Kevin Garnett's Big Advice To LeBron James In 2010: "Loyalty Is Something That Hurts You At Times, Because You Can't Get Youth Back."

Kevin Garnett gave LeBron James a piece of advice in 2010, warning him about the dangers of being loyal in the NBA.

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LeBron James' 2010 free agency was one for the ages. After seven years with the Cleveland Cavaliers, he had grown unhappy with falling short in the playoffs, unable to beat the big teams in the Eastern Conference no matter how hard he tried. After another disappointing exit, the King was ready to leave the Cavs and try his look elsewhere, with many people trying to keep him in Ohio while others did everything they could to lure him away. 

Many people simply gave their opinion on this matter, and one of LeBron's biggest rivals offered his input, giving a valuable piece of advice to the King. During the 2010 NBA playoffs, the Boston Celtics eliminated the Cleveland Cavaliers on their way to the Finals that they'd lose against the Los Angeles Lakers. 

Following the second-round matchup, Kevin Garnett gave his two pennies on that situation, telling LeBron that sticking around in the same place for too long would be bad for him in the long term. 

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Kevin Garnett Told LeBron James Loyalty Could Hurt Him In 2010

The Big Ticket was inquired about that situation, explaining that being loyal could hurt LeBron eventually. Garnett had played for too long with the Minnesota Timberwolves before landing in Boston, winning a championship during his very first season with the C's. He knew the advantages of changing teams and offered his words to LeBron.

"Loyalty is something that hurts you at times, because you can't get youth back," Garnett told CBS News in 2010. "I can honestly say that if I could go back and do my situation over, knowing what I know now with this organization, I'd have done it a little sooner."

KG was well aware that LeBron could follow any path he wanted, and he'd be ok. He was still young in 2010, and everything was in place for him to rule the league except for the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

"I don't know what's going through his mind," Garnett said of LeBron. "He's a different individual. I haven't spoken to him or anything, but the world is his. Whatever he wants it to be, whatever decisions he makes are probably going to be best for him - not only him, but for him and his family."

"He's the face of basketball," Garnett said. "I think his desire is definitely there. It's going to be the talk of the summer because, you know, everyone's going to be tuned in. It's not just him, but D-Wade and Chris Bosh and all the other solid free agents available this summer. It's going to be an interesting summer."

A couple of months later, LeBron would star in the infamous 'The Decision' special, revealing he would join the Miami Heat, where he teamed up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, creating one of the most controversial superteams of all time. This decision affected Garnett eventually, as the Heat took over the Eastern Conference, even beating the Boston Celtics on their way to four NBA Finals and two championships.