Could KG be playing in his last All-Star
game of his illustrious career?
By Ali Koskoris
 |
| AP Photo/ David Zalubowski |
The 36-year-old,
18-year veteran is going to be starting in his fifteenth All-Star game this
coming weekend for the Eastern Conference. Garnett, who has been playing consistently well since the
Boston Celtics lost Rajon Rondo, said Wednesday that this year’s All-Star game
would be his last.
With this
comment, Garnett caused the media to swarm him with questions regarding
retirement. “I’m just telling you that every year you make it (to the All-Star
game)… is not something you take for granted,” Garnett said in response.
And Garnett is
right. Although he is still a fantastic
player, he is getting older, and new, younger players are bringing their games
to the league. He has consistently
been playing fewer minutes in his past few All-Star games. “Next year no one knows,” KG said,
wisely not assuming that he would be selected to the All-Star team next year.
Garnett played
in his first All-Star game during the ’96-’97 season, playing just 18 minutes,
scoring 6 points and pulling down 9 rebounds. His All-Star game highlight was the one of the ’02-’03
season where he played 41 minutes, pulled down 9 rebounds, grabbed 5 steals,
and scored 37 points.
KG’s All-Star
career his displayed his consistency and pure talent as a player. This coming All-Star game is his 15th
All-Star selection, his 14th time playing in the game, and his
11th start.
The only other
players who have been selected as many times as Garnett are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
who was selected 19 times, Kobe Bryant who was also selected 15 times, and
Shaquille O’Neal who was selected 15 times.
Garnett will be
playing as a center for the first time in an All-Star game. Likely he will not play many minutes,
but it is clear that he is still regarded as the best by fans, who did all that
they could to make sure that KG would start on the floor Saturday night.
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