The NBA is a league in which intimidation can make all the difference.

It’s more than a matter of record that some of the most decorated players in the history of the National Basketball Association also talked the most trash.  Names like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas, Gary Payton, Charles Barkley and Magic Johnson are known for their impact on the hardwood as well as the verbal assault they placed on their foes.

Today, the man who currently possesses the title as the NBA’s biggest trash talker is Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett.  K.G., like his potty-mouth predecessors, has experienced much success – he’s an 13-time All-Star, an NBA champion, a former NBA MVP and a former NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

On last Tuesday night in a game against the Detroit Pistons, K.G. squarely put Pistons forward Charlie Villanueva on the defensive.  After the game, Villanueva tweeted the following about an in-game comment by Garnett:   

“KG called me a cancer patient, I’m pissed because, u know how many people died from cancer, and he’s tossing it like it’s a joke. I wouldn’t even trip about that, but a cancer patient, I know way 2 many people who passed away from it, and I have a special place 4 those.”

For those not aware of why Villanueva would be upset – the 6’10″ former Connecticut star has a condition called alopecia areata.  It basically causes hair loss, which Villanueva combats by sporting the bald look.

After catching wind of Villanueva’s tweet, Garnett attempted to implement some damage control by responding with the following:

“I am aware there was a major miscommunication regarding something I said on the court last night. My comment to Charlie Villanueva was in fact ‘You are cancerous to your team and our league.’ I would never be insensitive to the brave struggle that cancer patients endure. I have lost loved ones to this deadly disease and have a family member currently undergoing treatment. I would never say anything that distasteful. The game of life is far bigger than the game of basketball.”

Now certainly there’s a lot that goes on between the confines on the basketball court that the general public are probably unaware of.  The fact is that there is almost assuredly no limit of what is said among players.  And any attempts to regulate any trash talking would almost seem to be a moot point…becoming more of a “he said, she said” situation.

Will Villanueva's tweet put a stop to K.G.'s trash talking tendency?

But based on what Villanueva tweeted and what Garnett responded, K.G. is clearly in the wrong.  Maybe not legally or by any matter that can be addressed by the league.  But the court of public opinion is sometimes more punishing than losing what would be considered chump change to a multimillionaire. 

Here’s why Garnett made a misstep…

Trash talk is generally accepted when the topic is something that is a controllable situation.  For example, having an ugly jump shot, a terrible haircut, or even being overweight (or not in peak physical condition) would be considered as legit trash talking because they represent circumstances that can be changed.

But the line is crossed when unchangeable characteristics are made light of.  That would envelope things such as race or ethnicity, relationships with family – and serious health conditions would also tend to be included.  Villanueva cannot do anything to change his medical condition, and thereby became the victim of an insensitive comment from Garnett.

You might say that Villanueva’s not really affected by cancer.  But the fact that he resembled a person that could be affected by cancer is the important thing here.  Garnett is surely aware that hair loss can be a symptom exhibited by those affected by cancer, hence, any reference to Villanueva and the word ‘cancer’ would be done in very poor taste.

And what if Garnett only said that Villanueva was ‘cancerous to his team and the league?’

In this case, any use of a derivative of the word ‘cancer’ would be taken in a negative light.  Garnett could have said that Villanueva isn’t helping his team, or that he was harmful to the image of the NBA.  But, if he did say what his response suggested, his use of the term ‘cancerous’ would reflect just as much poor judgement as if he would have called Villanueva a ‘cancer patient.’  Think about it.  Does it matter if someone who is not African-American says that I am ‘acting in a niggerish manner?’  Of course it does. 

While Garnett was trying to save face with his rebuttal, if only confirmed one thing – - he lacks the tact to admit that he shouldn’t have said what he did.

But hey, what could we really expect from the game’s best trash talker?

T Lamont is the owner, administrator and author of all content for Ball or Nuthin\'. Feel free to contact T Lamont with a question or comment at ballornuthin@gmail.com.  All created Ball or Nuthin' content is the sole property of T Lamont. Read more from this author