Later, he made a name for himself in overseas leagues and caught the attention of the Minnesota Timberwolves, who were in dire need of talent as they joined the NBA, and from then on, he established himself in the NBA.
He entered the league in the 1989-1990 season, right when the Trail Blazers’ second dynasty was beginning, and the Timberwolves were often badly beaten by the Trail Blazers in the Western Conference.
Garnett suddenly cooled down, sat down to change clothes, and said, "When I said I’d throw a punch, it was just a metaphor, not that I’d actually punch him!"
At that moment, Kevin McHale walked into the locker room, limping slightly, leaning against a locker, and said, "Who said they were going to throw a punch?"
He had heard the conversation from outside the locker room, and his feelings about the matchup against the Trail Blazers were similarly complicated.
Not only because the Trail Blazers were old rivals from his playing days, but also because their coach was Larry Bird.
Before the game, he was torn about whether or not to call Bird or maybe greet him courtside before the game.
This duo, who achieved great success with the Boston Celtics, was known off the court for their chilly relationship.
They had too many differences in temperament; they couldn’t play together, couldn’t chat, they could only play ball together and nothing more.
However, once they retired and left the beloved basketball court, everything became a memory, and as they started new lives in their respective cities, the old days became warm.
Especially when they started new basketball jobs with different teams, reminiscing about their Celtics experiences made those days feel even more precious.
Kevin McHale knew how great and excellent Bird was.
And Bird also admired in his heart how remarkable and resilient a player Kevin was.
After they separated, they silently appreciated each other in their hearts, but neither ever picked up the phone to exchange greetings.
Before entering the Timberwolves’ locker room, McHale lingered at the away locker room door for a while before finally leaving.
Stephon Marbury answered McHale’s question, "Kevin Garnett said he wanted to punch Ah Gan."
Everyone started laughing again, McHale walked up to Garnett and said sternly, "Don’t be reckless, Kevin, there’s still a long way to go."
Everyone laughed even harder, and Garnett jumped up from his chair, "What are you laughing at? Why fear Ah Gan? What does he have? Tonight, we’re going to win, we’re going to make the playoffs!"
Kevin McHale patted the excited Garnett and said, "Winning is winning, that’s a different story. Stay calm, don’t let emotions control and cloud your judgment."
McHale understood Garnett and knew he was a passionate young man with incredible potential.
And in defense, he saw the shadow of Ah Gan in him, and he was still grateful they were able to snag him with the fifth pick.
But high school players indeed need more honing and growth to compensate for their lack of college education; college basketball is really different from professional basketball.
Later, in an interview with "USA Today," Kevin Garnett candidly said, "I’ve heard some high schoolers want to directly enter the NBA like I did, well, they’re crazy. I’d tell them to set aside money, fame, and women first. Nothing is easy in the NBA. If I had to do it again, I’d go to college, without hesitation."
Garnett realized the importance of college, but once work started, there was no turning back. Now, the Timberwolves are his college, and McHale is the dean.
McHale knew well the kind of player Ah Gan was and how skillful he was at destroying a young player’s confidence.
McHale pulled Garnett aside and said, "Ah Gan is an incredible player, a lot of people idolize him. But I’ll be honest with you, he’s actually a pretty nasty devil who takes pleasure in destroying his opponents on the court. Especially young players, it’s hard not to leave a shadow. Frankly, I sometimes still have nightmares about playing against Ah Gan. So be careful, don’t be hasty; play the game seriously, do your job, and don’t think or do anything extra, OK?"
Garnett nodded, though he was still enthusiastic and said, "When he retired, I thought I’d never have the chance to face him in the NBA, but now... This is amazing."
McHale shook his head and said, "I would’ve preferred him to stay retired forever, damn guy, what’s he back for?"
"Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. I... I’ve mastered some secret methods, don’t think I don’t know anything, I’ll be well prepared."
Garnett spoke mysteriously, and McHale didn’t know what he was talking about; this kid’s train of thought is just different from normal people.
Garnett usually cohabits with friends in a big villa; besides playing ball, he enjoys listening to music, dabbling in rap, and messing around with various fashion items.
These things were beyond McHale’s understanding, just like how players from the ’60s didn’t understand players from the ’70s with their afros and tube socks, and ’70s players didn’t understand ’80s players with their new sneakers and chewing gum.
Before the players hit the court, McHale found coach Sanders, and the two exchanged a few words.
"Facing Ah Gan is a good opportunity to grow," Sanders tried to think positively.
"Getting through it is indeed a good opportunity, but... damn it, this guy really is a devil, you don’t know until you’ve played against him."