‘We don’t [expletive] with them.’ Garnett shares his thoughts on LeBron and the 2012 Heat.
The 2012 Eastern Conference finals still haunts Kevin Garnett.
At least that’s what he appeared to imply in a recent conversation with The Ringer’s Bill Simmons.
Appearing alongside Adam Sandler to promote their new film “Uncut Gems,” the future Hall of Famer set the record straight on how the Boston Celtics viewed LeBron James and the classic seven-game series.
“We didn’t give a [expletive] about LeBron,” Garnett, 43, told Simmons. “We didn’t fear LeBron, and we didn’t think that he could beat all five of us.”
“He was trying to consolidate because he didn’t want the pressure on him. You understand?”
That last point shouldn’t surprise anyone. The Celtics crushed LeBron’s chances of bringing Cleveland a title twice before the King infamously took his talents to South Beach. Garnett had every right to believe Boston played a role in “The Decision,” especially considering their elimination of the Cavs in the 2010 Eastern Conference semifinals.
“We broke LeBron,” he said of the 2010 East finals, later adding, “[You understand] how he got to Miami, Bill? You remember that?”
LeBron, of course, redeemed himself in 2012. After losing Game 5 in Miami, the King put on two of the greatest scoring displays of his then-young career to eliminate the Celtics.
Garnett, however, seemed to insinuate that the NBA conspired against the Celtics because LeBron needed the ring.
“The league knew that they had an agenda in which we wasn’t part of the agenda. You understand? Right.” he said. “And that’s how they ended up winning that series. Yeah, I said it.”
In true Garnett fashion, the 15-time All-Star spared no feelings when he admitted he and his ex-Celtics teammates still aren’t cool with anyone on that 2012 Heat squad.
“They don’t [expletive] with us, we don’t [expletive] with them.”
