Kevin Garnett once got a Celtics practice canceled because he refused to take a day off

It’s February 2009. The Boston Celtics are reigning NBA champions, and trying to repeat with an aging core led by three stars on the wrong side of 30. One of those players is Kevin Garnett.

This was Garnett’s 14th NBA season. As such, Boston coach Doc Rivers was more concerned about keeping KG fresh for the playoffs rather than pushing him every day. So Rivers came to Garnett and told him he would not be practicing on this fine February afternoon. It did not go over well.

ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan recounts Garnett’s reaction, which was to essentially mimic replacement Leon Powe up and down the court until Rivers canceled practice.

Garnett, forbidden to take the floor by his own coach, had concocted his revenge: He would track the movements of power forward Leon Powe, the player who had replaced him in the lineup. As Powe pivoted, so did Garnett. As Powe leaped to grab a defensive rebound, Garnett launched himself to corral an imaginary ball. As Powe snapped an outlet pass, Garnett mimicked the motion, then sprinted up his slim sliver of sideline real estate as Powe filled the lane on the break. The players were mirror images: one on the court with a full complement of teammates, the other out of bounds, alone. Two men engaged in a bizarre basketball tango.

“KG,” Rivers barked, “if you keep doing this, I’m canceling practice for the whole team. That will hurt us.”

Rivers would cancel practice, but this story exists as a prime example of Garnett’s legendary competitiveness and relentless attitude toward preparation. Powe summed it up well:

“‘What is he doing?’ That’s what we were saying,” Powe recalls today. “And at that point you start wondering, Is KG maybe a little crazy after all?

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