“Kevin Garnett got us to watch Gladiator”: Zach LaVine reveals how the Timberwolves legend bonded with him and Andrew Wiggins

Timberwolves legend Kevin Garnett once showed his rookies Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine the movie “Gladiator” before a game.

Kevin Garnett is one of the toughest players the NBA has ever witnessed. Garnett build himself one of the most decorated resumes over the course of his illustrious two-decade-long career. Not only did the 6-foot-11 big man dominate on the court, but he also made sure to get into his opponents head by talking a lot of trash.

KG played tough basketball and had grit which was unparalleled. The fact that he never was shy to face any type of competition, is what set him apart from his opponents. Skipping college and entering the league as a young 18-year-old, The Big Ticket took no time to make an impact on the floor.

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No doubt Garnett was an incredible player, but he also was a really good mentor too. Retired from the league as an NBA champion, 15-time All-Star, MVP and one of the best big men ever, Garnett will be inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame today. Ahead of his induction, Chicago Bulls All-Star Zach LaVine narrates an anecdote revealing KG’s personality as a player.

Zach LaVine narrates an anecdote about when Kevin Garnett showed him “Gladiator”

Back in 2015, when Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine were in the midst of their rookie season, Kevin made them watch the Oscar-winning movie “Gladiator” to inspire his rookies. LaVine narrated:

“Rookie year after he got traded to us [in 2015] — he gets to the gym early. As a rookie, you get to the gym real early like at 3:00 or 3:30 for the game. In the locker room there used to be a couch and TV next to the kitchen, so we walk in and KG’s there.”

“It looks like he’s been there. He’s watching the movie ‘Gladiator.’ It’s the final scene where Russell Crowe is fighting for his life. He sees me and Andrew [Wiggins] and he’s like, ‘Come here, come here.’

“So we walk over there. He’s real into the movie. ‘You see this s–t right here, this is what this s–t’s about. You die for what you believe in, you die for your boys. This is that mentality we need to have going into the game. It’s about war. It’s about going down with your boys. I love this s–t. This s–t gives me goosebumps.’

“I look, and he actually has goosebumps. I’m a big KG guy and I’m like ‘Yeah, I’m with you man. This is how we gotta play.’ He’s like, ‘Right, Zach. You feel me, Wiggs?’

“Andrew Wiggins says, ‘I don’t know even know what ‘Gladiator’ is, I’ve never heard of this movie.’ The look on his face was like perplexed. Not anger, but just like get out of my face. So he just looks at us and says, ‘Y’all go get ready for the game, man.'”

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Clearly, we haven’t come across any player quite like the legend Kevin Garnett.