Lionel Hollins: Kevin Garnett is my starter from “Day One” at power forward

Brooklyn Nets fans have been wondering all summer about the status of veteran power forward and future Hall of Famer to be Kevin Garnett?

Garnett has been surprisingly silent all summer and there were whispers that he may not play in his 20th NBA season which he is under contract for $12 million to do?

Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN New York reports that new head coach Lionel Hollins settled the mystery at Deron Williams’ Celebrity Dodge Barrage event at Basketball City last night.

“There is nobody in the gym that I would put in his place,” Hollins said at Deron Williams’ Celebrity Dodge Barrage event at Basketball City. “He has earned the right to have that opportunity to be the starter from Day One. Somebody has to knock him out, it’s got to be like a heavyweight fight. I don’t really see that happening.”

“If he’s healthy, and producing, he’s going to play,” Hollins said. “How many minutes? I don’t know. But he is not going to play 15 or 16 minutes. I can guarantee you that. If he is playing and starting, he is going to be out there.”

“I didn’t even ask him (how close he was to retiring),” Hollins added. “It doesn’t really matter. You’re pregnant or you’re not pregnant. He looks good… I would assume that if he decided to come back and if in fact it is his last year, he would want to make it his best.”

Having Garnett back in full force to play alongside Brook Lopez will be crucial to the Nets success this coming season. All the talk about his status can officially be put to rest now.

Lets play ball already.