Over a foot in height separates Isaiah Thomas from Kevin Garnett, but they might be equals at heart.
Boston Celtics fans have high esteem for Thomas and Garnett, and the two share similar feelings for one another. Garnett praised Thomas for his toughness last week on “NBA on TNT.” Thomas responded in kind Monday in an interview with ESPN’s Chris Forsberg.
The Celtics point guard compared himself to Garnett, who serves as a model for aspects of Thomas’ game.
“I’m the 5-9 Kevin Garnett,” Thomas said. “That’s who I want to be. (Garnett’s praise) means a lot. For a guy I looked up to, who I knew I would be nothing like (in size), but just the way he prepared himself, the way he didn’t back down from anybody, and how he was so locked in. It was amazing to see that up close. For him to say that about me, that says a lot.”
Thomas and Garnett aren’t alone in their mutual comparison. Celtics staff members also see similarities between the NBA legend and current Celtics star.
“Even guys around here, like our strength coach (Bryan) Doo, he always says, ‘You would have loved KG and he would have loved you,’ ” Thomas continued. ” ‘He doesn’t like a lot of guys, but he would have loved you.’ And I wish I got to play with a guy like him.”
Despite his small frame, Thomas has blossomed into an NBA All-Star with the Celtics and is enjoying a fine start to the 2016-17 season. But nothing will bring him closer to the 6-foot-11 Garnett in the eyes of Celtics fans than winning a championship with Boston.
If Thomas manages to achieve such a feat, why not call him the “Little Ticket,” as Forsberg suggests?
Thumbnail photo via Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports Images
