Putting “Owners on the F**king Forefront”, Kevin Garnett Thrashed $86,000,000 Illegal “Dumb Sh*t” in 2021

Kevin Garnett went both on and off the record in his sit-down with GQ. KG’s relationship with the Minnesota Timberwolves, who drafted him out of high school, is a crucial part of his profile. He briefly took a little verbal trip into NBA history. And one could tell that Garnet still feels bitter about how the Wolves hurt his early career. Even after retiring, the notorious trash-talker is not above slamming what went down in the NBA during the late ’90s.

The Big Ticket led to a significant change in the NBA business. His rookie contract extension would be one of the factors leading to the 1998-99 NBA lockout. The Wolves would then do something that remains a black mark in franchise history.

Kevin Garnett slammed the Wolves-Joe Smith debacle

Here’s a quick NBA history lesson. At only 21 years old, Kevin Garnett signed a $126 million contract extension with the Minnesota Timberwolves. NBA players could see that team owners were profiting unfairly from their hard work and wanted deserving contracts. Owners, on the other hand, wanted to rework the salary cap rules. This led to the NBA lockout of 1998-99.

During this lockout, the Wolves did what KG described as the “dumb sh*t” in his 2021 GQ profile.

They signed a deal with then-free agent, Joe Smith. On the surface, they were three one-year deals within the cap. However, they had an under-the-table deal that if Smith signed three one-year deals, Minnesota would give him an $86 million contract extension. The NBA found out about this and cracked the whip on the Wolves.

Along with a $3.5 million fine, the league suspended top execs and made the team forfeit their next five first-round draft picks. This incident and the lockout would result in changes in the salary cap rules. While it did bring improvement in NBA player contracts, the salary cap changes impacted Garnett’s career.

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The Wolves were bound to his $126 million contract. But without its draft picks, the cash-strapped Wolves couldn’t build a championship-winning team centered around The 15x All-Star.

“I never gave in to the higher society,” he said about the team executives. “I called the higher society out and really put owners on the f**king forefront with the real issues.” He also said that the partnership would only work if the league and the teams had respect for “what the players were actually bringing to the table.”

KG drops his GOAT picks

Garnett told GQ that he knew his rookie contract earned the jealousy of other players. Whoever he played after that, “it felt personal.” But that also made the game better. Nonetheless, players have humbled him a few times, including MJ, when he gloriously shut down his trash talk.

Notably, KG has played against Michael Jordan and LeBron James in his career. So, of course, GQ asked The Big Ticket who he considered to be the Greatest Of All Time. His answer might not be a surprise to some fans.

Garnett’s pick was His Airness. He sees him as a “f**king God.” On the other hand, KG viewed King James as his “little homie” who has grown and gotten better.

What do you think about Garnett’s GOAT pick? Do you agree with his blunt take on his old team’s illegal antics? Tell us in the comments.

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