KG: A to Z: An Uncensored Encyclopedia of Life, Basketball, and Everything in Between

by Kevin Garnett

NATIONAL BESTSELLER​

A unique, unfiltered memoir from the NBA champion and fifteen-time all-star ahead of his induction into the Hall of Fame.

Kevin Garnett was one of the most dominant players the game of basketball has ever seen. He was also one of its most outspoken. Over the course of his illustrious twenty-one-year NBA career, he elevated trash talk to an art form and never shied away from sharing his thoughts on controversial subjects. In KG A to Z, published ahead of Garnett’s induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame, he looks back on his life and career with the same raw candor.

Garnett describes the adversity he faced growing up in South Carolina before ultimately relocating to Chicago, where he became one of the top prospects in the nation. He details his headline-making decision to skip college and become the first player in two decades to enter the draft directly from high school, starting a trend that would be followed by future superstars like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. He shares stories of playing with and against Bryant, James, Michael Jordan, and other NBA greats, and he chronicles his professional ups and downs, including winning a championship with the Boston Celtics. He also speaks his mind on a range of topics beyond basketball, such as fame, family, racism, spirituality, and music.

Garnett’s draft decision wasn’t the only way he’d forever change the game. His ability to play on the perimeter as a big man foreshadowed the winning strategy now universally adopted by the league. He applies this same innovative spirit here, organizing the contents alphabetically as an encyclopedia. If you thought Kevin Garnett was exciting, inspiring, and unfiltered on the court, just wait until you read what he has to say in these pages.

Genres: Sports, Basketball, Memoir, Biography, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, Audiobook

Audible Audio

First published February 23, 2021

Reviews

[La'Tonya Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to keep it 100: if KG merely spit on the page, I would've squealed and called it art. I am what is known as a Day One fan since this man stepped into the league. Been a Ride or Die the whole 12 years at Minnesota on to the glory years at Boston and I literally sat on my couch and cried actual tears that fateful day that Kev and Paul Pierce were traded to Brooklyn. All that to say, this book was getting an automatic four stars from me just for existing.

What an absolute pleasure it is to spend quality time with one of your all-time favorite athletes. I learned new things about KG and gained an even deeper appreciation for his intelligence and work ethic. I was concerned about the encyclopedia style format but it's actually pretty clever. For the most part, the book does move chronologically although there are some topics that are out of sequence. Nevertheless, it isn't hard to follow.

My main gripe is that there just isn't enough! I'm greedy: I want every single detail, especially about the Boston years. Truthfully, the book lands at a 4.5 but I'm gonna round up. After all, it's KG.

[Barnabas Piper · Rating 5 out of 5]

KG was the player who made me love hoops, and I loved this creative and *very* on-brand way of telling his story. It was unlike other bios. It sounds just like him. Any basketball fan would enjoy it.

[Book Reviews by Tara aka Queen of Memoirs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This memoir is one of the most creatively written books I’ve read in a while. In the Introduction KG disclose that the book is written in a “zig zag, all over the place” fashion. He states it’s not linear, because he’s not linear and he doesn’t remember his life in a linear fashion. This format turned out to be very engrossing.
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The encyclopedia concept is clever. KG shares that he has ADD, ADHD & dyslexia. And as a result, he structured this book like an encyclopedia, with little bite size messages. He wrote it this way because it’s easier for someone with a short attention span to consume. I must admit, it worked!
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Each chapter is a letter of the alphabet. With the 1st chapter being the letter A and the final chapter being the letter Z (hence the title KG A to Z😉. With each letter he discuss a wide arrange of topics beginning with that letter. To give you an example, this is Chapter “D”
𝘿
Glen Davis
Depression
Dissecting
DMX
Doc
Double-Team
Dr. J
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Duke vs. Michigan
Tim Duncan
Dunk
Kevin Durant
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With this writing style Kevin covers a lot of ground. Yet, no story was too long, or too short.
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I got a good sense of who Kevin Garnett really is. Because the topics he discuss are so diverse, I feel like I got a well rounded picture of KG the man, and the athlete. And I like him! He seems to be a really down-to-earth kind of guy. I was pleasantly surprised.
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I learned a lot about the NBA, and what goes on behind the scenes.

The most impactful story in the book is the story of Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, the former NBA player that sparked controversy during his career when he refused to stand for the national anthem in a sign of protest, stating the flag of the United States is a symbol of oppression (this was before Colin Kaepernick).
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Overall, I enjoyed this book. I recommend it to everyone including teens.

[Leo Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

My love for this man only grows

[Jimmy Leitsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really fun read by one of my favorite players. It felt like having a conversation with the man himself. This was put together in a really creative way.

[Hannah Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay I am in the beginning stages of learning to love basketball and the culture and everything, and this was so enjoyable. KG’s memoir is written in alphabetical bite-sized entries (partly bc of his ADD and ADHD) and it was the most fun!! He shows up larger than life as he details his path to the NBA, his relationships, life lessons, and “everything in between.” Go Twolves 🤍🐺

[Ryan Elsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kg is the man

[Russell Thiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was always a big fan of KG!!! I could hear him talking...
A great read!!!!

