Garnett Downplays Milestone, Hopes To Retire A Celtic
BOSTON (CBS) - Kevin Garnett became a member of a very prestigious group Thursday night, surpassing the 25,000 point mark for his career.
He's only the 16th NBA player to ever do it, though it was a foregone conclusion even before he hit the milestone that Garnett would someday find himself among the NBA elite out in Springfield.
But in typical Garnett fashion, he downplayed the milestone. Instead, he took the opportunity to thank all those that have helped along the way during his 17-year NBA career.
"I'm sure someday when I fall back and I'm rocking in a rocking chair having a cigar or something and thinking about what I've done, I'm sure it'll make some sense to me," Garnett said after Boston's 115-95 win over the Lakers. "But I told Doc when I came in here, to all the coaches and ex-players and current players and systems and this great organization I play for, I'm more than honored. Because without the systems and the coaches and, obviously, the players that put you in a position to score the basketball, none of this would be possible."
Garnett On Milestone:
Podcast
Garnett said he was unaware of his upcoming milestone, though he only needed six points entering the game to hit the mark. While he downplayed it for the most part, he did say it was an honor to do it in Celtics' green -- but obviously the Lakers were his main priority on Thursday night.
"It means a lot, obviously, to be in a Celtic uniform," he said. "So, that's first, coming from me. Priority being the Lakers tonight, us getting the win, and it being a monumental night second."
Garnett was also grateful his family could be there for the occasion, with an assist to mother nature.
"My family, my little baby, Capri, she got to be at the game and see it. Thank you for snow days," he said. "She got to come to the game tonight, which is something unusual, so it was good to have her there, family and everything, my sister and everything, so it was great."
With the milestone, Garnett became the first player in NBA history to compile 25,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, 5,000 assists and 1,500 blocks over his career.
Garnett is signed for two more years, though no one knows how long the 36-year-old will continue to play. And with trade rumors surfacing the last week, Garnett once again made one thing clear: he wants to walk off the court for the last time in a Celtics' uniform.
"I just want to say that I love my situation here. I don't know all your sources or whoever is making up these articles about me getting traded to Denver and all these other places," he said, before repeating his love for the Celtics. "I bleed green, and I continue to do that. If it's up to me, I'm going to retire a Celtic. I just want everybody to know that."
