Steven Adams reveals clever way to avoid trash talk from Kevin Garnett
The Thunder center used to say 'No English' whenever the future Hall of Famer came around
Kevin Garnett will go down as one of the greatest trash talkers in NBA history. He was loud. He was relentless. He would say just about anything to get in an opponent's head. Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams knew as much, and he told reporters on Sunday that he avoided Garnett's chatter by pretending he couldn't speak the language.
"He's got this presence about him that, it's intimidating," Adams said, via The Oklahoman's Erik Horne. "And he doesn't talk to me at all. I played the [no] English card one time -- he said something and I was just like, 'No English. No English, mate. Sorry.' He kind of left me alone, which is brilliant."
Steven Adams reflecting on Kevin Garnett's retirement. Said he pulled the "no English" card when KG tried to talk to him: pic.twitter.com/uUVgisG4vb
— Erik Horne (@ErikHorneOK) September 25, 2016
Adams went on to praise the future Hall of Famer for how he led his teams.
"The way he just talks to everyone -- it's not so much his trash talk, obviously he's like phenomenal at it, but it's more so like how he runs the team, and how everyone on the team kind of picks up off his energy and just does what he says," Adams said. "He's a real smart guy and he just understands everyone -- he's real equal amongst all his teammates. That's what's brilliant. People come to him and talk to him, but he could also say something back. It's a two-way road. That's what I've seen. Yeah, I look at a lot of things, mate, while I'm on the floor."
With Garnett retiring, it's unclear who will take his place as the preeminent trash talker in basketball. One thing that we do know for sure: Adams is one of the funniest and most quotable players in the league.
















