NBA MVPs LeBron James, Steph Curry and Kobe Bryant Pay Tribute To Retired Kevin Garnett

By Carlo Monzon
Kevin Garnett
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett (21) smiles and waves to fans in the second half against the Washington Wizards at Target Center. The Timberwolves won 97-77.  Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

2016 is turning out to be a sad year for NBA fans after another legend, Kevin Garnett, followed in the footsteps of Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan and announced his retirement. After publicizing his decision, various superstars including LeBron James, Rajon Rondo and Stepehn Curry paid tribute to him.

Kevin Garnett officially retired from the NBA on Sept. 23 after spending 21 season in the league. Over a year before announcing his retirement, he decided to waive his no-trade clause with the Brooklyn Nets in order to return to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

After playing for one season with the team, he announced his retirement through his Instagram account.

"I'm just thankful," he said. "I can't even out that into words. I'm just thankful. I'm just thankful for everybody and the love. I never would have thought that people love me like this. But, for it to be reality is just something else, man."

Following his retirement, several NBA superstars took to their own social media pages to congratulate Garnett on his successful career in the league.
"To one of the best to play the game. Salute to KG," the Golden State Warriors' Curry wrote on Twitter.

Rondo, who was Garnett's former teammate during their time with the Boston Celtics, thanked the NBA legend for his passion for the game.

"I want to congratulate my brother on 21 seasons," he posted on Instagram. "He changed the game. Broke records. Won. Sacrificed. Gave his blood, sweat and tears. Thank you for teaching me. Thank you for what you've done and will continue to do for the game. Thank you for everything. Legend. G.O.A.T. My brother."

James, the leader of the reigning NBA champions the Cleveland Cavaliers, shared photos of him with Garnett. In his lengthy post, he looked back on how Garnett inspired him to be a great basketball player.

"Competing vs. you in whatever uniform you were in at the time meant the world to me because of two distinctive traits you had," he posted. "Passion and commitment to just compete every single possession."

Bryant, who also retired earlier this year, reminisced on the times he got to play against Garnett in the NBA.

"I loved every minute I competed against you," he said. "A true warrior."

  • ‘Wang Mingdao’s Diary’ reproduction highlights complexities of contemporary Chinese Christianity

    On December 9, the China Graduate School of Theology (中国神学研究院) hosted a public lecture titled “A Courageous Witness in the Times—Launch of Wang Mingdao (王明道)’s Diary.” The lecture, themed “Faith Patterns in Beijing’s Christian Churches Through the Lens of Wang Mingdao’s Diary,” featured Dr. Ni Buxiao (倪步晓), Associate Director and Assistant Professor at the Christian Faith and Chinese Culture Research Center of Alliance Bible Seminary (建道神学院), as the keynote speaker.

  • Floating library ‘Doulos Hope’ arrives in Taiwan; spreading love and hope from a former cruise ship

    Doulos Hope, the international floating book fair ship, has returned to Taiwan and is now docked at Kaohsiung Port, open to the public from December 18, 2024, to January 12, 2025. Originally built in 1991 and renovated in 2022, the ship features over 2,000 books on various topics, including faith, science, and art. It is operated by a diverse crew of 140 volunteers from 25 countries, offering services such as education, healthcare, and community outreach. The ship's mission is to spread hope and

  • Chinese Online School of Theology publishes annual ministry report: Expanding Chinese theological education through new strategies

    In the 2023-2024 academic year, New York-based Chinese Online School of Theology (COST) has seen significant development in expanding its ministry in theological education and mission outreach. They have promoted a series of new events and projects to explore different strategies that expand theological education for Chinese ministers. The following are some highlights from the 2023-2024 annual report:

  • Dr. Fenggang Yang: How foreign forces transformed traditional Chinese legal systems

    In a recent lecture to Chinese Christians, scholar Dr. Fenggang Yang (杨凤岗) gave an in-depth analysis of the historical evolution and contemporary significance of the modern legal system in Chinese society. He explored the tensions and integrations between traditional law and modern rule of law, highlighting the distinctive characteristics of China’s traditional legal system and emphasizing the role of foreign influences in introducing modern legal practices into Chinese society.

Top Stories