Buried beneath those ready-made sound bytes, though, was an offhand remark about what fuels him other than critics who dislike his style or admirers who think he does not have much basketball left to play.
“Not knowing if this is my last year to play, playing against younger talent, being competitive,” Garnett said. “I’ve been playing with great guys, and even better, younger guys who are getting better. [We have a] great coaching staff and organization with good people working in it. I am self-motivated, but coming here every day, it’s an easy thing to do. You have some hard days, some rainy days, but for the most part I look forward to waking up and coming in.”
Garnett could have meant many things by saying he did not know if this was his last year. He could have been speaking about the Celtics, since he is a free agent at the end of the season. He could also have been talking philosophically, about playing every season and game as though it could be his last.
His exact meaning will not be known until the Celtics’ season is complete, and that could be a while away.
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