic either called Villanueva a “cancer patient” or simply a cancer to his team. And Orlando’s Dwight Howard, who admired Garnett as a pioneer of the preps-to-pros path that Howard also took, said he no longer looks up to the veteran player.

“Look here, I don’t play for the Phoenix Suns,” Garnett said Friday during the interview session on All-Star Weekend’s first day. “I could care less what Spike or whoever else has to say about me. As long as Doc Rivers and my organization is happy with what I’m doing, I could care less.”

Run-ins with opponents (Joel Przybilla, Antonio McDyess, Zaza Pachulia, Jose Calderon, Francisco Elson) and even teammates (Wally Szczerbiak, Rick Rickert) have piled up, tarnishing Garnett’s legacy for some fans. After Garnett elbowed Miami’s Quentin Richardson last April, Chicago center Joakim Noah called him a “dirty” player. That word came up again Friday.

“I’m far from dirty. ‘Dirty’ is like ‘hate’ – don’t use that word,” Garnett said. “I’m competitive and I play hard. But don’t call me ‘dirty.’ Just like, if you dislike me, dislike me but ‘hate’ is a very strong word.”

Garnett, a future Hall of Famer and a player praised by his various coaches for his intensity, didn’t sound in any hurry to change his approach, though he did acknowledge softening it for “friendly” events such as the All-Star Game.
Nor should he change, said longtime nemesis Tim Duncan.

“That’s part of his game. He tries to get under your skin,” the San Antonio Spurs star said. “He tries to get into your head. He tries to talk to you, whatever it takes. He’s a competitor. I don’t think he’s blatantly dirty. I don’t think he’s out there to hurt anyone. But it’s kind of part of his tactics.”
Said Garnett: “f I’m playing against you, I’m not trying to be your friend. I’m out here to win. I’m just competitive. I go about at this a certain way. Always have, always will. I don’t make any excuses about that or apologize for anything I’ve done. I carry myself in a well-fashioned manner. I respect the game first-off, respect the players that are in it.

“And I’m definitely not trying to hurt anybody – I don’t want to be hurt. I’m just out there playing hard and playing competitive. If that comes off as something else, then that’s your problem.”
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http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2011/02/18/garnett-im-far-from-dirty/
intresting..

SunsRocketsfan · Feb 18, 2011

okay he's not dirty.. he's a DOUCE-BAG
Hate Garnett!

Dreamin · Feb 18, 2011

I hate when defenders push that front feet out to where their opponents would land after the dude comes back down from the jump shot. Very high chance the dude's gonna sprain his ankle when he lands on that extended feet. I heard of Garnett doing that a few times. How can he say he is not trying to hurt someone?

Idiot!!

ThaShark316_28 · Feb 18, 2011

KG is awesome.

Sad day when he retires...the last of the physical, ****-with-you crew.

mylilpony · Feb 19, 2011

Carl Herrera · Feb 19, 2011

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Kaej4Wjkj1Q" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

ShadowProphet · Feb 19, 2011

so punching a guy in the balls is being competitive?

Shaud · Feb 19, 2011

ShadowProphet said:

so punching a guy in the balls is being competitive?
Click to expand...

Yes

Roxs-Redemption · Feb 19, 2011

*Cough* *Cough*What did he say *cough*

SunsRocketsfan · Feb 19, 2011

biggest dbag award goes to
KG.. no wait LBJ no KG.. LBJ.. ahhh they are both huge dbags

rolyat93 · Feb 19, 2011

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kY18tmkIF-c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

rolyat93 · Feb 19, 2011

rolyat93 said:

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kY18tmkIF-c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Click to expand...

competetive THAT! .

bongo33 · Feb 19, 2011

Not everyone hates KG...

Pistons center Greg Monroe recalls the first time he took the court against KG:

“It was weird,” said the rookie, who’s averaging 7.4 points and 6.4 rebounds this season. “That’s somebody I idolized growing up. That’s Kevin Garnett. He’s one of the best big men to ever play the game. He’s definitely one of the best to ever play in my lifetime. So you’re walking out on the court now, and pounding fists with him before the game, and he’s doing his routine, and all this stuff that you’ve been watching him do for years, and I actually had to guard him. So you know, it was surreal… but obviously you have to get out of that.”

Once Monroe did “get out of that” he said he was able to then just appreciate all that Garnett does, without getting caught up in the extra curriculars.

“I don’t want to say it’s a tough guy image,” Monroe said, “he’s just a tough player. That’s how it is in this league. People get it mistaken a whole lot. Most of the time he’s not even talking trash. Sometimes he is, but most of the time he’s just talking. That’s why he’s such a good player, that’s why he’s such an anchor on defense. A lot of people take that as him talking trash but he’s not.”

The Nets (for now) rookie Derrick Favors was three years old when Garnett entered the league, but as he grew up and developed into one of the biggest frontcourt prospects in the country, Garnett was always a guy Favors looked up to. That came to a head when he first met KG on the court.

“My first time playing in Boston I was a little nervous, probably the most nervous I’ve ever been playing a basketball game,” Favors said. “I was star struck.”

He also knew that those nerves were something Garnett might try to use to his advantage. He understood why, too. Because it gave his team a better chance to win.

“I knew I had to forget about all that and try to play my game,” Favors said. “He’ll try to get up under your skin, but I’ll never let him do that. It’s tough but you gotta be tough. You gotta have tough skin and that’s what I got.”

“It doesn’t really matter what you think about him,” Gibson said. “At the end of the day he’s a team player, his teammates love him, and they won a ring. He win games. He’s where I want to be.”
Click to expand...

http://www.csnne.com/02/18/11/KG-st...nding_celtics.html?blockID=413804&feedID=3352

jlwee · Feb 19, 2011

SunsRocketsfan said:

biggest dbag award goes to
KG.. no wait LBJ no KG.. LBJ.. ahhh they are both huge dbags
Click to expand...

Your idol Kobe is a douche bag as well! [/end]

trueroxfan · Feb 19, 2011

is filthy really that far from dirty?

rju1986 · Feb 19, 2011

Na he's just ruthless with it. Swatting out shots even after the whistle..

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