After watching this player founder for so long in Minnesota, it was refreshing to see him taken seriously with a capable cast of characters. Some folks admire his intensity, some scoff at it, but the biggest thing he has contributed to this team is a sense of pride to be had on the defensive end of the court. Most folks enjoyed watching him take over games in Minnesota, but is that what he'll be remembered for? I can't think of another instance of a player redefining his game so much and having such success at the same time.
Really interesting point. KG always had this defense mentality in him, but he sure turned his efforts to that side of his game, since the Celtics have plenty of offensive threats. I thought about Shaq in Miami, but that wasn't the same thing.
Shaq in Miami was certainly in the same ballpark at least. He had to prove he could be the team player and not the guy who had to carry the load, like he had to in LA. Say what you want about Kobe, he wasn't winning those three titles around the turn of the century without the Big Aristotle. Shaq is close, but I still don't think his rededication was quite the same. The biggest change he had to make in Miami was physical truthfully, but obviously that isn't the easiest thing in the world to pull off.
