When Kevin Garnett first learnt that the NBA was coming to Abu Dhabi, he made it clear he wanted to play a part in bringing the game over to this part of the world.
One of the greatest power forwards of all time, Garnett, 48, finally made the trip down to the UAE capital as one of the legends invited for the third staging of the NBA Abu Dhabi Games, which fittingly featured his former team, the Boston Celtics, up against the Denver Nuggets.
“I see so many developments going on, and it makes sense to bring the NBA over here, with all the new developments and things growing,” Garnett, who won the 2008 championship with the Celtics, told The National in Abu Dhabi.
“When we were all talking about the development of the game and teaching these young kids, I had a bit of a, not a riff, but I had an opinion about it.
"Because I think that when you bring the game somewhere new, it's important on those first pieces of interaction, how you teach is how a lot of these kids are going to think. So when it came to growing the game over here, I was very vocal about coming over and being able to be part of that.”
Garnett, who announced his retirement in 2016 after 21 seasons in the league, is an NBA champion, former MVP, 15-time All-Star, and Hall-of-Famer.
During his time in Abu Dhabi, he took part in multiple community events, made appearances at the NBA District, taking part in Q&As with fans, and did his best to help spread basketball to the younger generation in the Emirates.
“I hope that we leave a lasting impression that not only we have new basketball fans that can pick up the NBA game, but also want to play it and not only watch it,” said Garnett.
“But, yeah, I'm seeing so much growth throughout the world. And I hope that Abu Dhabi actually embraces basketball. I think it's great for life and sport.”
This past season, the Boston Celtics won a record-breaking 18th NBA title, and their first since Garnett and Co. lifted the trophy in 2008.
They tipped off their pre-season campaign with two wins over the Denver Nuggets during the weekend at Etihad Arena and will be looking to become the first team to successfully defend their NBA title since Golden State Warriors went back-to-back in 2017 and 2018.
Garnett feels the Celtics have what it takes to become repeat champions.
“It’s about time, right?” Garnett said, referring to the lack of successful title defences in recent years.
“I feel like Boston have all the tools to [defend the title]. When I look at the East, the East has got a lot better with the Knicks and with Philly. But with the two guards up front and how you finish games with Derrick White and [Jrue] Holiday, I think that is really key.
“When I look at these teams [in the East], I don't know if they have that same guard combo to be able to finish games. So yeah, I like the C’s chances, obviously health and a bunch of variables go into it. But for the most part, I like them. I like them, all healthy, I like the Cs.”
White, Holiday, and Jayson Tatum were all part of Team USA that secured the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, backing their NBA triumph with further success on the international stage.
But Tatum, considered one of the biggest stars on the Celtics roster and a key figure behind their historic title run, had a mixed summer as he – to the surprise of many – received limited playing time during the Olympics and wasn’t selected to play in two entire games of the six USA contested in France.
It’s unclear how Tatum’s experience at the Olympics will affect his mentality moving forward but Garnett has his own perspective as to why it wasn’t such a bad thing the 26-year-old didn’t play much at the Games.
“If anything, I think it would encourage him. Anytime you have, what I call like thorns ... you know how you reach for a flower, and there’s just like a bunch of thorns in there? Sometimes things are thorns in your side, but they're also motivating factors that get you over bumps. I look at that like that,” said Garnett.
“I’m actually glad he didn't play a lot of minutes, being able to come off of a Final run and then not really have a vacation or have a summer, and then be able to come in and watch and then be played as needed; I thought that was great for him. I know it probably didn't look great, but he didn't have a real chance to get rest, and rest is important.
“So if anything, I think he'll do fine this year. I think he's going to be encouraged.”
On his part, Tatum appears to be as motivated as ever to help guide the Celtics to a second championship, and in an interview with The National last week, the star forward said he is chasing greatness, and would “absolutely” love to be considered a GOAT – greatest of all time – one day.
“Anything is possible, and he is a very good player, and he has all the tools to be a GOAT,” said Garnett.
“When we sit back and we give a definition of that, that’s just not about basketball, but sometimes it's both sides of the ball, and then it’s the influence off the court.
“I think he has a very, very good narrative off the court. He's a dad, he's a community guy. He's from a tough city like St Louis. I think he's done a great job of seeing where we are at.
“I followed his journey all the way up from Duke to where he's at now. So yeah, Jayson is one of the rare, rare forms of being able to have the ability to be a star, and carry it with confidence and know what that means. So yeah I think he has the tools to do that.”
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TOUCH RULES
Touch is derived from rugby league. Teams consist of up to 14 players with a maximum of six on the field at any time.
Teams can make as many substitutions as they want during the 40 minute matches.
Similar to rugby league, the attacking team has six attempts - or touches - before possession changes over.
A touch is any contact between the player with the ball and a defender, and must be with minimum force.
After a touch the player performs a “roll-ball” - similar to the play-the-ball in league - stepping over or rolling the ball between the feet.
At the roll-ball, the defenders have to retreat a minimum of five metres.
A touchdown is scored when an attacking player places the ball on or over the score-line.
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
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What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
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Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
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2017: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-1
2016: Cleveland bt Golden State 4-3
2015: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-2
2014: San Antonio bt Miami 4-1
2013: Miami bt San Antonio 4-3
2012: Miami bt Oklahoma City 4-1
2011: Dallas bt Miami 4-2
2010: Los Angeles Lakers bt Boston 4-3
2009: Los Angeles Lakers bt Orlando 4-1
2008: Boston bt Los Angeles Lakers 4-2
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MEYDAN CARD
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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Name: Thndr
Started: October 2020
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Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000
Funding stage: series A; $20 million
Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC, Rabacap and MSA Capital
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