Kevin Garnett. AP FILE PHOTO
Andrew Bogut left quite a huge hole in the middle for the Cleveland Cavaliers after suffering a season-ending injury in his first game with the club.
But before they signed—and eventually waived—back-up plan Larry Sanders, the defending champs actually sought out one the best forwards to ever play the game.
Head coach Tyronn Lue recently revealed that he tried to persuade Kevin Garnett to come out of retirement and reinforce his already stacked lineup.
In a recent appearance on ESPN’s NBA Lockdown podcast, the Cleveland mentor detailed a conversation between him and the one-time NBA MVP.
“I was like, ‘Man, you should come back and play for me.’ He was like, ‘Man, you all have a lot going on over there.“
Lue added: “That was before we hit our stride like we’re playing well now. He was like, ‘If you and [James] Posey were still playing, I would come.’ But he said, ‘But y’all are coaching and y’all are going through what you’re going through.'”
Lue was talking about a rough patch in March, when the team struggled to consistently pile wins. Garnett would eventually decline the offer, but the eager coach said he’d once again try next season. “He said, ‘Ah, I’m going to sit this one out.’ I said, ‘OK. We’ll call you next year.’”
After rejoining the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2015, the 15-time NBA All-Star decided to hang it up last year. He currently hosts his own segment called Area 21 on TNT’s Inside the NBA.
Meanwhile, despite failing to lure the “Big Ticket,” the Cavs look to be in top form as they are currently undefeated in the 2017 NBA Playoffs. Khristian Ibarrola /ra