Joakim Noah’s hatred for Kevin Garnett started when he was a rookie

SHARE Joakim Noah’s hatred for Kevin Garnett started when he was a rookie

When Joakim Noah entered the league, he said he was a Kevin Garnett fan growing up, but that soon changed when he had an encounter with the 20-year veteran.

Garnett’s former teammate Paul Pierce said the first time Noah met Garnett on the basketball court, the very intense Garnett rubbed the then-rookie Noah the wrong way.

One time, he asked [Joakim] Noah if he could rub through his hair, like a female or something.…And I know that kind of made [Noah] hot. And this was when Noah was a rookie, too. I remember Noah looked up to KG. He was like, ‘Man, KG, I had your poster on my wall, I looked up to you, man.’ And then [Garnett] just said something like that, and was like ‘F— you, Noah.’ I was like, ‘Whoa.’ This kid fresh out of college, looks up to KG, just said he had his poster on the wall, and he tells him that! It crushed him. It crushed Noah.

Noah isn’t a quiet guy on the court either, so it’s easy to see why the two players didn’t get along. Noah said he isn’t a fan of Kevin Garnett and called him “a very mean guy” and “ugly.”

The two NBA big-men had physical altercations on the court, as well.

When Noah was a rookie, Garnett elbowed him right in the ribs after an offensive foul.

After all the trouble Garnett has caused for Noah throughout his career, Noah still thinks very highly of Garnett.

WATCH: Kevin Garnett tries to bite Joakim NoahSo it’s always easy to get up for playing against him. He’s a helluva competitor. When he’s gone, I’m going to miss playing against him.

The Latest
Donald Trump is selling $60 Bibles, and if Jesus had not been resurrected, he most certainly would be rolling over in his grave.
Over the course of just six fast-paced episodes, Esposito creates a memorable character in this crime drama based on the BBC One series “The Driver.”
Ald. Jeanette Taylor, chair of the City Council’s Education Committee chair, said she’s disappointed that Johnson and his allies in the Chicago Teachers Union backed away from the fully-elected, 21-member board he once supported. “This is not going to be as easy a transition as people think,” she said. “We’re used to a top-down system.”
Alex Caruso has been looking for a defensive showing like the one he and his teammates put on display in the win over the Pacers, but Caruso also knows it needs staying power. Could Javonte Green help that process moving forward?
Christian I. Soto, 22, was charged with murder, attempted murder and home invasion, officials announced Thursday. Rockford Police Chief Carla Redd said earlier investigators haven’t determined a motive for the attacks.