Video: Steven Adams Told Kevin Garnett He Didn’t Speak English to Avoid Trash Talk

Basketball Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett may be the GOAT of trash talking, so it’s understandable why Houston Rockets center Steven Adams told him that he didn’t speak English when he played against him during his rookie year (2013-14) with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Adams relayed the story on The Morning Shift (conversation begins at 16:47 mark).

“My confidence wasn’t high, man, so I wasn’t trying to get torn down by him,” Adams said. “Because he’s the man with the s–t talking.”

Garnett responded after seeing the story on social media:

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At the time, Garnett was in his first season with the Brooklyn Nets (and 19th NBA campaign overall). He had just finished a six-year stint with the Boston Celtics following a trade, and he was facing his ex-C’s teammate, Thunder big man Kendrick Perkins.

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As Adams tells it, Garnett and Perkins got to trash talking. Adams then came in for Perkins, and KG apparently turned his attention toward him. But the then-rookie knew better and immediately said “no English” to avoid Garnett’s trash talk.

You don’t have to look far to see NBA players respect Garnett’s ability to get into his opponents’ heads.

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So while Adams may be a rookie, he definitely made a veteran move to avoid KG.