Blatche, Garnett rivalry is no more

According to Andray Blatche, there is no more rivalry between himself and soon-to-be teammate Kevin Garnett.

Blatche told of a specific example showing how that rivalry is indeed no more:

“I believe it was last year in Brooklyn -- I was playing against him -- at the free throw line, he said ‘Man, keep your head up and keep fighting.’ And when he said that it caught me off guard because of the battles between me and him, so I was like ‘OK, I guess we’re cool now,’” Blatche said in a conference call after it was announced that he had officially re-signed with the Nets. 

“He said, ‘Keep your head up, keep fighting.’ And ever since then ... the whole rivalry thing has been over with.” 

In the conference call, Blatche described Kevin Garnett as a "great, great, great, great leader to follow behind."

When Blatche was still playing for the Wizards back in 2010, the rivalry got heated as he engaged in trash talk with Garnett. That sparked a Celtics comeback as they would rally and win the game 86-83.

“We beat ourselves by getting them energized, which got their crowd energized,” Saunders said. “Dray is wolfing the whole time at Kevin Garnett. You can't do those kinds of things. When you’re coming up and establishing yourself, you don’t take a guy that's been defensive player of the year and is probably the best power forward and get that guy juiced up to play against you. You got no chance.” 

 As the Washington Post puts it, Blatche “appeared to hold back tears” as he explained the Garnett incident: 

“...which nearly got heated when Garnett approached Blatche and tried to wrestle the ball away from him. Blatche appeared to throw an elbow as Garnett continued to taunt him. Blatche later flung Garnett into a cameraman and sent him to the foul line for two free throws. Garnett smiled as he was helped off the ground. Reserve forward James Singleton said Garnett used his ‘veteran senses’ to needle Blatche and get under his skin.” 

“I see myself as defending myself as a player. I’m a man, just like they a man. If a man is talking to me this close to my face,” Blatche said, according to the Washington Post. “I’m going to say something back. He has to respect me just like I respect him. I just, ‘Get up out of my face.’ He was this close in my face -- I can feel his lips touching my cheek -- I wasn’t bragging saying ‘Ah we winning.’ It was ‘Back up.’” 

Source: ESPN New York

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