Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Garnett is frustrated by the team's poor season. The Nets, meanwhile, appear intent on keeping center Brook Lopez and reportedly declined a trade offer involving Pau Gasol from the Los Angeles Lakers.
With a 10-21 record, the Nets appear destined for the NBA lottery in 2014. Brooklyn is a far cry from the title-contending team many in the offseason projected them to be, and it doesn't sit well with Garnett.
"The most frustrating thing about me is I could see if (I) wasn't hitting shots and I wasn't in here working or taking (expletive) days off," Garnett told the New York Daily News on Wednesday. "I put time into my craft for it to come out, but then that's rhythm on offense. And I don't have that right now."
Garnett is averaging a career-low 6.5 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, a significant drop from his career averages of 18.8 points and 10.4 boards per game. In an effort to keep him healthy down the stretch, Garnett is playing on restricted minutes and averaging 21.5 per game.
The 19-year veteran admitted this year has been one of the most disappointing seasons of his career.
"Nobody likes to lose. I'm not a loser. But I show up every day and I try to be a professional and give everything I have," said Garnett. "You put Father Time on top of that. It doesn't help anything else. And knick knacks and injuries and stuff like that and guys are going out. It's just a frustrating time.
"But you know what? I've been through some harder times than this. I have a lot (of) confidence that I'll come out of this, and we'll come out of this with some decency."
The season-ending injury to Lopez doesn't help Brooklyn's chances of turning their season around. Prior to the 7-footer fracturing his foot, the Lakers reportedly contacted the Nets about trading Gasol for Lopez; Brooklyn "balked at the idea," according to ESPN's Marc Stein.
The Nets visit the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday.
