We’re not even a quarter of the way through the NBA season and Kevin Garnett was as jubilant as a little kid on Christmas yesterday after the Celtics defeated the Spurs on the road.  Slowly the big man is coming into form and if his last three games aren’t any indication that the old KG might be around the corner, I don’t know what is.

The C’s have won 7 in a row and Garnett is scortching from the field, dishing out assists, and is as passionate about the game as ever.  And let’s not forget he also played 35 minutes yesterday.

But it’s more than that for me.  And as much as owning Garnett on my fantasy team plays into my bias, as a plain basketball fan it doesn’t at all.  Kevin Garnett is a warrior and the NBA needs more guys like him

The NBA gets a bum rap for being a league of pre madonnas who play for money and don’t necessarily play for the game of basketball.  They have flashy cars, posses, and live the lives that celebrities lead.  And for the most part, a lot of this is true.  So I don’t blame a lot of the people who hate the NBA game and favor the more “pure” NCAA game.

And I’ve argued before that this doesn’t matter all that much simply because the talent level in the NBA is higher and the game itself is more fun to watch (I respect people who disagree but I feel I’m right in this matter, with the exception of the NCAA tourney).

But what if we had that same NCAA passion in the NBA?  What if all the players in the NBA were playing for something?  What if they showed that heart these NCAA guys have?  That’s where Mr. Garnett comes in.

I don’t know Kevin Garnett personally.  And I don’t think I have to.  The guy plays the game to play the game.  He gets jacked up because he wants to win.  He loves to compete and the man will do whatever he can to get the job done.  We don’t know how badly he’s hurt.  And I’m willing to bet the guy goes to bed every night with an excruciating amount of pain.  But he still gets up every day and works his ass off.

Yes, he’s paid millions of dollars and should I be kissing his ass?  Yes, yes I should.  Because if you’re being paid all this money, Garnett is the model player an NBA inductee should strive to be.  He’s already won a championship and he’s already done what most players could never do (average 20 and 10 for a LONG time).   But Garnett seems as fired up as ever and we’re not even a quarter of the way through the season.

I just wish 25% of the players in the NBA shared his same fire and passion on the court.  It would make the games that much better.  And it’s evident that his attitude bleeds across the rest of the green jerseys.

While I’m not necessarily rooting for the Celtics, KG is alright in my book.