Garnett Speaks Up

St. Paul Pioneer Press

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Kevin Garnett looks around the Timberwolves' locker room and sees a void.

The lack of experienced NBA players on the roster means Garnett is shouldering more leadership responsibility. Known for leading by example, Garnett has become more vocal as he begins his 11th season.

"In times past, I would leave that to Ervin Johnson, or I would leave that to Tommy Hammonds," Garnett said of former teammates who spoke up when needed. "Now I'm smack in the middle of that. It's new."

Garnett is doing whatever it takes, even interrupting practice for a moment to make a point, if necessary.

Last week, he showed Nikoloz Tskitishvili the proper technique for setting screens and talked about every detail while his teammates watched and listened intently. Then Garnett spent more time after practice with Tskitishvili.

Increasing his communication skills is a facet of leadership Garnett accepts, if not embraces, because he realizes it is needed. Veterans such as Johnson, Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell are gone.

Rashad McCants, Dwayne Jones and Bracey Wright are rookies. The key newcomer with NBA experience, Marko Jaric, never has been an all-star, unlike Cassell and Sprewell.

Garnett, the NBA's most valuable player in 2003-04, is the leader of this team more than ever. He and Wally Szczerbiak are the only players on the roster who have been all-stars.

"I'm a lot more vocal because we have a lot of guys who are young and don't know what Case (coach Dwane Casey) wants, and aren't all the way comfortable with asking a question," Garnett said. "So I'll ask it out loud or I'll ask Case to go over something again if I feel like everybody's thinking, 'What the hell?' "

Garnett wants to pass along his perspective to ensure his teammates know what is expected in the NBA.

"It's a little more elaborate (role), but I'm put in a position where I have to do it, or who else is going to do it?" Garnett asked.

The younger players, especially, have taken notice.

"I've played with Tracy McGrady, Grant Hill," forward Ryan Humphrey said. "I've never seen one person who's as vocal."

"He's a sensei," training-camp invitee John Lucas said. "That's what we call him. He tells you when you're going hard and gets on you when you're not going hard. He wants to bring the best out of you, and you can't ask anything else from a leader."

Garnett's passion for the game is fiery. His patience wears thin at anything less than perfection.

"You can't look at how Kevin says something, you have to look at the substance of what he says, and guys have done that," Casey said. "He has been a great leader. He has been vocal. He has done everything from an organizational standpoint that you want a player to do ? working with young guys, helping young guys, and helping me as a coach. When he thinks the players are right, he'll stick up for them."</div>

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