Kevin Garnett was an NBA superstar known for his incredible versatility, leadership, selflessness, and defensive prowess. However, the one thing that many players remember him for was his smoldering intensity; once the 6’11” forward flipped the switch on, he couldn’t turn it off, and woe to anyone who crossed his path, be it a friend or a foe.
Garnett’s Boston Celtics teammate Glen Davis experienced this firsthand when he clashed with the 2004 league MVP during practice in 2007. While he respected the veteran who had arrived in Boston in the summer of 2007 via a blockbuster trade, Big Baby certainly didn’t back down against him.
However, Glen feared he had gone too far in a verbal clash and grew concerned that his NBA career would be over before it had even begun.
KG was fire personified
Over a decade has passed since Davis played in the NBA, but he still remembers what it was like to be Garnett’s teammate, saying that even taking him out of a game to give him a breather was an exercise in patience.
“I remember times where Doc (Rivers) would be like, ‘Go get KG.’ And I’ll be like, ‘KG, let me get you.’ He’d be like, ‘F–k no. The f–k? I just been on defense. I’m on offense. No. F–k that! Wait!’” Davis
“I’d be like, ‘Doc.’ He was like, ‘Go get him.’ No, he doesn’t want me to come pull him out of practice, you know. So, um, just, you know, being around a guy like that, you learn a lot.”
However, the memory that stuck with Davis the most was when he dared to stand up for himself against Garnett. The two had matched up in practice, and the 6’9″ power forward canned a midrange jumper. He felt so good about that shot that he held his follow-through a second or two longer – something that KG took offense to.
“He was like, ‘What the f–k you doing, motherf–ker?’ I’m like, you know, ‘This my little swag right here, right? You know, ain’t nothing, big fella,'” Davis recalled. “He was like, ‘Man, f-k your swag!'”
Davis, though, refused to get intimidated and continued chirping with Garnett, responding, “F-k your swag!”
Read more How often do Shreveport council members miss meetings?
Related: “I didn’t know it would be my last NBA season” – Jeremy Lin on not getting an NBA contract after winning a title in Toronto
Big Baby feared the worst
Not long after those words came out of his mouth, Davis immediately regretted them. As a second-round pick, his spot on the team was by no means guaranteed, and pissing the Celtics’ superstar off certainly didn’t do him any favors.
“After that, I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I think I might get cut.’ Like, ‘This motherf-ker don’t like me. He think I’m crazy,'”Davis remarked.
Davis’ fears became more pronounced when Garnett just walked past him before their next practice. Desperate to keep his roster spot, he approached the Big Ticket and apologized for his actions.
“I go to him and just was like, ‘Hey, man, I’m sorry. Like, I apologize. That didn’t…You know, that was on my part. I didn’t mean anything by that. Like, you know…I look up to you, man,” Davis divulged.
“He was like, ‘You good, big fella.’ He started laughing. He was like, ‘You know, you scared the s-t out of me.'”
While their relationship got off to a rocky start, Davis and Garnett eventually got along, with the latter taking the rookie under his wing and showing him the ropes. That proved pivotal as Big Baby eventually played a role during their run to the championship that season.
Read more China bank loans rise less than expected in August after July slump
Related: Glen Davis credits Kevin Garnett for saving his NBA career
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published September 14, 2026 at 1:54 AM.
