KG: Selfish or unselfish?

[Andrew]

Kevin Garnett is having a career year, and is one of the top candidates for the MVP award. However, he's still being criticised for not shooting too much, for being too unselfish and unwilling to take a lot of shots and carry the scoring load in the fourth quarter. Flip Saunders has dismissed that talk, commenting along the lines of one minute the media will criticise a player for being too selfish and will complain that players these days are too interested in their own stats, and won't put the team ahead of their own selfish goals. The next, they're criticising a player for not being too selfish and for being afraid to shoot. KG is the current spokesperson for the "Can't silence the criticis no matter how I play" club.

John Stockton is one of the most unselfish players in history. He scores more points than he dishes out assists, but since you get more than one point for a field goal, that's bound to happen. In terms of shots, Stockton attempts an average of about 8 per game, while averaging 7.6 apg. For his career, he's averaged 9 shots and 10.5 assists per game. No question, he's unselfish, and so he should be as a traditional type of point guard. But couldn't he be criticised for not stepping up when Karl Malone's shot is inconsistent (see: Finals, NBA, 1997 & 1998)?

Michael Jordan has been criticised for being too selfish, but he's been able to be play a large role on a championship winning team, to say the least. Words like ballhog are used, people can point to the time he scored 64 points in a loss to Orlando or his 9/27 performance in this year's All-Star game to justify that statement, but you guarantee if he didn't score enough, then he would be criticised for not carrying the team and doing what he does best.

Now...

Both John Stockton and Michael Jordan are great players. They rank among the top 10 in various categories (Stock of course is at the top of two), hold individual records and have been major factors in the success of their teams during the 90s. One has been a great playmaker who can be called on to score when needed. The other has proven to be a great scorer, but a player who will defer to his teammates when needed. But you could still call Stockton too unselfish at times, and you could still call Jordan too selfish at times, yet they are still given their due.

So...

Which do you think would make Kevin Garnett a better player? Selfishness or unselfishness? In terms of his scoring average, he's close to the "happy medium" right now. 23.1 ppg and 5.9 apg (from the power forward spot no less) while attempting an average of 18 shots per game.

Personally, I think he should stay the course. Wally Szczerbiak is only averaging 16.8 ppg this season and Hudson can create for himself, so there's less opportunities for KG to pick up assists within the flow of the game (especially since he's not the point guard). He still leads the team in assists. He could probably take a couple more shots per game, or at least try to get to the line more often (which would require more touches anyway) especially in the fourth quarter, but his current play hasn't really hurt the Timberwolves so far this season. It might be a different story come playoff time though.

So what do you think? Is KG too selfish, too unselfish, or is it his supporting cast that is preventing the Timberwolves from advancing past the first round?

[Metaphysical3]

Troy Hudson is good....but they need more of a distributor as a PG in Minnesota. So KG wont have to make all the plays. Wally is good too but i think they need someone who is more versatile and can score about 20 consistently.

Also, another shooter (preferably a big man) wouldnt hurt.

[mp3]

or is it his supporting cast that is preventing the Timberwolves from advancing past the first round?

defiantly, the twolves have never had a centre that can contribute at both ends of the floor, also they dont have a true point guard that can distribute the ball well.

kg's numbers are 23.1ppg 13.40rpg 5.9apg + he takes about 21 shots per game.
kg's 5.9apg is the teams best so i would not say that he selfish.
as for the playoffs kg will be looking to his shoot more pass less so i think its up to troy hudson to step up the passing game

[Poollit]

funny how we say he's too unselfish, when shooting 18 per game. 2 yrs ago when Kobe was crtisied for shooting 2 much, he only shot 18 per game also.

I think KG should do what he feels is best, but a few more points could help prove that he isn't just a player to get assists and reb. but also a scorer like Kobe and T-mac.
in my opinion if he proves he can average 30 ppg, and still get 6 assists he's the best player in the L, no argument. But until that day, Kobe's still up there wit him.

[Andrew]

funny how we say he's too unselfish, when shooting 18 per game. 2 yrs ago when Kobe was crtisied for shooting 2 much, he only shot 18 per game also.

True, but I think that those who are criticising him for being too unselfish are probably referring to his reluctance to take more shots down the stretch in close games. But you're right, it's ridiculous when you consider the same numbers are considered selfish for another player. I guess the difference there is KG doesn't have another 20+ ppg scorer, while Kobe has another proven consistent offensive threat on his team to whom he can defer.

But like I said in the first post (and when I voted), I feel KG is playing the way he should. Perhaps he could take a few more shots in certain situations, but for the most part, he's playing his game and the Wolves are winning, and their record is better than their roster suggests.