Kevin Garnett’s foul-mouthed advice for aspiring Aussie basketballers

Speaking on centre court in Melbourne with fellow Celtics champ — and sometimes nemesis — Ray Allen after the Pelicans put on a show ahead of Friday night’s historic clash with NBL club Melbourne United, The Big Ticket was asked what for the best piece of advice he had for kids with basketball dreams.

The 211cm giant rose from his seat, paced around the court and looked up into the stands.

“My message to every kid in here is I don’t care what anybody tells you, f*** ‘em,” Garnett, now the star of his own colourful podcast KG Certified, said.

“If you love it, you believe in it, you believe in yourself, you chase that shit.

“Chase your dreams, you hear me?

“Whoever tells you, ‘no’, ‘f*** ‘em.”

It was very on-brand for Garnett, a fierce competitor and one of the greatest power forwards ever to suit up in the NBA, and was met with laughter from the crowd — and some raised eyebrows from nervous officials at the court.

Crude language aside, the RLA crowd lapped up the two legends, who had a fun Q&A after Zion Williamson and company dazzled on the court in their last real practice run before they become the first NBA team to take an NBL squad on Aussie soil.

RAY ALLEN: NBA X NBL A TIME OF EDUCATION FOR AMERICANS

- Jessica Robinson

NBA legend Ray Allen says this weekend’s historic NBA games in Melbourne will blow away American basketball fans’ “misconceptions of Australia.”

Returning to Australia - 25 years on from the Sydney Olympics - the dual NBA champion and 10 time All Star is in town for the NBA’s first games down under, and has the NBL crossover listed as a “point of education” for American viewers.

“The game will be televised live (in the US), so what happens is you start to get visuals of the city,” Allen said from an Amazon Prime event.

“People have never been here before, so to be able to see the skyline, it’s amazing to be able to send back any videos or a picture home and people are like, oh, wow, I didn’t know it looked like that.”

For Allen, it’s a heritage listed landmark that has topped his sightseeing this week, declaring “the train station was fascinating,” referring to Flinders Street Station.

Following the NBA first, the Hall of Famer has a bold vision for the international game on Aussie shores, declaring regular in season NBA games down under “can be done.”

“Everybody will say what can’t be done,” Allen said, “you know, look at an airplane in the sky, 
how does that happen?”

“But somebody has to wear the dream to say, ‘this is possible.’

“We’re (NBA) so adjustable and we can figure it out.”

“It is just logistics. You’re talking about being on different soil, you’re talking about so many great players in teams all over the world and being able to play NBA games on their soil, it can be done.”

Not only does Allen have a big vision for the pro game, but he’s also thinking large for the future stars.

“As much as we’re bringing NBA teams over here, I would like to see here in Australia, 30-40 team tournaments where we bring some of the best high school players in the world,” Allen said.

“Then you expose them to this as well, because it is a viable place for them if you’re 17, 18 (years old), you come play over here similar to what LaMelo (Ball) did.

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“Once you come here and see this is a real place that provides a resource and avenue for me to be successful, and then the kids that are here can see other high school kids and what is out in the market.

“We do it in cities in America but imagine bringing it to Melbourne.”

The NBAxNBL games tip off on Friday night at Rod Laver Arena and will be broadcast on Amazon Prime.