[Kameel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Love KG....By far one of my favorite basketball players....I love his love for the game. This story basically chronical his rise as an NBA player. KG touches on his life growing up and how he developed a love for the game, how music played an intricate part of his life from past to present as well as some of the legends he admires. This was really a captivating book.

[Corey Preston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Look, this is a fun book for any basketball fan, and especially any admirer of the unique energy and philosophy of KG.
But KG is a really smart, introspective guy - with a crazy poetic voice - and this book ultimately only scratches the surface of that.
I imagine that was by design - cultivating a brand, that sort of thing.
But I look forward to that point down the road when KG is old and wise, and gives zero shits, and really digs deep. I know he hardly thinks of himself as a "literary" guy (thats part of the basis for the encyclopedia format), but he IS a philosopher, and a poet, and the scaffolding is there for something legitimately great.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a KG or basketball fan, this book is a fantastic, five star read. If hoops isn't your thing, I don't recommend.

[Brian Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unique and interesting narrative and approach to the book. The narrative was very much written as KG would be speaking, and those who know, know he has a unique speaking style. The approach to the book was unique too. KG has dyslexia, ADD, and ADHD. He said for these reasons he cannot focus for long periods of time to read, and wrote the book in this encyclopedia format... topics from A to Z. He gave his view on the topics and sprinkled in moments of his life in very short fashion, direct, and at a fast pace. I listened on audiobook and it would have been awesome if KG narrated, but the narrator was very good.

On a personal note, it was fun seeing how similar KG thought to me on so many things. Things like how the game should be played, favorite movies, favorite athletes, even not liking to wear his favorite shoes so as to not risk smudging them.

ANYTHING IS POSSIBBBBLLLLEEEEEE! 🤣🤣🤣IYKYK

[Toni Mackisson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I saw one of my favorite players of all time wrote a book I knew I had to read it. KG does a great job of taking you back and forth from the past to the present telling stories that feel like they’re happening in real-time. His emotion jumps off the pages and makes you see KG the player and KG the person are not that far apart. He loves his life with passion and the stories translate. Written in encyclopedia format, he lets you grab bits and pieces of his life until it formulates into one long timeline full of lessons and behind the scenes you don’t get to see on tv. If you love hoops read this, if you love KG read this, if you love a good story teller read this.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I ever write my autobiography, it'd be in this A-Z format. I finally got to learn what fires him up inside. Enjoyed reading about his relationships with family and people who shaped his life. There are also some general advice for things he faced in life, like negotiations, perfection, and routines.

[Larry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book by a great player but... there we're times where I was bored by it. I stoll recommend it, just not the highest recommendation though.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

tanti aneddoti e curiosità tra il divertente e il saggio di un mito come Garnett!!
molto bello!

[Zeb Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably one of the most enjoyable books I’ve ever read. Loved KG as a player and his character shines through here. The way this book is written, and the reason why make it that much better.

[Kacper Kuśmierczak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super

[Romana · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I met Kobe, we talked about his bond w/ KG. Then KG said those same things in this book. Amazing.

This was so good & went beyond basketball really well. Also loved the in-depth nods to Hakeem & Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf 🤲🏽

[Jacob Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing and CREATIVE way to write an autobiography!!!
The perfect style for KG who really was all over the place.
It was a little hard to follow as the book jumped between times - but it really felt like it was KG talking about HIS life which was refreshing.

[John Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My love for KG has grown even more. Reading about anyone who has overcome ADD, ADHD, and dyslexia is awesome.

[Jim Cilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely interesting for a Celtics fan and basketball fan in general. Love how he bounces around and tells story’s out of order. Not a typical autobiography. Refreshing!

[Beef · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anything is possible 🔥

[Dustin Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.
Unorthodox in its narrative form. Not totally sure if this is too short or just right. Some of these stories I have heard in interviews, but most of them are new and often fascinating. Gave me a renewed respect for Garnett as a player and as a man of great character and great convictions.

[Dominique · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

This was such an honest, yet fun, memoir written by one of the coolest, most humble guys in the basketball world. Even though he’s now retired, he’s still one of my favorite players in the League - past or present - so this was a must read for me. (Granted, I might also be a little more biased given the fact I’m from Minnesota & he’s such a HUGE part of Timberwolves history.)

I *really* enjoyed all of the stories and memories he shared about his time on the court & also about his relationships with legendary coaches like Flip and Doc, and with specific players I grew up watching all the time like Chauncey and Rasheed, to name just a couple. All in all, I can definitely say this book made me love and respect him even more than I already did, especially when it comes to KG off the court.

