Lionel Hollins: Kevin Garnett will start for Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets entered the offseason with several questions.
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They lost free agent swingman Paul Pierce to the Washington Wizards and free agent point guard Shaun Livingston to the Golden State Warriors. They then were caught somewhat off guard when head coach Jason Kidd asked for more power. They denied his request and he left to take over the Milwaukee Bucks.
They hired former Memphis Grizzlies’ head coach Lionel Hollins to replace Kidd and inherited the question of whether or not Kevin Garnett will be returning for the 2014-2015 season.
Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News spoke with Hollins, who told Bondy that Garnett will start this season. Hollins also said he did not bring up retirement when speaking with Garnett.
Lionel Hollins says Kevin Garnett will start this season.
— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) September 15, 2014
Hollins says retirement wasn't brought up in conversation with KG. Used an interesting analogy: "It's either you're pregnant or you're not."
— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) September 15, 2014
The 38-year old Garnett had a poor season, averaging just 6.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 44.1% from the field and 80.9% from the free throw line during the regular season. In the postseason, he only went for 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game while shooting 52.4% from the field and 73.9% from the charity stripe. In his historic 19-year NBA career, the fifth-overall pick in the first round of the 1995 NBA Draft has played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics and Nets. He’s put up 18.6 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.3 rebounds per game while shooting 49.7% from the floor, 27.7% from beyond the arc and 79.0% from the foul line.
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