Joakim Noah: Kevin Garnett is a meanie face

Joakim Noah dislikes Kevin Garnett

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ESPNChicago.com


Joakim Noah's candor is a quality that separates the Chicago Bulls center from many athletes, and when the subject is Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett, Noah's candor can turn into biting commentary.
Noah has gone from a fan who once had a Garnett poster in his room to someone who probably has a Garnett photo on his dartboard.
"Kevin Garnett will not -- will not -- get a Christmas gift from me," Noah said with a tinge of humor Wednesday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000. "I don't like him."
The feud started, or perhaps escalated, during last season's playoffs. After Garnett was suspended for throwing an elbow at Quentin Richardson, Noah -- who was in Cleveland playing the Cavaliers -- chimed in that Garnett was a "dirty player."
The most recent incident was Friday night in Boston when Noah received a technical foul, and afterward said of Garnett: "He is who he is."
"He's a very mean guy," Noah said Wednesday. "Where's the love? None at all. Ugly, too."
Noah said what makes the relationship difficult is how big a fan he was of Garnett before entering the NBA in 2007.
"I had his poster in my room," Noah said. "I used to wear his jersey. And the truth is my rookie year, I was in admiration of this guy, and he kind of shut me down.
"And he was very mean to me my rookie year. And he's only mean to the young guys and the [European players], for some reason. I don't know why, but that's who he doesn't like. He's not nice. I talk a lot of trash out there, but c'mon, be a little sensitive. Be sweet."
The Bulls play in Boston on Dec. 3.