It was best to stay out of earshot of Kevin Garnett on the basketball court.
Drive down the lane, he'll block you. Let him get the ball down low, he'll score on a post move. Give him space in the mid-range, he'll nail a jumper.
It was the trash talk after these plays that made Garnett one of the best power forwards in NBA history.
He would humiliate you with his mouth, doing everything he can to get in your head. This formula worked wonders and made him one of the richest NBA players of all time.
Early Life
RELATED: Kevin Garnett's High School Career Paved Way for Young NBA Stars
Kevin Maurice Garnett was born on May 19, 1976 in Greenville, South Carolina to Shirley Garnett and O'Lewis McCullough. He didn't have a relationship with his father.
He was a dominant force on the basketball team at Mauldin High School for three seasons. He finished his prep career at Farragut Career Academy in Chicago, Illinois, following a racially charged incident between students at Mauldin prior to his senior year.
— Mr. Basketball USA (1995)
— 2x First-Team Parade All-American
— McDonald's All-American Game MVP (1995)
— Illinois Mr. Basketball (1995)
— South Carolina Mr. Basketball (1994)
Garnett debated between turning pro or going to college, ultimately deciding to head straight to the National Basketball Association.
NBA Career
The American professional basketball player was the fifth-overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 1995 NBA Draft. He was the first player drafted out of high school since 1975.
His career with the Wolves, Boston Celtics, and Brooklyn Nets is up there with the best of 'em:
— NBA Champion (2008)
— NBA Most Valuable Player (2004)
— 15x NBA All-Star
— NBA All-Star Game MVP (2003)
— 4x All-NBA First Team
— 3x All-NBA Second Team
— 2x All-NBA Third Team
— NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2008)
— 9x NBA All-Defensive First Team
— 3x NBA All-Defensive Second Team
— 4x NBA Rebounding Champion
— NBA All-Rookie Second Team (1996)
— J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (2006)
For his career, the first-round draft pick totaled 26,071 points (18th all-time), 14,662 rebounds (9th all-time), and 2,037 blocks (18th all-time).
The Big Ticket also competed internationally and won a gold medal as a member of the United States national team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Garnett's NBA championship and nine All-NBA teams certainly played a part in him being named to the 2020 Naismith Memorial Hall of Class along with Tim Duncan and the late Kobe Bryant.
Plus, Timberwolves fans will always hold a special place in their hearts for the franchise superstar. He led Minnesota to the playoffs for the first time in 1997. He outdid that by carrying the team to the 2004 Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.
NBA Contracts
Over 21 seasons, KG raked in $334,304,240, per Spotrac. He was the highest-paid player in the NBA from 2000 to 2004, and then again from 2007 to 2009 when he was traded to the Boston Celtics and formed the Big 3 with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.
He signed a three-year contract extension worth $60 million as soon as he was traded.
Garnett second in all time career earnings behind LeBron James, according to Insider.
Personal Life
The Kid married Brandi Padilla at a private ceremony in California in 2004. They have two daughters together.
Garnett and Padilla divorced in 2018.
Kevin Garnett's Net Worth
Kevin Garnett's signature shot changed the way we expect players his size to shoot the ball.
Now, one of the most influential big men in NBA history is about to be immortalized as a Hall of Famer.
(?@AdobeDocCloud) pic.twitter.com/tYNh3jOayf
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 10, 2021
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Kevin Garnett is worth $120 million.
The Hall of Famer took home plenty of cheddar playing basketball. Maybe his role in Uncut Gems alongside Adam Sandler will open up another revenue stream.
