Twenty-three years have passed since Kevin Garnett left his lone season at Farragut Career Academy to become the first preps-to-pros teenager in two decades.
“You’re growing up right there,” Garnett said in a phone interview. “It was me and my coach — shout to my dog Wolf (Farragut coach William Nelson) — and we just figured that (expletive) out. It was hectic. But we pieced it together.
“My guys on the West Side were supportive. Everybody was happy for me. I didn’t have any money at the time and was about to be evicted a couple days before the draft. So it was a very unique situation and, ultimately, a blessing. And I continue to stay focused and follow my dreams.”
One of Garnett’s dreams is giving back to the game he played with ferocity and passion for 21 seasons after the Timberwolves selected him fifth overall in 1995. Tuesday offers visual proof.
Continuing the innovative and progressive TV work he has done for Turner Sports with his “KG’s Area 21” shows, Garnett stars with Mo Bamba and Jaren Jackson Jr. on “Next Up.” The show will be available likely around midday via Facebook Watch as part of the new “Players Only Films” series produced by Turner Sports and the NBA and features Garnett with Bamba on Tuesday and with Jackson on Wednesday.
Additional content will come out on draft night Thursday, when the Bulls could be in position to land Bamba, and before NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
“Sharing of knowledge is one thing I’ve always been adamant about,” Garnett said. “I frown upon ex-players who don’t really necessarily make themselves available or don’t share the knowledge, especially when they have it. I’m not obviously pushing everybody to work out players. But when you go through the league 15-plus years, that’s a lot of knowledge you’ve gained. And to put it on the wall or not apply it, I think is a bit selfish. But that’s me.
“I want to help these young kids. I want to give them some mentorship, a place to go to have some direction for some of their unsolved problems or unanswered questions that they have.”
Garnett’s work on “KG’s Area 21” on TNT has featured a platform for WNBA players among other progressive pieces. So another innovative idea shouldn’t surprise.
“I enjoy TV and production,” he said. “I’ve always taken the approach of being different and coming from something that was original. (Innovation) is very hard. It’s very difficult to come up with a creative idea that you haven’t seen. But this is from a natural place.
“When I watch these players on TV, I’m obviously a fan. But I find myself looking for particulars. The way I prepared, I watched a lot of film. So in a weird way, you’ve kind of programmed yourself to catch tendencies, to catch things that normal people probably wouldn’t see. A lot of it is just me critiquing the game and watching these young guys and seeing how I can help them hone their own skills and create their own game. It’s what I’ve accrued and grabbed from my years in the league.”
Garnett enjoyed the opportunity to work with Bamba and Jackson.
“I didn’t know too much about either one of them,” Garnett said. “Very humble kids, but very insightful.
“I think a team that drafts Mo is going to be floored with his intelligence when it comes to the game. He has a vision for himself and wants to show people he can physically be a threat. He also wants to be one of the better defenders in this league. Defending, that’s not a skill; that’s something that’s in you.
“Jaren was refreshing. He was a pure kid, man, just looking to follow his dreams and the footsteps of his father (Jaren Jackson Sr.). He thinks he has the tools to be alongside the elites in this league. But what I was left with from both guys is they’re both super humble and both super competitive.”
Given that Garnett’s competitiveness became legendary, it’s a powerful mix. Watching one clip, you get intensity. You get humor. You get profanity. And you get it all delivered in with real passion.
You also get the feeling Garnett could coach one day.
“Coach? Hell, no. You can put this down, bro. I will never, ever (expletive) coach. Ever,” Garnett said. “I don’t have the patience. I have daughters. Lord knows any dad who has daughters knows you have to have an unbelievable level of patience. So that’s where my patience stops.”
As a draft pioneer, Garnett had plenty of unanswered questions when he made the jump that 38 players did after him until the NBA, with the consent of the players association, passed a rule in 2005 that stated all draft entrants must be at least 19 and a year removed from high school.
Not surprisingly, Garnett has an opinion on the one-and-done rule that Commissioner Adam Silver has said the league is “conflicted” about and may revisit.
“I think if their game permits it, players should be able to absolutely (make the jump),” Garnett said. “And then I think, too, if their games are not able to transcend to the league at that time, they should have the option to go back to college and live that life.
“My draft process was a headache, man. I couldn’t sign with an agent. Everything I was doing was hit or miss. We were trying to learn as much as we could, but a lot of things were just original. It was a pain in the ass. But we figured it out.”
Just like Bamba and Jackson are, with a small assist from Garnett.
“I hope viewers not only get insight to the young guys but that they see even with the generational difference, it’s still basketball. And I hope viewers are able to take that each side has love,” Garnett said. “You hope that you’re able to make the league better than when you found it. For these young players, I’m looking at this as me doing my part and pushing the onus on other OGs and other ex-players who have something to give to do just that. Overall, it’s a dope piece.”
Twitter @kcjhoop
//embed.sendtonews.com/player2/embedcode.php?fk=q6U62QTN&cid=4591
