‘He was talking shit the whole time’: Kevin Garnett called ‘biggest racist against white players’ by former Orlando Magic player, fans rush to his aid

Former basketball player Mario Kasun raised eyebrows after accusing NBA champion Kevin Garnett of racism against white athletes.

During the June 26 episode of “Jao Mile’s Podcast”, the Croatian basketball player shared details of his meetings with Garnett, admitting that at one point he idolized the former NBA star.

“I got here before the game and asked him, ‘KG, are you able to sign a contract for my shoes?’ Because I wear Adidas and he wore Adidas last season, he said Kasun. “I am going into the game in his retro shoes, I like to play in retro shoes. And he told me, “Dude, go away, take off your shoes, you don’t have my permission to wear my shoes.”

Garnett signed deals with Nike, And1, after which Adidas during his playing profession. Nike released three shoes when Garnett signed with the company before moving to And1. His relationship with And1 ended abruptly in 2003 after he made controversial comments while filming a industrial. However, all those fences seemed to have been mended by 2018, when Slam announced that Garnett has returned to And1 as chief creative officer and global ambassador.

However, Kasun believes that Garnett’s problems with him go deeper than it first appears. According to Kasun, Garnett had an issue with white players generally. In a devastating accusation, the former NBA player said that Garnett “was the biggest racist against white players in the NBA.”

“He was talking s**t the whole time,” Kasun added, before also criticizing Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Gary Payton for his tendency to badmouth fans during games. “Him and Gary Payton, being offensive the whole time they’re playing. It’s awful. Gary Payton badmouthing the fans in row 15 during the game. And that guy, I’m going to put the ball in his head.”

Kasun suggested that Garnett’s trash talk and insults were specifically geared toward white players. Kasun seemed to argue that the alleged racial slurs fostered a toxic gaming environment.

Kasun also said he once beat Garnett on the basketball court when he dunked the ball over the big man’s star. However, according to Kasun, Garnett intervened and tried to pull the tape from the NBA archives. Kasun claimed Garnett’s actions were motivated by a necessity to control the narrative.

The conversation sparked a firestorm of response, with some questioning the validity of Kasun’s accusations. Some said the podcast episode added a fancy layer to Garnett’s legacy by suggesting he was an athlete who tended to harass others, especially white players, during his time in the NBA.

“That’s because he grew up experiencing constant racism” – translated post from fasting on X read.

“How did Kasun find out from this that he’s a racist? Maybe he just doesn’t like you, Kasun,” one other social media user wrote.

While Garnett has actually earned a status as one in all the most intense and competitive players in the NBA, it’s unclear whether he’s ever behaved in the way Kasun portrayed himself on the podcast. As of July 5, Garnett or his representatives haven’t responded to Kasun’s comments.

The English translation of “Jao Mile Podcast” states that the show “was designed and conceived as an original show that explores the career of a professional basketball player from the perspective of renowned basketball players, coaches and sports agents.”

Garnett was the fifth overall pick in the 1995 NBA draft. He became one in all the NBA’s best players during a 12-year profession with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Garnett won an NBA title in 2008 with the Boston Celtics.

He is currently the co-host of “KG Certified with Kevin Garnett” podcast, which his former teammate Paul Pierce often participated in.

Kasun spent most of his basketball profession playing in various European leagues. He had a two-season stint in the NBA, playing for the Orlando Magic from 2004-06.

He last played in an expert basketball league in 2014, as a member of the Al Wasl Sports Club in Dubai.