On Wednesday, Kevin Garnett released a statement responding to Charlie Villanueva's late-night tweets that alleged KG made a pretty ugly comment during Tuesday's game between the Pistons and Celtics. Villanueva alleged that Garnett called him a "cancer patient," which understandably upset quite a few people, including Villanueva. Garnett said in his statement, which can be read below, that this was a case of there being a miscommunication and that he did not call Villanueva a cancer patient.
↵↵↵"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."
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Does anyone really buy this? Garnett probably did call Villanueva a cancer patient and this was likely his excuse to prevent the story from becoming any bigger than it already was. It's not like calling someone a "cancer patient" and saying they are "cancerous to your team and our league" sounds even remotely similar, so I highly doubt this was a miscommunication issue.
↵One interesting thing to think about is what comment is actually worse. In general the cancer patient remark is more offensive, but on a personal level I think being called a cancer to my team and the league as a whole stings a bit more. Whatever the case, to me it seems like Garnett got to share both comments with Villanueva, as I highly doubt the cancer patient comment wasn't made on Tuesday. Assuming it was, Villanueva heard that comment on Tuesday and then was called a cancer to the Pistons and the NBA in this statement on Wednesday. Ouch.