Kevin Garnett has come up with his share of one-liners throughout the years. As one of professional sports’ most entertaining athletes, KG, a.k.a. “The Big Ticket,” has delivered some of the best soundbites during postgame interviews, one-on-one chats and even a few blooper-style spoofs. There’s the famous “Anything is possible” line he screamed after winning the 2008 NBA Finals — in between smooth-talking Michelle Tafoya — and there’s also the time he called out TNT analyst Charles Barkley prior to Barkley’s All-Star weekend foot race against NBA referee Dick Bavetta. But Monday night, as the Celtics came from behind to knock off the Toronto Raptors, 115-109 in overtime, KG delivered one of his best moments during the postgame news conference. And it was all inspired by former Jayhawk Paul Pierce. The 30-9 Celtics trailed 16-22 Toronto by nine points at halftime and by four after three quarters of play. Considering the fact that the C’s entered the game having lost four of their past five games, the struggle at home against a sub-.500 team did not sit well with the Boston crowd. But when money time arrived, Pierce took over. He finished the night with 39 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. His fourth quarter and overtime numbers included 13 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists — enough to provoke Garnett to call Pierce “Superman” for the night. As many know by now, Pierce’s actual nickname is “The Truth,” a moniker given to him by Shaquille O’Neal after a 2001 victory by Pierce’s Celtics over Shaq’s Lakers. “Take this down,” Shaq told a Boston reporter. “My name is Shaquille O’Neal, and Paul Pierce is the [expletive] truth. Quote me on that, and don’t take nothing out. I knew he could play, but I didn’t know he could play like this. Paul Pierce is the truth.”The name has stuck and since then Pierce has proven to be worthy of the title time after time. Is “The Truth” the best nickname by a former Jayhawk who’s played in the NBA? If not, what is? What about nicknames for KU players while they were still in Lawrence? Which ones were the best?
