When the great Kevin Garnett retired, something hit me; the guys that I had watched, revered and admired were now gone. These players are undoubtedly some of the greatest players of all time, and I will miss seeing them gone because of what they have done on the court and off the court and the enjoyment they provided us basketball fans.
1. Kevin Garnett
Kevin Garnett is one of the best power forwards of all time. He has accomplished almost everything in this league one could hope to accomplish. One of the most intense players of all time, he will be revered for his effort and his intensity that he gave every night as much as for the championship, the defensive player of the year, MVP and all-star appearances. I remember watching him against the Lakers in 2010 NBA finals rematch of two years ago. The Celtics lost the rematch in 2010 after beating the Lakers in 2008, but I remember watching him keep Boston in the series with his deadeye shooting and post up moves. His intensity will be missed in a league the ESPN analyst Stephen A Smith called " softer than Cottonelle tissue". Enjoy retirement, KG.
2. Kobe Bryant
Who can forget "The Black Mamba" even though he is now officially done with basketball? A five-time champion, MVP, scoring champ and the only viable comparison to Michael Jordan, Mr. Bryant will be revered for his tremendous work ethic, assassin like mentality, and a willingness to become the best of all time. He has also done many things for the community and shown a high IQ without being formally trained. What was even more impressive was the evolution of Kobe Bryant throughout the years and the differences that were evident during the first championship run and the second run. When he first came in the league, he was billed as a selfish, brash, reclusive and arrogant player who did not know how to play team basketball. He had a strained relationship with the rest of the team, especially team leader Shaquille O Neal and head coach Phil Jackson. They won three titles together, but both were gone after a 2004 finals loss to Detroit. After going 34-48 in 2004 to 2005, Bryant was heavily criticized for breaking up the Lakers championship team. Despite all the previous turmoil, Phil Jackson returned in 2005 and Kobe won two more rings in 2009 and 2010 with Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. During this championship run, Kobe had evolved into a team leader who knew how to make teammates better and galvanize them into a collective team. Despite all the criticism that Kobe Bryant has endured in his career, he is undeniably one of the greatest players of all time and has inspired many young kids. We wish you well, Kobe. Enjoy your retirement.
3. Tim Duncan
We may not remember Tim Duncan, but then again everyone forgets Tim Duncan until they are playing him in the playoffs and he is beating you badly. Tim Duncan was one of the greatest power forwards of all time, but he did it so quietly it was hard to take him seriously. A five-time champion and former league MVP with multiple all-star appearances, he also displayed class and professionalism every step of the way. He also has a degree in psychology and is a known philanthropist. We will remember Tim Duncan not just for his championships, but for his selfless style of play, leadership and class he displayed through his career. We hope he enjoys retirement standing in lines at Old Navy and being a regular old person.
