It’s no secret that the older generation loves commenting on the new one, and the NBA is no different. Gen Z may have the finesse, but legends like Shaquille O’Neal still believe the game’s gotten softer. As Shaq put it, “I can make some of these sissies cry,” and honestly, he probably would, without a doubt… At 7’1” and 325 pounds, his presence alone was enough to shake defenders. But it’s not just the physical side of the game that’s changed; the mental toughness isn’t quite the same either. While many of us have great respect for Big Diesel, in today’s story, we’re focusing on a more open-minded legend’s comments.

Kevin Garnett got real about today’s NBA mindset. He was at the commentary desk for South East Melbourne Phoenix vs New Orleans Pelicans. The Hall of Famer said, “I got a couple of calls this summer from a couple of guys… a lot of these young kids are having problems with mindset. It takes some discipline and consistency, and I don’t know if any of these young players today have been taught that. Young guys don’t wanna do something, they just quit.”

This definitely sounds like a heads-up for Adam Silver, something that warrants a closer look. “Man, in our day, you had a coach on your behind telling you a, b, and c, and you gotta finish the workout… today’s workouts are 20 minutes just because kids can’t, you know, consume like they used to,” Garnett said.

Well, there are always exceptions, such as LeBron James. At 40, he still carries that old-school mindset, waking up at 4 a.m., grinding in the gym, and leading by example. That’s the Mamba Mentality Kobe left behind. Kevin Garnett himself praised Giannis Antetokounmpo for having that “old-school mentality of wanting to push through.” Still, KG admits it’s not the same as when he entered the league back in ’95, a time when toughness was the norm, not a choice.

This isn’t something that KG is voicing out for the first time.

For him, the problem runs deeper than just a shift in mentality. He believes the real culprit is the AAU system. The hoops legend has said that it has “killed our league.”  He argues that AAU teams care more about winning tournaments than actually teaching the game.

“These kids are not being taught anything. They have intentions and they want things, but the way they see it is not how our league works. You earn everything in this league. You’re not entitled to anything,” Garnett concerningly said. He isn’t alone in that belief, though.

The late Kobe Bryant said something similar more than a decade ago. “They’re killing the game,” Kobe warned.

“I hate AAU more than anything in the world. These kids aren’t getting good coaching. They’re playing too many games and not working on their game enough,” the Black Mamba said. When two legends who built their careers on hard work and fundamentals echo the same message, it’s hard not to wonder.

And maybe that’s precisely why even head coaches today are learning to adapt. As Lakers head coach JJ Redick put it, “not everybody is wired like Kobe.”

During the offseason, JJ admitted he spent time reflecting and journaling, trying to understand how to better connect with this new generation of players. Eventually, he realized he needed to “kinda meet guys where they are,” instead of expecting something that was expected of him when he was a player. LeBron, though, is not the only outlier, we have a certain Frenchman, who’s lit up social media not by expensive vacays but by putting in the actual grind.

Victor Wembanyama’s offseason training is meant to scare you!

Victor Wembanyama’s offseason didn’t look like anyone else’s, and that’s exactly the point. While most players were hitting the gym or chilling on vacation, the Spurs’ 7’4” star turned his summer into a global masterclass in greatness. From shaving his head and meditating with Shaolin monks in China to absorbing wisdom from NBA legends, the Frenchman made it clear that he’s not just preparing for Year 3, he’s building something big.

One of his most fascinating stops?

A workout with Kevin Garnett. “He’s got a very unique perspective on relationships with teammates, opponents, even refs and media,” Wemby said, clearly impressed. “He’s really smart emotionally. He’s got this energy but knows how to channel it.”

The previous line shows what really stuck with Wemby: how to control his fire. Back in his day, Garnett, who was way ahead of his time, was all about intensity, but he used it to his advantage. Learning that could be Wemby’s secret weapon against big players like AD and Bam Adebayo.

But just when fans thought Wemby’s KG sessions were the highlight, he dropped clips of himself training with Hakeem Olajuwon!

The Dream himself. Add that to KG’s mindset, Jamal Crawford’s creativity from last summer, and the discipline of Shaolin monks, and you’ve got a mix no one in the league is ready for.

Hakeem’s legendary footwork and post mastery meeting Wemby’s guard-like skills? That’s terrifying! 

The message from this summer couldn’t be clearer—Victor’s not trying to be the next big thing anymore. He’s coming for the throne, and the rest of the league better be on high alert.