The LA Clippers loved Kevin Garnett helping out in training camp, and Doc Rivers believes KG will be around a lot, even if it’s not in an official role.
The LA Clippers couldn’t have asked for a better guest to join them at training camp last week. On both Thursday and Friday, they were joined by the recently retired Hall of Famer to be Kevin Garnett. He worked with the team in practice and tutored the likes of DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin individually, particularly working with Griffin to teach him new moves in the post and how to defend and fight for position down low.
The players loved having Garnett around, and while he may not be joining the team in an official position as head coach Doc Rivers is hoping, it looks like he’ll be around a lot throughout the upcoming season.
Dan Woike of the Orange County Register reported what Doc had to say on Friday as training camp was coming to an end:
"“I don’t know. I’m going to … we’ll just figure it out. If it happens, it’ll be great. But, he’s going to be around enough where it’s official as far as I’m concerned.”"
It would be preferable for Garnett to join as an official trainer or any role the Clippers could find for him (he’s uninterested in coaching according to his own previous comments and what Doc has said), but this is still encouraging if he’ll be around this often.
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Doc also said last week that he’s offered an open invitation to Garnett to attend practice whenever he likes during the season. Thanks to Garnett having a home in Malibu, it’s easy for him to do just that.
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And with two days at LA Clippers training camp and close relationships with Doc, Paul Pierce, Brandon Bass (from their Boston Celtics days) and assistant coach Sam Cassell (an All-Star in 2003-04 with Garnett’s Minnesota Timberwolves), there are plenty of reasons, in addition to helping players like Griffin, for Garnett to be a regular at practice.
At the very least, that’s what the Clippers are hoping for.
Woike added what Jordan had to say, who was already eager to emulate Garnett’s intensity:
"“A lot of guys would be hanging out and relaxing, but he’s in a full-blown sweat before practice, lifting with us, shooting after with us. You really have to take and bottle that up, and I’m going to do just that… I hope he’s here permanently. I want to do whatever I can do to make that happen.”"
It’s clear just how big of an effect Garnett had in the two days he was at practice. If he can connect with guys that well so quickly and encourage players to work harder and help develop their game, there’s no denying he’d be a major off-court asset to the team.
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We’ll have to wait and see if anything, official or unofficial, comes to fruition. The LA Clippers want him around, and it seems as though Garnett must be interested after his appearances at camp.