Boston Celtics’ Kevin Garnett tries to block LeBron James (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
Kevin Garnett isn’t as impressed with LeBron James’ career as most
KG and Paul Pierce are enjoying their version of revisionist history, as LeBron James is once again in the NBA Finals, this time with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers are the third team LeBron has taken to the Finals, marking an impressive career accomplishment along with this being his tenth overall Finals appearance. But James wasn’t always the postseason wrecking ball we know him as today.
Before LeBron decided to leave Cleveland for Miami in the infamous decision, his battles with the Boston Celtics plagued him. Garnett and Pierce are of the mindset that James had to leave Cleveland to get by them.
“When he took the jersey off in 2010, we buried that jersey under the TD Bank Arena. That No. 23 ’Bron jersey was buried under the Garden. So when I say we broke that Cavs team and that momentum and took it over, we took the East over. Once we won that, it was over,” Garnett said.
KG expanded his argument, saying James couldn’t get what he needed in Cleveland. Miami was willing to spend the money necessary to not just acquire James, but keep Dwyane Wade and sign Chris Bosh along with LBJ. The Heat taught James how to win.
“So [LeBron] had to make an adjustment. He goes down to Miami and makes arguably one of the best decisions of his career, and plays with arguably two other greats and they have their run,” Garnett continued.
While Garnett seems to assume he’s taking a shot at LeBron fans, that career trajectory isn’t necessarily a negative one. Their version of the truth is slightly jaded, but not exactly incorrect.