Your Morning Dump... KG in perspective

Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big story line. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.

There’s so much to cover with KG retiring–I’m going to go with some stats and a bunch of tweets.

But to start off, enjoy Bill Russell leaving KG speechless.

Bill Russell delivers the ultimate compliment to KG: “I always said that you’re my favorite player to watch. You never disappoint me.” pic.twitter.com/UKeON0RM3W

— NBA History (@NBAHistory) September 24, 2016

Sean Grande–from way back in 2013

With his 25,000 points, 10,000 boards, 5,000 assists 1,500 blocks and steals, Kevin Garnett joins…no one. He’s all alone.

— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) February 8, 2013

Ryan Wolstat (Toronto Sun)

Some stats on Duncan, KG, Kobe: pic.twitter.com/pfR4ER9iI6

— Ryan Wolstat (@WolstatSun) September 24, 2016

USA Today

From his two terms with the Minnesota Timberwolves (1995-07, 2014-16) to the Big Three era in Boston (2007-13) to his brief stay in Brooklyn (2013-15), Garnett, 40, ends his 21-year career as one of the most dominant power forwards in NBA history.

A handful of his accomplishments include:

15 All-Star selections (tied for fourth all-time)
12 All-Defensive selections (nine First Team)
2003-04 NBA MVP (24.2 points, 13.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.2 blocks, 1.5 steals)
2007-08 NBA Champion
2007-08 Defensive Player of the Year
26,071 points scored (17th all-time)
50,418 minutes played (third all-time)
14,662 rebounds (ninth all-time)
11,453 defensive rebounds (first all-time)
1,462 games played (fifth all-time)

Kevin Garnett to retire after 21 NBA seasons

Wyc Grousbeck

#ThankYouKG pic.twitter.com/EPNBJkBWPY

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) September 23, 2016

Danny Ainge

#ThankYouKG pic.twitter.com/R0QOOZVX5K

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) September 23, 2016

Zach Lowe

There will never be another KG. Very strong argument that he’s the greatest defensive player ever.

— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) September 23, 2016

And now we start getting into the recency bias stuff. The Celtics didn’t win eleven championships in thirteen years because of Bill Russell’s offense. KG is the second best defensive big man to play for the Celtics.

But Zach’s recency bias is nothing compared to this hoo-hah:

Jason McIntyre

Kevin Garnett’s legacy? Ring chaser.
Started the “Super Teams” by bolting for Boston pic.twitter.com/xSf16l8Ntm

— Jason McIntyre (@jasonrmcintyre) September 23, 2016

As I’m typing this (a bit after midnight Central time), that tweet–posted by a guy with 98,000 followers–has exactly fifteen likes. So, you know, he really went out on a limb with that take (he later doubled down on that take by asserting that Dirk is better than KG).

Anyway, one of the things that irks me about this, is that KG didn’t start this whole ‘super team’ thing. If you want to blame anyone, blame Ainge and Grousbeck for the modern incarnation of the ‘super team’, they assembled that team, KG didn’t. And that wasn’t even the first ‘modern’ super team. It was just the first one that won anything.

And secondly, let’s not act as though players have never left mediocre small market teams to chase titles in big markets. Wilt Chamberlain did it twice (forced a trade to join what by rights should be considered the first super team: The ’65-67 Sixers, a team assembled to do exactly one thing–beat the Celtics–and they only did that once). Then he demanded a trade that teamed him up with Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. After that, Kareem forced his way from the Bucks to the Lakers. And let’s not forget about the ill-fated combination of Shaq, Kobe, Gary Payton and Karl Malone that was assembled a few years before Boston traded for Ray Allen and KG.

Anyway, having gotten that off my chest, enjoy this highlight reel of KG’s top 50 plays: