In almost every drill he taught during his clinic, Kevin Garnett told the participating Japanese kids that repetition and hard work were the only ways to improve and succeed.
That happens to be the same phrase he keeps telling himself, especially after being the highest-paid player in the NBA and not guiding his Minnesota Timberwolves past the first round of the playoffs for the past six seasons.
"I don't set any personal goals -- just to play like an All-Star," said Garnett, who was at Komazawa Gymnasium on Wednesday to host the two-day Jomo Kevin Garnett Basketball Clinic.
"As a team, speaking on behalf of the Timberwolves, our goal is to get past the first round of the playoffs. To come in and be competitive night in, night out."
Garnett, entering his eighth season with Minnesota after becoming the first high school NBA draftee in almost 20 years, has had four consecutive 20 or more points per game seasons and has made the All-Star team five times.