NBA star Kevin Garnett, himself a strapping 6’11’’ towering figure, says Indian cagers could do with speed and strength.
NEW DELHI: An average Indian might feel like a demoralising dwarf in the world of giants called basketball but one of the brightest shining NBA stars, Kevin Garnett, assured the game is not all about height and India should not lose heart.
Himself a strapping 6’11’’ towering figure, the power forward from Minnesota Timberwolves who was adjudged NBA’s Most Valuable Player 2003-04, was here in the capital on a promotional campaign and he admitted he had no idea about basketball in India.
“I really have no idea about the standard here. I’ll be meeting participants of an inter-school basketball competition here. But I can assure you that basketball is not about height only. Of course it helps, as does speed. You don’t necessarily have to be a giant to play the game. You can do it if you are fast and strong. Basketball has different elements, you know and it’s not height alone,” Garnett said.
‘’My advice to the youngsters in India is to work hard, get your basics right and practice. Everything depends on the foundation. For Indian players, the more they play, the better. I guess cricket is the number one, two and three game in India. So encouragement and exposure would do a world of good to the Indian basketballers,” he said.
Listed in Newsweek as one of the 100 most influential people for the next decade and ranked 38th in the Forbes magazine’s celebrity 100 power ranking in 2004, Garnett —also known as KG, The Kid and The Big Ticket -is a cager who doubles up as philanthropist and he is visiting an SOS village in Bangalore, during his three-city trip, which, apart from Delhi, also include Agra, in India. “It’s a great feeling if you can encourage others and do something for them. Don’t believe that we the basketballers live a life which only the Hollywood stars enjoy. We are very hardworking people like you and very much part of the society. In Bangalore, I hope to meet the children of the village and have some fun. I’m looking forward to it,” said the hoopster, who committed to Oprah Winfrey’s Angel Network to build 24 homes and donated $ 1.2 million for the hurricane Katrina victims.
Taj Mahal’s ever-increasing list of admirers found a new entry in Garnett, who just can’t wait for his date with the mausoleum magnificent. ‘’I’m very much excited about the visit and would try to take everything possible with me, especially the experience of watching the Taj Mahal.’’
Despite his iconic status, the versatile power forward also emphasised that basketball is essentially a team game. ‘’Like your cricket, it’s a team game and a team plays for a common goal. Team spirit is very much essential for this game. It’s not like golf or tennis,’’ he explained.
A bit about this kid
- Plays for Minnesota Timberwolves
- Was adjudged NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2003-04
- Was listed in Newsweek as one of the 100 most influential people for the next decade and ranked 38th in the Forbes magazine’s celebrity 100 power ranking in 2004
- Is also known as KG, The Kid and The Big Ticket
- Committed to Oprah Winfrey’s Angel Network to build 24 homes and donated $ 1.2 million for the hurricane Katrina victims
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