He then pointed out that he started as a swimmer in the U.S. Virgin Islands and didnt pick up a basketball until 14. Kevin Garnett ushered in a new era of basketball in the spring of 1995 when he announced that he would be the first in what was to become a tidal wave of players to make the leap from high school to the NBA. share. The late Kobe Bryant was finally inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday, as the nine-member Class of 2020 was enshrined on an emotional night in Uncasville, Conn. Also in the star-studded class were Patrick Baumann, Tamika Catchings, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Kim Mulkey, Barbara Stevens, Eddie Sutton and Rudy Tomjanovich, who were selected for induction in April 2020. Garnett took part in the Hall of Fame's Class of 2020. Jace enjoys the beat, even though he's been mistaken for a student on multiple occasions. Lakers. Anchoring the Celtics defense, Garnett teamed with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen to form a new Big Three to lead the storied franchise to banner number 17. Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level. #20HoopClass enshrinee, Tim Duncan. If anything, thank you.. Bryant and Garnett were among the three NBA players named to the 2020 Hall of Fame class on Saturday, but Bryant won't be there to give his long-awaited Hall of Fame speech because he along . A notable omission from that section of the speech was Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor, whom Garnett has very publicly held a grudge against. While it might not have taken place in the Hall itself in this pandemic-haunted year, Garnetts achievements will forever be honored within it. Stay up to date with everything Boston. Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the games elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. Check out Kevin Garnetts full speech following his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Alexander-Walker put together stunning defensive performance in playoffs. We got embarrassed on our home floor with an opportunity to close out a team, and we never showed up. But Garnett thanked Taylor, too, during his press conference Friday, when asked if he had any regrets about the loyalty he had to Minnesota for more than a decade, given that it seemingly wasnt reciprocated. WATCH: Kevin Garnett's FULL Hall of Fame acceptance speech - Celtics Wire Im a country boy. Joel Embiid is officially out for Game 1 Monday night against the Celtics due to his sprained knee. https://celticswire.usatoday.com/2021/05/16/nba-boston-celtics-kg-hof/, Bill Russell voted into Basketball Hall of Fame as coach, Paul Pierce elected to Basketball Hall of Fame on first ballot, Celtics breeze to an easy 124-108 win over T-Wolves down several players, Report: Paul Pierce to be named to Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2021, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. If you feel you have received this message in error, please contact the customer support team at 1-833-248-7801. 'I Look Forward To Rebuilding Minneapolis': Kevin Garnett Inducted Into The legendary big man thanked Bryant and Garnett for bringing out his best, and he said he cant wait to see teammates Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili on the stage and himself off it. David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports Images, Sox Transactions, Trades, and Free Agents. The Hall of Fame has more than 400 inductees and 40,000 sq. Can the Wolves keep him around? "You're in the Hall of Fame now. To the Timberwolves organization, to Kevin McHale, whos here, thank you, Kev. Kevin McHale being a great teacher, having great teammates like Sam Mitchell and Terry Porter that gave me kind of the bearings. When Ahmad Rashad introduced Garnett, he told the crowd that anything is possible on behalf of Garnett, who quickly echoed that belief. "My only regret in Minnesota was that I wasn't able to bring them a championship," Garnett said. His speech was as legendary as he was on the court. Kevin Garnett shares some kind words on fellow #20HoopClass enshrinees, Tim Duncan and Kobe Bryant. I think everything I learned in Minnesota I was able to carry to Boston and make myself a better player and a better teammate, Garnett said. My mother is a very intense and passionate woman, who cared about her craft, cared about the quality of her craft, and I think I took some of that from her. The Knicks will get Julius Randle back at some point this series his status for Game 2 also is unknown due to a sprained left ankle and they become much more formidable with him. Garnett, who helped pave the prep-to-pro route Bryant took a year after him, is a former MVP and defensive player of the year who made 15 All-Star games and 12 All-Defensive teams. But the power is in Reids hands. Sam Mitchell, to being a constant brother. pic.twitter.com/3b3VckvybR, #20HoopClass enshrinee, Patrick Baumann. Try a week on us. So if you guys want to blame me, or blame the intensity, blame her for that. After all, he proved you wrong.". Well just have to see. The former Bentley womens basketball coach, who played at Bridgewater State and coached at Clark and UMass before finding her long-term home at Bentley, helped transform the Falcons into a Division II powerhouse. David Aldridge, Editor-in-chief Washington D.C, NBA senior columnist: It was, essentially, the last 30 years of my life covering basketball. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nba | pageType: stories | Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. It's an honor to go into the Hall with you bro, you and Kobe. 'He's still winning:' Kobe Bryant inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. pic.twitter.com/j328vaUZiZ. ft. of basketball history. ), Charley Walters: Way too early to judge Vikings' pick of Jordan Addison, 'Forever chemicals' exacerbate water issues in Lake Elmo, development still on pause, 'Smiley-face killer' theorist accused of St. Paul sex assault at time of Zamlen search, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. The star-studded class, led by Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and the late Kobe Bryant, was chosen in April 2020, but the enshrinement ceremony was delayed due to the pandemic. I had a better relationship with (Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck), because of the situation and stuff that I went through in Minnesota. Jace has covered a slew of sports since he joined the Pioneer Press in May 2015, but his primary duty is covering high schools. She thanked the Hall for recognizing that there are successful coaches at every level and acknowledging her as one of them. The full acceptance speech of Kevin Garnett. All my brothers in the Celtics family, thank you, Garnett said while individually thanking former teammate and longtime friend Paul Pierce. pic.twitter.com/G6WxaZdEtN, #20HoopClass enshrinee, Kim Mulkey. Saturday, Garnett was inducted into the Hall of Fame. I appreciate you.. Garnett, who spent six seasons with the Boston Celtics, was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., on Saturday as a member of the Class of 2020. While Dallas went 5-11 when Doni and Irving played together, this catastrophic season had begun long before Irvings arrival. Follow Boston.com on Instagram (Opens in a New Tab), Follow Boston.com on Twitter (Opens in a New Tab), Like Boston.com on Facebook (Opens in a New Tab), Doc Rivers remembered late Celtics VP Heather Walker with touching tribute, Steph Curry scores playoff career-high 50 Warriors down Kings in Game 7, Jimmy Butler, Heat start 2nd round with 108-101 win over Knicks. "You are an exceptional person," Duncan said to Popovich. Garnett, who will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday, captured the sports world's imagination with his successful preps-to-pros leap. It was a game where Curry would not let his team lose. Kevin Garnett Hall of Fame Speech Final Remarks - YouTube But Garnett, who was wearing a green sports coat, expects his former. Sign up for the Celtics Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. I played the game hard, Garnett. Kevin Garnett thanked a lot of people during his Basketball Hall of Fame induction speech Saturday. I am so proud of you.". His passion was unmistakable, and often manifested itself in his pregame rituals, trash talking, and raw athleticism that bordered on the unimaginable.