Former Grizzlies player Stromile Swift learned plenty of lessons when playing against KG
Stromile Swift, the former Memphis Grizzlies power forward, has a unique perspective on what it was like to go up against Kevin Garnett. The two played 10 times during Swift’s six seasons in Memphis, with KG playing for both the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Boston Celtics. Though the Grizzlies never beat the Timberwolves with Garnett, they went 4-6 against him with the Celtics.
It was a fierce rivalry, and Swift’s duels against the former league MVP, who often displayed some trash-talking behavior, helped mold him as a player. As he explained, it was those moments when KG, arguably the most physical power forward in the league, would dominate him both physically and mentally that ultimately allowed him to take the next step as a professional.
“We had battles,” said Swift in an exclusive interview. “You know how KG is, but he just took everything from me in practice. It was just one of those things; it happened in the regular season, too.”
In Swift’s time playing in the NBA, KG was known for his intense competitiveness, not just on the court, but during practice. He was renowned for going all out and refusing to hold back. This intensity was not only seen by opponents but also by his teammates. He wasn’t afraid to confront anybody or anything if he felt it wasn’t working the right way.
That passion would spill over during game time, which was what made facing KG so tough. He would challenge anyone, physically and mentally, leaving very little room for errors.
The young Swift learned his lessons well in those early years of his NBA career, both on and off the court. He had to fight tooth and nail for every single possession. Not backing down from a challenge is what Swift attributed as the most important lesson he took away from his matches with KG.
“Playing against a great player like KG — how hard he plays and how hard he wants to win — made me grow as a player. It gave me that type of fire, and that was what we always talked about during our practices. And for the rest of my career, I tried to replicate his style in my game,” he continued.
“It taught me the importance of not giving up,” added Swift. “He was so relentless, but it taught me that if you’re not willing to give it all — you need to keep working hard and keep grinding.”
Though it is now over a decade since Swift played alongside his veteran rival in the league, it is clear that he still takes valuable lessons from his clashes with KG. Swift attributes a great deal of his success to his experiences, a sentiment shared by several players who encountered the powerful power forward during his career.
“I give KG all the credit because when I was with him in those moments, when we went against each other in practice or games, it pushed me to be better,” concluded Swift. “That experience allowed me to realize who I was and what I could do as a player. “
