Kevin Garnett thinks NBA is losing its edge, and he’s not holding back with his frustration. Remember when NBA players were celebrated for battling through injuries, showing grit and heart? KG does, and he’s not happy with what he sees in today’s game. Speaking on SiriusXM NBA Radio, the Boston Celtics legend didn’t hold back, calling out the league’s lenient load management policies and how they’ve softened the NBA.

“It used to mean something when you played through an injury,” Garnett said, reminiscing about a time when players would tape up and push through the pain. He’s right—think of moments like Isiah Thomas limping on a sprained ankle or Kobe Bryant drilling free throws with a torn Achilles. These weren’t just displays of toughness, they were moments that became legendary.

But today? Garnett says the mindset is different. Players now seem quick to embrace rest, sometimes even before the season begins. He pointed to examples like LeBron James sitting out multiple games and an announcement that Joel Embiid wouldn’t be playing back-to-back games before the season even tipped off. “You never had your best player on the team say, ‘I’m not playing back-to-back,'” the ex-Celtics star said.

Kevin Garnett, however, isn’t just talking the talk. Back in 2009, he played through a knee injury, even though it ultimately sidelined him for the season. He didn’t give until his body gave out. That’s the kind of hustle he holds in high regard.

“It don’t go like that to go to the room where you sit amongst the greats and you in the middle of all the gods. Them gods didn’t get here by doing that (load management). That ain’t the way we made this… This thing of ours wasn’t built like that,” KG further said during his appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio.

Now, KG does not want players to risk their career, but the issue seems to be too lenient load management in the NBA today. Something that even former NBA star Andrew Bogut highlighted on his podcast. He emphasized how a research showed that legends like Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant played over 90 percent of their games. Meanwhile, today’s stars? They’re averaging just 78 percent.

Kobe played 92 percent of his games as a starter until his Achilles injury in 2013. MJ? A staggering 93 percent until his second retirement in 1998. Those numbers speak to a different level of commitment, one Kevin Garnett believes is missing today.

The time when Isiah Thomas played through a sprained ankle and dislocated finger

Imagine scoring 43 points, dishing out eight assists, grabbing three rebounds, and snagging six steals—all in 44 minutes. Now, imagine doing that with a sprained ankle, and a dislocated finger. That’s exactly what Isiah Thomas did in Game 6 of the 1988 NBA Finals, delivering one of the most awe-inspiring performances in basketball history.

It was late in the third quarter when Thomas sprained his ankle. Most players would’ve called it a night, but not Isiah. Just 35 seconds later, he was back on the court—and what happened next was unforgettable. In that single quarter, he scored 25 points, including 14 straight, dragging the Detroit Pistons into a nail-biter against the LA Lakers.

Yet, despite his heroics, the Pistons fell short, losing the game 103-102. But we still remember Thomas’ incredible gameplay. A sign that the courage you show might be greater than the victory itself. The very same thing that Kevin Garnett tried conveying in his appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio.