If there’s a Mt. Rushmore of the best NBA trash talkers, Kevin Garnett would definitely be there. Maybe all four faces will just be KG. That’s how much smack he spewed during his lengthy career.
But in a recent episode of Million Dollaz Worth of Game, the former NBA MVP shared a rather interesting anecdote. While it’s widely known that guys like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Gary Payton were vicious trash talkers, Garnett said a fellow Hall of Fame member was also as savage, albeit more low-key. The guy? Hakeem Olajuwon.
“Olajuwon, another motherf***** that takes s*** to you. Olajuwon would take his mouthpiece out and say, ‘I’m here to hit him with lateral movement! He can’t do anything!’ How do I even respond to that? I have nothing for that.”
Who would’ve thought, huh?
Olajuwon was always deemed as a silent worker-type, who destroyed All-NBA centers such as Shaquille O’Neal, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, and Dikembe Mutombo, and Alonzo Mourning with his bevy of post moves and yes, lateral movement. But as the always outspoken Garnett revealed, The Dream apparently had the gift of gab as well.
For what it’s worth, Garnett did have a memorable highlight over Olajuwon when he made a putback slam over him during his rookie season with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Garnett mentioned that Jordan and Payton were the biggest trash talkers during his time.
