When word came out yesterday that Kevin Garnett was retiring after 21 years in the NBA, a number of current players took to social media to pay their respects. LeBron James was one of them in taking to Instagram to recall how a 10 year old LeBron was inspired by KG.
“I mean where do I start. First watching you play at the Solon Cage Classic in Ohio with Team Michigan when u were in HS, I believe I was 10 years old and I was like dang this dude nice!!,” LeBron wrote. “Then a lil time passed and u were drafted straight out of HS to the pros so I felt like man whoever get him is a lucky team. And I surely wasn't wrong! The KID nickname was fly, swaged out and made a 10 year old kid from Akron believe he could run with the big boys himself.”
Aside from both being legends, LeBron and Garnett are both part of a group of players who mad the jump from high school to NBA. Along with Kobe Bryant - who also retired this year - they defined a generation of players that skipped college. Throw in some memorable playoff battles and it’s clear how LeBron is linked to KG forever. And while the influence didn’t come directly to LeBron like it did for someone like Karl-Anthony Towns or Kendrick Perkins, it’s obvious that James has been influenced by Garnett.