Icons recognize icons, and their mutual respect is truly something to behold. From Magic Johnson and Larry Bird to LeBron James and Kevin Durant, NBA greats have often shown respect to even their biggest rivals. Recently, Boston Celtics legend Kevin Garnett paid tribute to a 2x NBA All-Star on his Instagram profile.

After getting drafted as the 3rd overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets, this 2x All-Star went on to star for the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers.

Kevin Garnett Expresses His Admiration

Big Ticket KG, who was nicknamed for his agility and dunking prowess, reshared a reel on his Instagram story, which is a resurfaced compilation of some of former Hornets star Baron Davis’ best plays. Davis was a promising prospect when he joined the NBA and quickly established himself as a powerhouse of a player. He led the league twice in steals, averaging 1.8 per game over his career.

In the clip, he can be seen running circles around his opponents and dunking with enviable ease in multiple matches from his younger days in the NBA. The original video was posted on the Instagram account of a Philadelphia coach, B. Smith, who entreats the young players under his charge to emulate and embody the skills displayed by Baron Davis.

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He captioned the post, “(Baron Davis) coming into the (NBA) hit the ground running! His game was built for the league. To all my Youth hoopers, (YouTube) him and take whatever you see that is in his game you might can use…” Sharing the clip, KG wrote, “(Baron Davis) was “LIKE THAT” (salute emoji) (100%)”. 

Baron Davis is a great role model for upcoming youth players, as he was a star performer straight from the get-go. His game was impeccable, and it is easy to see why even a veteran like Kevin Garnett would look up to him and salute his undeniable skill in the sport, eleven years after his NBA career was over.

Baron Davis’ unfortunate NBA exit

Davis’ NBA career was tragically cut short when he injured his patella on May 6, 2012. The injury occurred mid-game during the New York Knicks versus the Miami Heat game. Although he made a twelve-month recovery, it was this setback that ultimately put an end to his thirteen-year NBA career.

The 2x All-Star tried to make a comeback to the NBA and signed with the Delaware 87ers of the NBA G-League. While he performed well for the 87ers, Davis couldn’t make it back to an NBA bench.

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Though his peer Baron Davis had an unfortunate exit from the NBA, it is clear that Kevin Garnett still thoroughly respects him and considers him one of the greats in the sport of basketball.