Often perceived as crazy, Kevin Garnett plays basketball with a passion and vigor that very few players can match. Garnett's passionate play and competitive nature is a big reason why he is a future Hall-of-Famer and why so many fans call him their favorite player. Daniel Megeath is one such fan and recently recounted a meeting with Garnett that was quite emotional for both him and the Minnesota Timberwolves forward.
When Megeath was a senior in high school, he got in a bad car accident that damaged his right eye so severely that he had to have it replaced with a prosthetic one. During his hospitalization, Megeath watched Garnett dominate the 2003 All-Star game and take home MVP honors. Feeling like he shared a kindred spirit with Garnett, Megeath had the doctors paint Garnett's #21 on top of his prosthetic eye.
Through a connection with former Nuggets guard Erick Green, Megeath actually got the chance to meet and tell Garnett his story when the Timberwolves played in Denver at the beginning of this season.
From Megeath's ibelieveinone.com:
Garnett got off the bus with a smile and greeted me like we've known each other forever. We small-talked talked briefly then I told him that I'd been waiting 20 years to meet him and travelled from DC to Denver for this current meeting. He was very appreciative and then I asked him, "Where were you on February 9th, 2003?" He paused and asked me the date again…
He said, "I was in the All-Star Game!".
I said, "I know, I was laying in a hospital bed watching you after I was in a car accident that nearly took my life.".
I told him about what he has done for my life and how I carry his number on my prosthetic eye and his demeanor changed. We talked more about it and he opened up a little about his current situation in dealing with the loss of Coach Saunders. Both of us were in tears by this point. He insisted on signing anything I had for him to sign and he expressed his respect by writing "LOYALTY" on the Wolves jersey and "The Big Ticket" on the Celtics. He also wanted to take a pic together holding the BiO shirt I brought to him.
He told me he'd definitely be in touch after I gave him my contact info. I had a text from him before I even made it back to our car that read: "It was real meeting you. KEEP GOING…KEEP INSPIRING US WITH ALL YOU DO AND CONTINUE TO DO. IT'S LUV BRO…lock my number in. Pleasure to meet you. -Tic" with an attached picture showing him wearing the BiO wristband.
Here's video of Garnett meeting Megeath:
This just yet another story of how Garnett is a totally different person off the court than on it. So the next time you see Garnett be overly enthusiastic on the court, remember it comes from a very genuine place.
H/T: NBA Reddit