[CHAVANIN PISANKUNAKIT · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I thought of Kevin Garnett, I just pictured a very talented basketball player, top pick fresh out of high school. I did not know anything about his personal life and only knew parts of his harsh personality that shone through on the court. This is what sparked my curiosity about picking up this book, cuz I didn't believe he has a memoir. However, through the journey of reading this memoir, I started to understand how KG became the person he is. His work ethic, confidence in speaking out about issues, and motivation allowed him to become the star player he is. The writing is appealing to anyone who likes basketball, and probably a general audience too. The way David Ritz, the author, writes sounds like it's listening to KG, and it was compelling to read each of his stories from A to Z.

[Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

KG A to Z was a solid book but felt incomplete. The A-Z format was unique but fell flat.

I gained a lot of perspective from learning about his upbringing and home life. It always amazes me to hear stories about genuinely self-made people.

My rating is a three/five because I wanted a lot more from his chapters on Mark Cuban, Uncut Gems and his routine/ habits that made him the beast he was.

I have a ton of respect for Kevin after reading this. Solid read if you're a fan of the sport but it won't be on your wall of classics.

[Toni · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this as part of book club. I don’t particularly like basketball but I do respect KG and what he has done. However, I thought the book skipped around too much. There wasn’t a cohesive story and it didn’t go in chronological order so it was just kind of choppy for me.

[RICK "SHAQ" GOLDSTEIN · Rating 2 out of 5]

RICK “SHAQ” GOLDSTEIN SAYS: KG GETS A TRIPLE DOUBLE: MF’S… DOUBLE-NEGATIVES… BAD GRAMMAR.
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Kevin Garnett the recently elected basketball Hall of Famer… “writes” his autobiography… in a sometimes… offensive manner… most of the time utilizing awful literary grammar… and an overall layout… that has not been readily seen before. (or at least not very often on two different fronts.) Garnett early on admits to having been an undiagnosed ADD and ADHD person… along with being dyslexic.

First of all instead of telling his story in chronological sequence… he instead has written his book in alphabetic chapters based on topics (even though innumerable topics say “see… so and so…”other chapter.”) leaving the reader being told a story that jumps from ten years ago to five years ago to twenty years to thirty years ago to five years ago… ad nauseam. This obviously makes it literally impossible for a smooth flowing reader’s experience. Secondly instead of a regular page having the words and sentences going from the left margin across to the right margin… this book has each sentence go from the left margin to the middle of the page where it is divided north to south by a thin line… and then when the short half-page-wide sentences get to the bottom of the page… then the short truncated sentences continue BACK ON THE TOP OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SAME PAGE.

PARENTAL WARNING: Until recently Amazon allowed the public to make comments on each individual review if they so desired. As I have written approximately eight hundred reviews on Amazon… many parents would use that capability to ask me if the book I reviewed was acceptable for their younger children. (usually they meant fifteen-years-old or younger.) As a Father and Grandfather I totally understood their concern and would go out of my way to answer and respond to them. Since that capability has been removed… consider this answering the question that is most likely festering out there. No… no… nooo! There are so many MF’s in this book it’s ridiculous. The author could barely make it through the first sentence before dropping a “bomb”! He also seems to find the need to use the “N” word countless times… which is offensive and dangerous in these tense times we are currently living in… and it would have been an empathetic… gentlemanly… and professional courtesy to do without it… or at least severely limit its use.

Having read at least one-thousand sports based books in my lifetime… I am used to most of them having beautiful glossy colored pictures in the book. This book inexplicably has nothing but almost faded “copier” quality black and white photos. It certainly diminishes any “sizzle” appeal in this area.

Though there are some interesting factoids interspersed throughout… it’s almost head scratching as to how the overall “packaging” of the entire book as a product was decided upon.

[Джан Тефик · Rating 5 out of 5]

Рядко използвам думата "обожавам" , но да, обожавам НБА биографийки, особено написани от първо лице, усещайки наистина личността на човека. Обожавам ги както жените обожават " Сексът и градът" , както други хора тоалетните в заведения в петък вечер, както златотърсачките парите и т.н. схванахте идеята. Биографията на Кевин Гарнет е всичко, което една книга трябва да бъде, замислена леко хаотична - като него, но все пак подредена, спазвайки пътя на азбуката , от А до Я, за всяка буква Гарнет се сеща някоя дума , за която споделя спомените си или мнението си. И въпреки ,че спазва някаква последователност на развитието му като човек и играч, от време на време хуква в съвсем друга посока и така разнообразява и запазва интереса без да омръзва. Определено след толкова много биографии прочетени ми прави впечатление ,че макар и за ограничените хора отстрани , тези негра дет излеждат просто на маймуни скачащи с една топка, 90% от тях са много интелигентни. Гарнет определено ми направи добро впечатление с мъдростта, зрелостта и интелекта си. Истинско удовлетворение са тези биографии, тези интимни разговори , все едно си седнал с него на вечеря и човекът отсреща отговаря на многото въпроси, които не си задал директно, но вътрешно. Много различни теми обхваща ( не само баскетболни ) и много интересни и забавни истории, някои от които съм чувал в неговото предаване Area 51 по TNT, което между другото беше много добро. Определено се изкефих !