“When he hit that floor, he knew what it was, and I loved him for it. I miss Kobe every day, man.” These were the words Celtics star Kevin Garnett once shared for the late NBA legend, Kobe Bryant. Well, the two weren’t just competitors – they understood each other. After all, they both jumped straight from high school to the NBA. This was one of the common bonds they shared. And even though they battled on the court, there was always mutual respect – remember the NBA Finals of 2008 and 2009?
You could see it in their matchups—two legends pushing each other to be better. And, their rivalry? That was real. When Kobe’s Lakers went up against Garnett’s Timberwolves—or later, his Celtics—you knew it was going to be intense. Garnett’s energy on defense was unmatched, but Kobe had that killer instinct. Neither of them backed down, ever. However, not a lot of people know that KG almost became a Laker himself!
Recently, Garnett took a lie detector test, and one answer caught everyone’s attention. When asked if he ever wished he played in L.A., he didn’t hesitate. “Yeah, we’re cold. I think about that sometimes. That would have been crazy,” he admitted. He admitted that the thought had crossed his mind, and honestly, who wouldn’t have been curious? Playing alongside Kobe in L.A. would’ve been something special. Imagine the two of them—one of the best defenders and one of the greatest scorers—on the same team.
Imagine KG and Kobe in LA pic.twitter.com/pmUrISirj2
— BetMGM (@BetMGM) March 8, 2025
And here’s the wild part—he almost did. Before he landed in Boston, the Lakers were in the conversation. At one point, it seemed possible that Garnett could team up with Kobe. But timing, trades, and front-office decisions sent him to the Celtics instead, with a $117 million payday. He won a championship there, cementing his legacy in Boston. But thinking about what could have been? That’s the kind of “what if” that makes NBA history even more fascinating. Two fierce rivals, nearly teammates—just imagine how different things might have been.
Just to game things out, consider this: playing with Paul Pierce (someone he subsequently became close friends with) was crucial for Garnett in earning his one and only championship. But Garnett, in a 2021 GQ interview, couldn’t help but muse: “I’ve often wondered what playing with [Kobe] would’ve been like. Beside [Kobe], you know? What would we have been like? If playing with [Paul Pierce] was like this, then playing with [Kobe] would’ve been like what?” Oh, the potential there was matchless – and so is the love that remains till date.
Kevin Garnett’s heartfelt tributes to Kobe Bryant
“We were gullible about [the NBA], and we wanted it so bad. That was my bro.” Kevin Garnett recalled his early days with Kobe Bryant on The Stephen A. Smith Show. They entered the league as teenagers, filled with nerves and ambition; Garnett had a year of experience while Kobe was just getting started. And when Bryant made his All-Star debut, KG took him under his wing.
Years later, on a day honoring Kobe and his daughter, Garnett paid his tributes. He shared an Instagram story with the caption, “#BEANFOREVER ” and added, “DOG for life…”. The post featured three All-Star photos of them together, with the final image showing Kobe in his orange WNBA hoodie with his daughter. Garnett simply wrote, “Forever. .”
Garnett’s admiration ran deep. “I miss Kobe every day… When I have another son someday, I’m going to dedicate a son to Kobe.” Even in Kobe’s first All-Star Game, KG had his back. Sensing his nerves before facing Michael Jordan, he told him, “Yeah, m*********er, we at the All-Star game… We here now… Get your a** up… Be ready.” And Kobe – as always – delivered, scoring 18 points, just behind Jordan’s 23. It was the beginning of something legendary. And through it all, Garnett was there, not just as a competitor but also as a brother.
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