How Many Rings Could Kobe Bryant And KG Have Won Together?
Next Saturday, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. The two members of the 2020 class came in a year apart and had the opportunity to face each other in the finals twice winning a game apiece.
However, how many championships could they have won in a row if they actually joined forces in 2007?
According to Garnett, the two almost joined forces in Los Angeles in 2007, but instead as we know ‘The Big Ticket’ was traded to Boston instead.
On a 2020 episode of All The Smoke the 2004 MVP, revealed the news.
“I’m just being honest with everybody, I wanted to link with Kob'” Garnett told Barnes, Jackson, and a live audience in Chicago. “Kob’ and I had a different connect. When Kob’ and Shaq went on their little [feud], a lot of people went with Shaq. A lot of people didn’t even f–k with Kob’. I’m one of the very few that just stayed with him[…] But Kob’ respects dawgs.”
“If you ever notice, he never really got into it with someone he really respected. I watch when you [Matt Barnes] and him went at it and you threw the ball and he didn’t flinch. It was a form or respect they were talking simultaneously. So, when I watch him really get into with someone, he really didn’t respect them and it went like that, or he did respect him and it went another way.”
Garnett continued: I tried to link with him, and I couldn’t get him on the line, and P [Paul Pierce] was like yo man, what are you going to do? I am over here; you know what I’m saying? Then I sat Chauncey [Billups] and T-Lue; we used to work out together in LA. They were like; this is your chance to get with somebody and put what you’re doing in Sota [you can really do something]. I shot a Kob, but really didn’t pick the lineup, and I knew T-Lue and Kobe were close. He said to shoot at him again and see what he on.”
Ultimately, Kobe didn’t answer Garnett’s calls, and he decided to play with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen in Boston.
Garnett’s former teammate Ryan Hollins recently weighed in on the possibility of Bryant and KG linking up in Los Angeles.
“Him and Kobe could have been more dynamic than him and Shaq,” said Hollins.
“Honesty because Kevin Garnett’s motor and Kobe’s motor together, it would have been unheard of. Him, Paul, and Ray were good, but KG and Kobe would have dogged you in the league.”
The Lakers would make a trade for Pau Gasol and win back-to-back championships in 2009 and 10 after losing to the Celtics in 2008.
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