Inspiration Comes in Many Celebrity Forms

Kevin Garnett is one of the National Basketball Leagues’ most respected players. The sure to be Hall of Famer spent 21 seasons in the NBA, with three different teams, and throughout his career, was an NBA Champion, MVP, All-Star Game MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. Simply put, Garnett won everything there was to win as an NBA player but what motivated Garnett?

On a recent episode of Bill Simmons’ podcast, Los Angeles Clippers guard J.J. Redick revealed some unknown information about recently retired Garnett, including that Beyonce helped him improve his conditioning later in his career.

“One time, I saw her working out and she was doing her dances and she was singing while she was doing her dancing,” Garnett told Redick. “So then I’m thinking to myself, maybe I should run and sing at the same time. So in the offseasons, I would go to Malibu, I would go down to the beach and when I run on the beach I would be like ‘La la la la la la la la la,’ while I’m running. So then, when I get on the court and I’m getting back on defense, I’m talking on defense, and I don’t get tired.”

Beyonce may have inspired and motivated Kevin Garnett but athletes and celebrities inspiring and motivating one another is nothing new…

Adrian Peterson on Adele

“When I was injured last year, I was really depressed. I was poised for a great season and it was taken away from me, like the person I loved had suddenly left me. Adele knows that feeling and her music really started to resonate with me. She won her first Grammy for Album of the Year in 2012, the same year I was MVP of the NFL. She then went through a tough injury, one that threatened her career. No one thought she could come back. She did though, she overcame a loss and has overcome what feels like hundreds of tough breakups throughout her life. When she won Album of the Year at the Grammys last month, I knew that even though I was hurt, even though I was broken, I could still recover and still return to greatness like Adele did. I’m really looking forward to doing that with the New York Giants next year.”

Andy Dalton on Amy Adams

“I might get some heat for this but winning isn’t everything. We’ve been to the playoffs, what, four times and sure, we haven’t won anything but at least we are there, right? Amy Adams has been nominated for an Academy Award five times, she hasn’t won but I don’t hear anyone saying Amy Adams is ‘average’ or ‘overrated’? Amy still works hard, she still gets major roles in impactful films and she is still an elite actress. I’m still going to work hard, I’m still going to play a major role in games and I’m still an elite quarterback. Our time will come, I just hope it does for me sooner than Amy because she doesn’t have AJ McCarron breathing down her neck every day.”

Russell Westbrook on Chance the Rapper

“I’ve always been a big fan of the Chicago rap game. It all started with Kanye West but he’s too big-time now, like that former teammate of mine. I’m still small market and I respect rappers that are small market. Up until last month, that was Chance the Rapper. Not anymore though, after he won three Grammys in one night! That guy goes hard on every track and I want to go hard every night. I know I can’t win three awards this year, I can’t even start on the All-Star team but if I can average a triple double, maybe I can convince Chance to stay small market like me. If not, let’s go to Los Angeles together and crush everyone else in California. I just pretended to be friends with Kevin Durant during the All-Star Game by the way.”

LeBron James on Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Casey Affleck

“It might have taken me seven years but once I realized I didn’t have to do this whole ‘lead my team to the championship by myself thing’ life got so much better. I remember seeing Matt Damon and Ben and Casey Affleck in Good Will Hunting before the 2010 season and I thought, ‘Damn, I better find some people to help me make a great movie.’ I called Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh and I was like, ‘You want to make this movie?’ They both didn’t really understand the movie analogy but lord knows they couldn’t do it by themselves either so it just made sense.”

LeBron James on Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Casey Affleck

“You guys see that picture of everyone reacting to the Oscars Best Picture mistake? I just hope Kevin Love didn’t see it because in this movie, Kevin Love is definitely Ben Affleck looking across the room and thinking, ‘Wonder what Matt and Casey are talking about?’ Kevin hasn’t put together a good season since Ben made The Town. So, let me just lay it out there for you, I am Matt Damon, I am Jason Bourne, nothing can hurt me. Kyrie Irving is Casey Affleck if Casey Affleck thought the world was flat and I’m going to take Kyrie to the top just like Matt took Casey to the top with Manchester By The Sea. Kevin is just hoping we still include him like they are still including Ben in the new Batman movie.”