Archives: The Time Kevin Garnett Almost Made Andray Blatche Cry

Andray Blatche

Andray BlatcheIn our roundtable last night on the newly re-signed Andray Blatche, William Rausch noted that new Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Garnett had a run-in with Blatche in 2010 that nearly left Blatche in tears.

The story originated from Michael Lee of the Washington Post. It occurred in a Celtics-Wizards game on March 8, 2010, and here’s the full text of the situation:

(Wizards head coach Flip Saunders) also was upset with Blatche for engaging in some fourth-quarter in trash talk with Garnett, which helped turn the game in the Celtics’ favor. “We beat ourselves by getting them energized, which got their crowd energized,” Saunders said. “Dray is wolfing the whole time at Kevin Garnett. You can’t do those kinds of things. When you’re coming up and establishing yourself, you don’t take a guy that’s been defensive player of the year and is probably the best power forward and get that guy juiced up to play against you. You got no chance.”

Blatche was noticeably upset and appeared to hold back tears as he explained his encounter with Garnett, which nearly got heated when Garnett approached Blatche and tried to wrestle the ball away from him. Blatche appeared to throw an elbow as Garnett continued to taunt him. Blatche later flung Garnett into a cameraman and sent him to the foul line for two free throws. Garnett smiled as he was helped off the ground. Reserve forward James Singleton said Garnett used his “veteran senses” to needle Blatche and get under his skin.

“I see myself as defending myself as a player. I’m a man, just like they a man. If a man is talking to me this close to my face,” Blatche said, moving his hand toward his cheek. “I’m going to say something back. He has to respect me just like I respect him. I just, ‘Get up out of my face.’ He was this close in my face – I can feel his lips touching my cheek – I wasn’t bragging saying ‘Ah we winning.’ It was ‘Back up.’ “

This locker room is going to be absolutely amazing.

The Washington Post — Celtics run past Wizards at end, 86-83